Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“Jesus, Stevie, I’m right in here sorting clothes for the laundromat,” Valerie said, walking out of what I assumed was a bedroom, carrying a basket with clothes. “You don’t have to shout.”
A startled look passed over Valerie’s features at seeing me there, too. “Oh, hey…hi, Caleb—”
“Was Mark here?” Stevie demanded to know, interrupting any pleasantries.
Confusion flickered in Valerie’s eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m pretty sure I saw his car parked outside the building.”
Valerie set the laundry basket down on the couch, her demeanor turning cautious. “You think, or you for sure saw him?”
“It was a black BMW, Val,” Stevie said, and I could hear the genuine worry in her voice. “I don’t know if Mark was for sure behind the wheel, but what are the chances of a car like his being in this neighborhood, just hanging out in front of the apartment building?”
Valerie visibly paled, which told me how frightened of this asshole she was. “If he was here, he didn’t come up to the apartment.”
Stevie’s lips flattened into a grim line. “Maybe he didn’t have the chance to because he saw me first.”
Finally, I stepped forward and offered my advice. “You should call the police and report the incident.”
“There’s no proof,” Valerie said, shaking her head, which did nothing to chase away the distress that was plain on her face. “The restraining order does prohibit Mark from contacting me in any way. By phone, text, email, social media, or in person, but…if he didn’t actually come up to the apartment, neither I nor Stevie can prove that he was here because it would be his word against mine.”
That was true because there were no fucking security cameras to record and catch suspicious activities around the building. I was beyond frustrated by those lack of safety measures, but kept my tone neutral. “If you report it, the police will at least have it on record.”
“He’s right, Val,” Stevie said, taking her sister’s hands in hers and looking into her eyes. “If Mark is getting ballsy enough to start stalking you again, then we need to make sure these incidents are reported because there’s no telling what lines he’s capable of crossing.”
Valerie folded her arms over her chest, as if trying to hold herself together. She nodded her agreement, tears of legitimate fear shimmering in her eyes, which gave me a good indication of how scared she was of this asshole. That despite a restraining order, she knew her safety was in jeopardy. And by association, Stevie was equally vulnerable if Valerie’s ex was that determined to get to her, by any means necessary.
The whole situation set me on edge and I had to take a deep, calming breath while Stevie consoled her sister, then retrieved her cellphone from her purse and made a call to the police to file the report for Valerie, which she was able to do over the phone.
That gave me too much time to look around the apartment, to really realize how small the place was with minimal furnishings, though the living area was neat and tidy, and so was the compact kitchenette. From what I could see, there was only one bedroom. The fact that there was a blanket and pillow folded up on the couch told me that Valerie was probably sleeping on the sofa for now.
I regarded the less-than-desirable neighborhood. Both of the women’s safety. The cramped apartment. I took everything into consideration and came to a single conclusion which I expressed to Stevie once she was off the phone.
“Okay, that’s done,” she said, setting her cellphone aside before glancing back at me. “Thank you for bringing me home, and I appreciate your concern, but we’ll be fine—”
“You’re not living here,” I interrupted her, my tone unapologetically direct. “You’re moving into one of my apartments at The Cortland.”
She gaped at me, then quickly bristled, spine straightening. “I might have agreed to be your pretend girlfriend, but that doesn’t give you the right to dictate where I’m going to live.”
I was getting a quick lesson on just how independent and stubborn Stevie was. Which, admittedly, impressed and aroused me because it tapped into a very alpha, dominant side of my personality that had the urge to show her who the boss really was in this situation.
“Pretend girlfriend?” Valerie glanced between the two of us in confusion.
“A lot has happened since last night,” Stevie told her sister. “I’ll explain later.”
“Ohhkay,” Valerie said, looking intrigued by this new dynamic between me and Stevie as she took a step back. “I think I’m just going to go hang out in the bedroom and let the two of you hash out your living arrangements.”
Stevie’s lips pursed. “There are no living arrangements to hash out.”
Valerie glanced at me, and seeing my determined stance, a small smile touched the corner of her lips before she shifted her gaze back to her sister. “You know, I’m betting on Caleb winning this argument, but give it your best shot, Stevie.”