Page 87 of You Were Invited
“No…”
“Is he stalking you?”
The color drained from her face. She trembled. “I don’t know. Peter was worried he might…” She tucked her rumpled hair behind her ear.
A second later, her phone lit up and her ringer went off again.
Another bang on the door.
She declined the call and appeared to be texting the number back. “Just leave, Chris...” she hissed between her teeth. Her hands shook violently. When her ex’s voice came through the door, she almost dropped her phone.
“I’m not leaving! I’m not giving up on you!” A pause. “I’ll break this door down if I have to, babe!” His voice went weepy. “I love you…”
Julian’s spine tingled. It was obvious Chris wouldn’t give up easily. The state troopers were easily twenty minutes away. Ifthey could handle this themselves, end this tonight… “He’s never been violent towards you?” he whispered.
Annie shook her head hard. “He’s just passive aggressive.”
Julian’s fingers flexed at his side, caught between reaching for his gun and reaching for Annie. Was calling the cops the responsible thing to do? Yes. But putting the fear of God into Chris, however, would be far more satisfying. “I’ll tell him to leave,” he finally said, voice tight.
“No. I should do it,” Annie replied. “Tell him off to his face.”But even as she said it, her stomach twisted even tighter.
Julian shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
“It’ll mean more coming from me.” What Julian had no way of knowing was that she hadn’t been face-to-face with Chris since his nightmare of a house party. This confrontation, this solid closure, was long overdue.
His eyes shifted, betraying the conflict in his own mind. It was clear he wanted to protect her, wanted to take the lead. “You’re sure he isn’t violent?”
She nodded. “Just arrogant and dismissive.”
Julian hesitated, his jaw working. Then, moving his arm behind his back, he said, relenting, “If there’s any funny business.”
Annie heard the small click and flinched, torn between what it implied and the sense of security the gun brought them. Nodding, she handed him her phone. “I’ll be quick.”
Julian unbolted the door. As she opened the door and walked out, he turned the porch light on for her.
Chris sat on the steps, slouched, hugging himself in the bitingly cold air. Dressed in only a rumpled t-shirt and jeans, it was no wonder. He looked over his shoulder and his face lit up. “Annie! Thank God!” he exclaimed, his voice a blend of relief and desperation. Instead of rising to his feet, Chris turned and dropped to his knees. He crawled towards her. Angry patches of pink flesh blotched the center of his puffy face. A scruffy beard shadowed his jawline.
“Please come back–”
“Chris!” Blood rushed to her face. Second-hand embarrassment left her scrambling for what to say.
“The house’s so empty without you, Annie!” he pleaded, voice raw. Still on his knees, he stopped in front of her.
“Chris, get up!” She grabbed two fistfuls of jersey knit to pull his sorry carcass up by the shoulders. Up close, the alcohol on his breath hit her like a brick.Did he drive drunk?
Fear trickled down her spine.
“I can’t lose you,” he sobbed. Before she could sidestep, he dove forward and grabbed onto her waist. He blubbered into her stomach, wholeheartedly debasing himself. “Don’t leave me…”
Annie froze, holding her hands up, panicking.
“I’ll stop. No more parties at the house.”
“It’s more than just partying. I keep telling you—”
“All the booze down the toilet, every drop of it,” he blubbered on. “I’m so sorry. I got fired this week. I don’t know what to do. We’re perfect together!”
His wet face dampened her bodice. Letting him cry — she owed him that, at least? Didn’t she? Even though he’d frustrated her to no end, his distress broke her heart. It was a straight punch to the gut. Maybe if she’d been more tactful when she’d left, maybe breaking up would have been easier on them both. She let out a heavy breath and glanced over her shoulder. Julian stood in the doorway, looking horrified. He took a step forward, but she held up a hand.I can take care of this myself.“Chris,” she said as evenly as she could manage, “Chris, listen to me closely.”
