Page 45 of Saved from Obsession

I’m not sure how long I’ll want to keep up this long distance thing—I have a feeling Leo will end up convincing me to move to Sleepy Hollow sooner than later. But staying here these last few days has been good for me, even though I second guessed my decision at least a dozen times the first night after Leo left.

Being here by myself makes me feel strong again, so if—okay,when—I move closer to Leo, it will be because Iwantto and not because I’m using him as a crutch. And though my accomplishments wouldn’t have seemed like much a year ago, I’m pretty proud of myself now.

I’ve managed to make it four days without having a major panic attack or breakdown, I started to set up an online store for my crafts,andI just found a job. It’s a part-time position in a clothing store in Saratoga Springs, nothing monumental, but it’s a place to start. I just finished filling out all the employment paperwork, and Ididhave Leo check beforehand to make sure the business was on the up and up.

Of course it was—it’s a little boutique that sells overpriced clothing to tourists who come for horse racing season, not exactly a dangerous business—but I know it made Leo feel better to check. And since I gave him a hard time about speeding, I can’t really complain—throwing stones at people in glass houses and that sort of thing.

I’m proud of myself, but being away from Leo ishard. I couldn’t have imagined before meeting him that I could feel so connected to someone. Like there’s a hole in my chest that can only be filled when he’s with me. Talking, texting, those are fine, but I don’t feelrightwhen Leo isn’t next to me.

It’s a feeling I can’t fully articulate—howfullI feel when I’m with him. Now I understand why there are so many songs and poems and books about love, because when you’re truly in love, the reality of it transcends any combination of words.

I pull into my driveway and glance at the clock on the dashboard. I have forty-five minutes until Leo is supposed to call, time enough to shower and change. And maybe put something sexy on. Just as a little teaser for tomorrow. I have a lacy camisole that might do the trick—nothing over the top, just subtly sexy.

Smiling at the thought, I unlock the front door and head inside, pausing at the entryway table to set down my bag. There’s a mirror on the wall above the table and I look into it willingly, concentrating on my smile and the way my eyes are sparkling instead of the scar on my cheek. I still don’tliketo look at it, but I’m gradually coming to accept it’s a new, but not necessarily bad, part of me.

I’m heading down the hall toward my bedroom, thinking about some of the cute clothes I’m going to buy using my employee discount, when I hear the tiny creak. Just a whisper of noise, easily overlooked or passed off as an old house settling. But I haven’t lived through two stalkers to ignore any strange noise, no matter how innocent its cause.

Halfway down the hallway and just a few feet from the bedroom, I hold my breath, freezing in place like I’m playing a terrifying game of red light-green light. I strain my ears to hear any other sounds, but I can’t hear anything other than my pulse thundering in my head.

My phone is clutched in my hand, but I remember Rylan telling me it’s always better to have both hands free. So I tuck it into my back pocket and hope that I’m getting freaked out over nothing. I’msureit’s nothing. Butstill.

Maybe I should get out of the house. Go back to my car, drive somewhere I know is safe. But then what? Sleep in my car and wait for Leo to get here tomorrow? Have him see me terrified instead of showing him the progress I’ve made?

Get out and call the police? What am I going to tell them? I heard a creaking noise? They’ll probably start laughing at me.

Or I can check out the house, see that it really was the house settling—whatever that means—and have my phone call with Leo as planned. And I don’t have to tell him any of this, or wait to tell him and laugh about it later.

It’s fine. I’m almost convinced of it. Until I hear another tiny creak of wood.

No. I don’t know the reason, don’t knowwhocould be here, but all my senses are now shrieking at me thatsomethingis wrong.

So, I start to slowly back down the hallway, trying to put my feet down carefully. My heart is pounding so hard I’m worried it will give me away, my hands are tingling, and my brain is shoutingget out get out get out!

I’ve made it halfway back toward the front door—I’m debating whether to keep going slowly or lunge for it—when my foot comes down in the exactwrongspot. The wood creaks, and to my panicked mind the sound is deafening.

Run. Run for the door. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s nothing, maybe I’ll go sprinting outside like a crazy person, but I just need to get out of here.

Once the decision is made, everything moves unbelievably fast.

There’s another creak, and another. They’re coming from the bedroom, but they aren’t just creaks—they’refootsteps. And they are coming afterme.

All thoughts of being quiet gone, I run. Breath coming in stuttering gasps, my feet pounding, I focus on the door andrun.

Part of my brain shouts a reminder—keys! But the terrified part of me doesn’t care. I just need to get outside, get to a neighbor, call for help, anything to get away from whoever is behind me.

Less than six feet to the door—I’m ready to lunge for it—when a thick arm comes around my neck and yanks me off my feet.

My brain explodes in a supernova of fear.NO! No no no no not again, NO.

It’s all the same. The weight of an arm, the dampness of sweat, the hot breath, terror, panic,helplessness.

A mouth comes near my ear, stinking of beer and cigarettes. “Georgia.“ The dark voice makes my stomach churn. “I’ve heard alotabout you.”

Why didn’t I go with Leo? I want to cry and scream at the unfairness of it.

“I’ll be taking you with me,” the man says, cold and oily. “It will be easier for you if you don’t give me any trouble.”

NO. I’m not getting taken from Leo. I’m not letting this happen.NO.

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