Page 97 of The Lake House

Fuck. Heispiss drunk. I knew it.

I keep my distance, folding my arms across my chest. “What are you doing here, Todd?”

He steps forward, almost tipping over. “I to-told you I’d be se-eeing you again. Come gi-give me a kiss, sweets.”

Gross. No thanks. I think I’ll pass.

I shift weight from one foot to the other. “Todd, you need to go.” I look around to see where he’s parked, but I don’t even see his car anywhere. Oh, well. I’m not even going to entertain the thought. God knows how he got down here or how long it took him. “I’ll call you an Uber. I’ll even offer to pay for you, but you need to go.”

His whole expression changes as his lips curl downward, frowning. His eyes burn into me, and for the first time, he sends chills down my back in the worst way possible. The way he’s looking at me is enough to make me want to call the cops. He needs to go. Now.

He steps closer. “I’m not g-going anywhere… un-unless you’re c-coming with me.”

Going with him? Is he crazy? I’m not going anywhere with him. Not a chance in hell.

I take a step back. “No, Todd. I’m staying right here, but you have to go.”

A swarm of energy overtakes him and he comes at me as if he wasn’t just about to tip over and slurring his words. He grabs my wrist and then pushes me, forcing me to slam against the front door. He plants his other hand on the door.

He pins me to the door with his chest, and I cringe at the odor coming from his mouth. “I’m not leaving here without you. Didn’t you get my letter? I want what’s mine.” He pauses for a second and brings his face just mere inches from my lips. “And that’s you.”

“Let me go,” I demand, but he just pushes me harder against the door and grips hold of my other hand so that I can’t push him away.

Fuck, I’m going to vomit if he doesn’t move. I move my head as far away from him as I possibly can, but it’s not far enough.

He squeezes my wrist tighter.

“Ow. You’re hurting me, Todd.” I try with all my might to loosen his hold on me, but it’s no use. Even as drunk as he is right now, I don’t have the strength to move him off me.

“I can’t do that,” he mutters eerily.

My eyes widen and stare into his. A mischievous grin pulls at the corners of his lips and it’s one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen. “Todd, please,” I beg.

He squeezes his grip on me even tighter. “No…”

A tear forms in the corner of my eye. What the hell am I going to do? I’m screwed.

“Let her go.”

I know that voice. I adore that voice.

At the sound of it, Todd whips his head around and standing behind him is Declan commanding him to release me.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Todd scowls, finally letting go of me and focusing all his attention on Declan. Todd stands toe to toe with Declan.

Dec doesn’t back down. “Don’t worry about who I am. Just know that the lady asked you politely to leave, so you need to go.”

Todd, not liking Declan’s response, shoves him backward. Declan doesn’t miss a beat and swings right at him, hitting him square in the face. Todd goes reeling down to the ground.

“Oh my God…” I say, bringing a hand to my mouth.

Declan’s eyes meet with mine, and he walks over to me. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

“Yes, I’m fine, but—”

I don’t get to finish my sentence. Todd is back up and he grips Declan and then swings.

Declan dodges it somehow, but this just infuriates Todd further. The two of them wind up wrestling to the ground.

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