Page 24 of Tinsel Time Treasure
He shook his head. “It’s ok.” He took a deep breath. “I met this guy a couple weeks ago at a costume party several days before Halloween. Things seemed good…”
Justin paused and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Long story short… I didn’t want to see him again, and he isn’t happy with that answer.”
“He’s stalking you,” I stated.
Justin nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.”
He turned to stare out the window again.
“Are you worried that he's the one who broke in?”
Justin nodded.
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “How can I support you?”
His head snapped to me, lips parted in surprise. “What?”
I sat up and ran my fingers through my hair. “Look, I know it was just chance that I came across you hiding on my patio, but I’m involved now. I’m not the kind of man who can sit by and ignore it.”
“But we just met.”
“So? That doesn’t change the fact that I want to make sure you’re ok.”
The faintest bit of pink colored his cheeks. “I… um…”
A knock at the door interrupted us. I glanced out the window to see one of the cops standing outside.
“It’s for you,” I stated.
He nodded, stood, and walked to the door. He paused before opening it. “Thank you.”
“Let me know how it goes?”
He turned to me and gave a tiny nod. “Ok.”
Then he was outside, talking to the cop as they crossed to his apartment.
I let the blinds drop as they went inside, stomach curling at the thought of the handsome man dealing with a stalker.
But now I knew, and I would support him in whatever way he needed.
Chapter 9 - Justin
It was strange walking into my apartment with a cop at my side.
He’d told me that they hadn’t found anybody inside, and that nothing appeared out of the ordinary. But they needed me to let them know if anything was missing or otherwise amiss.
All the lights were on as we walked in, and the officer informed me that they had been that way when they opened the door.
Then I spotted it: a single red rose on the table. My blood turned to ice in my veins and I froze.
“What is it?” the cop asked.
“The rose,” I whispered. “That…” I shook my head. “That wasn’t here.”
