Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“I didn’t expect you to throw yourself at another man the second I was out of the picture. In fact, I tend to agree with your ex.” Stalking toward me, he pinned my shoulders to the couch, yanked his mask down, and bared his teeth. “You are a slut—”
I choked and shot upright.
Just a dream.
Just a dream.
Rubbing my rabbiting heart, I squinted in the bright sunshine streaming through my window. Peng meowed where he blinked from my pillow, his ginger coat so much shinier than when I first got him.
Scooping him into a hug, I lay back down and placed his soft, warm weight on my chest. He kneaded me, no doubt feeling my racing heart beneath him.
The longer he made biscuits on my Sailor Moon t-shirt, the slower my pulse became.
Just a dream, that’s all.
I’d done something very out of character last night. It was only natural my conscience decided to punish me.
X would never hurt me.
Even if he did get jealous, it wouldn’t drive him to do what Milton did.
I’m safe.
So why did I reach for my phone to check if he’d messaged me? Why did I feel both sad and angry that he hadn’t replied to my panicked thread from last night?
For all he knew, I was still in the movie theatre, curled in a ball in the corner.
Even Zander hadn’t messaged me.
But Lily had.
Lily: OMG, pick up the damn phone. I’m worried sick.
Lily: Why did Zander call me and demand to know where you were last night?
Lily: Are you dead? Because you’re going to be for ignoring me.
Lily: Sailor, you call me back right now!
Lily: Sails…I’m super worried about you.
“Uh-oh.” Shifting Peng off my chest, I went to call her—
Someone pounded like a crazed animal on my front door. “Sailor Moon, you open this door right now!”
“Eep, I’m in trouble.” I winced and nose bopped Peng. “Can you protect me? She’s super scary when she’s mad.”
He yawned, showing me his sharp little teeth.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Scooting out of bed, I grabbed my kitten and darted down the stairs in my night shorts and oversized tee. Lily kept knocking, the banging echoing down the corridor as I flicked the dead bolt and wrenched it open.
Her eyes roved over me. She looked flawless in a power suit of rich grey with a black shirt and heels, her hair coiled and perfect. “Well, you’re not dead then.”
Throwing myself at her, I hugged her, squishing Peng between us. “I am soooo sorry, Lils. I have no excuse. But after what happened in the movies and then in the car park and then with Zander, exhaustion swamped me the moment I got home, and I crashed. I crashed way harder than I thought I would and—”
“Whoa, what? What happened with Zander?”
“That’s what you decide to focus on?” I huffed, pulling away.
Kissing my cheek, revealing she wasn’t that mad, she moved me aside and stomped toward the kitchen. “Fine. What happened in the car park? What happened in the movie? I demand to know every minute of last night, and then you’re going to tell me everything that you’ve been hiding.”
Following her, I plopped Peng onto the countertop, then scooped up his bowl and put his morning rations into it. The orange furball ploughed headfirst, ignoring both of us as I added water to the kettle and two lemongrass-ginger teabags to big chunky mugs.
While the kettle boiled, I gathered my hair into a messy ponytail and figured out how to tell her that I’d fooled around with my stalker, had the hots for my neighbour, and beat up a guy who’d tried to rob me.
But…I froze.
My mind finally caught up to what I’d seen outside when I’d answered the door.
Something that shouldn’t be there.
“Hang on.” Racing back through the house, I ripped open the door and tripped onto the front deck.
My car slept peacefully on the driveway as if it’d been there all night long.
How is that possible?
Glancing at Zander’s house, I saw no evidence of him being awake so early. Not that eight o’clock was early. With his crazy shifts, he could already be elbow-deep in a surgery.
Huh, that’s strange.
The camera on his veranda that usually pointed at his garage had been angled to point at my front yard. Had the wind done that? Why would it—?
“You better start talking, Sails. Otherwise, I’m going to hold you down and tickle you like we did as kids until I get answers.” She wriggled her fingers. “I haven’t forgotten how quickly you squeal when I find that spot between your ribs.”
I flinched away from her. “No need for threats. I have every intention of telling you. But…hold that thought.”
“Oh my God, you’re driving me mad.” Lily stomped her high heel as I padded barefoot down the garden path and opened the car door. No clues hinted to how it’d gotten here on its own. No note. No answers.