Page 151 of Forever To Me

Just silence.

Except now, sitting up in bed, I realize something. It doesn’t feel safe anymore. It feelsempty. Because she’s everywhere.

Her coffee mug still sits in the sink, the one she always used because she swore it made the coffee taste better. One of her hair ties is on the nightstand, forgotten, like she just stepped out for a second and might come back.

And then, I see the flannel. It’s draped over the chair by the fireplace, the one she always curled up in when she stayed over. I don’t even have to pick it up to know it still smells like her.

I do it anyway. The scent isfaint, but it’sthere. Vanilla and coconut. Something that smells likehome. I inhale sharply, clenching my jaw.

Damn her.

Damn the way she’s in every corner of this place. Damn the way I can still hear her laugh, see her curled up on the couch, wearing my flannel and pretending like she wasn’t stealing it.

Damn the way I pushed her away.

I step out onto the porch and lean on the railing, trying to ground myself.

I rake my hand through my hair, trying to pull myself together, when suddenly, I hear it.

Click. Click. Click.

The sound of cameras. I freeze. Then—the shouting starts. Voices just beyond the tree line.

“Asher Wyatt, over here!”

More cameras. More clicks.

I shove the flannel down, my stomachtwisting. How thehelldid they find me here? I go inside and close the door. Clenching my jaw, I move toward the window. Sure enough, past the porch, a group of them stands on my property, cameras raised, flashes going off even in the early morning light.

“Jesus Christ.”

I grab my phone off the nightstand, dialing fast. It rings twice before a deep, steady voice answers.

“Matthews.”

“Sheriff,” I grit out. “I need your help. Now.”

A pause. “What’s going on?”

I exhale sharply. “Reporters. They’re on my property. Trespassing.”

His voice turns sharp. “I'll send out help.”

“Thanks.”

I hang up and immediately text Maggie.

Me:There are reporters at my cabin.

A second later, my phone buzzes.

Maggie:They’ve been at your front damn door too.

I curse under my breath. Because I know exactly how they found me. I know exactly who led them here. The one person who is hellbent on destroying me. She didn’t get what she wanted last night, so now she’s doing this. I know it.

Stella.

Rage coils in my chest. My fists clench, my jaw tightens, at how she’s exposed me. Told the world exactly where to find me, where to find Mack.

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