Page 46 of Pretend
“Do you think I can crash on your couch then?”
My heart skips a beat. That’s not a good idea. As much as I want to take her there, I can’t.
“I’m not sure Ravenmore would approve of that. It doesn’t look good if anyone finds out you slept over at my house.”
It’s the truth. The thought of people gossiping about Alessia staying over at my place makes me nauseous. I cannot risk losing my spot on the team over her. My secret obsession needs to stay just that.
A secret.
“Please. I won’t say anything, Mr. Hannibal; it’s just for tonight.” Her hand slides on my knee, gripping it in an innocent way. My eyes flicker to her small palm on my sweatpants for a second. It sends a shockwave of pure fucking flames throughout my body. Flames I thought I couldn’t feel anymore.
A low growl reverberates through my chest.
How am I supposed to say no to her? Ever?
“When did this start?” I ask.
“The text messages?”
“No, the rain,” I remark sarcastically. “Yes, the text messages, Valentine.”
“Oh, right, of course,” she chuckles.
Her laughter could be my new national anthem.
I take the car out of parking mode and put it into drive.
“A week ago.”
“You’re not safe. I guess you’d be safer staying with someone you know tonight. Until we figure out who the fuck is texting you. What about Winters? We need to charge your phone and report this to the police. Why haven’t you done it already?”
I’m being manipulative, I know…but I don’t care.
“I’ve had a lot going on. Between my job and falling on orders and my boyfriend—I mean ex-boyfriend—it’s all too much. A part of me thinks this person is playing a sick game, and I hoped he or she would just leave me alone. Winters…well, I’m pretty sure she’s riding Lopez tonight.”
I wouldn’t put it past Vicente to hook up with someone from work before deployment.
We pass the gas station, and Metallica plays through my car on low volume.
“I know it sounds like I’m making excuses, and this is something I should have taken seriously.”
“Do you have any idea who this stalker problem of yours could be?” I try to change the subject.
I can feel her brown honey eyes on me as I concentrate on getting to my place through the harsh rain. She stays quiet, an eerie silence I don’t like. With a somber tone, she tells me, “No, but we’re leaving on deployment soon. I just hope it’s not the people that created that list,” she squeaks out.
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel and bounce my knee.
“I’ll take care of it for you,” I promise her.
“W-what?” She murmurs.
“I’ll find this person…” I turn left, eight minutes away from my place now. She lifts an eyebrow at me. “I always find them.”
15
ALESSIA
When an all-black challengerpulled to the side of the road and didn’t get out, I feared it was my stalker problem standing before me, ready to meet and seal my fate finally. I don’t know what this person’s agenda is. I don’t know if this person gets off on scaring people, but they’re winning.
