Page 37 of Mine to Keep

What the fuck is going on?

“I never sent you anything, Tony.”

“Okay, sure. Look, Matt, we’re over, and you need to stop.”

“Tony, I told you about the person sending me gifts. I think they’re tracking down my exes and gifting them things in a passive-aggressive way, telling them not to try to be with me.”

“You’re quite full of yourself.”

“Fuck you, Tony, I’m serious. Where was it sent from?”

“I have no fucking idea. I tossed them in the garbage. You know I don’t eat chocolate.”

“Just…if it happens again, can you please let me know? I’m having a problem with this person.”

He didn’t say anything right away. “Maybe.” He disconnected.

This was getting out of control. My phone vibrated, and it was my Ring camera. I saw that it was Darnell, and he had a stuffed bear in his hands.

I thought I knew what this was about.

I opened the door, and he was chuckling as he lifted it up.

“Come in, I’ll tell you all about it.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Nick

I didas I was told. I watched Matt…which I would have done regardless of the vote. Something was going on. I saw some angry person show up at his door when he wasn’t there, but his landlord was there to get rid of them. I was grateful for that. Next came that guy Darnell, showing up with a stuffed bear. What the fuck was that about?Then nothing. Like, nothing at all. He didn’t leave the rest of the day or all-day Thursday, and neither did Darnell. Was that his boyfriend? I didn’t think so.

I’d done some digging and had found out they’d dated—it was brief, but it had happened. Maybe they were rekindling something. I ran the face of the angry person at his door through our recognition program. They weren’t in any police or FBI database, and I couldn’t find them anywhere. Not completely surprising.

Friday morning, I was running on coffee and energy drinks. I stepped into the kitchen, and Mason and JJ stared at me while I fixed a coffee and took a gulp.

“What?”

“When was the last time you slept?” Mason asked.

“Why?”

JJ adjusted in his seat to face me better. “Because you look like shit that was dipped in lava and steamrolled. There’s more baggage under your eyes than the Kardashians take on a summer vacation.”

“Oh, please.” I drank down the scalding hot coffee and placed the mug in the dishwasher.

“You need a break. Matt will be here today, so we can watch him for a few hours. Either sleep or go to Saintly Sweets.”

I gritted my teeth. “First you’re all like keep an eye on Matt, make sure he doesn’t speak. Which is really hard since I don’t have access to his phone or have cameras in his apartment. But I’m trying. Now you’re like, go bake?”

“Oh, please.” JJ got up and walked over to me. “We all know you can’t bake. It’s just a change of scenery.”

I glanced at Mason. “You want me gone by the time Matt gets here, huh?”

“If you’re like this, yes,” JJ didn’t hesitate to answer. “If he sees you like this, he’s definitely going to quit as my PT.”

I ran my fingers through my hair…Yeah, okay, greasy.“I’ll shower and rest, but I’m not dealing with the bakery.” I stormed off to my room.

I grabbed a towel and went to my en suite, where I showered. It felt amazing, and the hot water eased my tight muscles. I took a moment to just breathe. Why was Matt different than other people for me?

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