So what? The tiny voice in my skull buzzed. It doesn't matter. You don't want to see him again! What good could come from interacting with a guy like him?
As if on cue, his scent wafted off of the jacket. A helpless flutter traveled into my scraped knees. It was too easy to be reminded of what it had been like to be so close to him. How he'd teased me, bound me, made me come while his cock drove into me at full capacity.
Keswick Silverwell.
I had so many questions I wanted answers to.
Would I ever get them?
“Have a good night,” the cop said as he pulled outside my home.
Climbing from the car, I shivered at the cold puddles around my ankles. “Thanks for the ride.”
“You sure you're alright?”
Considering his question, I came close to asking him to stay nearby. If I said I had a stalker, would he believe me? Wouldn't I have to give him the name of the man who might show up here?
Deep down, I realized I didn't want to get Silver in trouble.
I really was fucked up.
“I'm fine. Thank you again.” Turning, I ran up to my door. But here's the truth. As much as I didn't want to cause harm to Silver... I still took my phone out, dialing most of the emergency number before stalking around my house with a baseball bat in hand.
I was alone.
Except for my torrent of thoughts... I was alone.
Water hit me in the face.
“Hey!” I shouted, gaping at Laralie.
Her face pinched in, no humor in her usually cheery features. “Talk to me.”
It had been three days since I'd last seen Silver. Or Keswick. I didn't know what to call him anymore. Either way, Laralie had sensed my brooding mood—not that I'd been subtle—and asked me out to lunch.
I was regretting agreeing to it, especially as she sat across from me, her straw at the ready. Pushing my half-eaten sandwich away, I sighed. “There's nothing to talk about—ah!” She'd flicked more water; I hastily wiped it from my shirt. “Laralie, come on.”
“I gave you fair warning. Talk to me, or be water boarded!”
“This is unnecessary torture!”
“Only if you keep resisting!”
Throwing my hands up, I rolled my eyes. “Okay, okay! I surrender, I'll talk.”
Grinning, she pushed the cup away, folding her hands under her chin expectantly.
Drying my cheek, I held back a small smile. Laralie was ridiculous, but maybe I needed this kind of blunt tactic. “You know the guy that sent me that dress?”
Her eyes flashed. “Of course I do. It was gorgeous.”
I decided not to tell her what the fate of the dress had been. After getting home and seeing how ruined it was, I'd regretfully tossed it in the trash. “We had a bit of a... fight.” There wasn't a better word.
Laralie nodded sagely, not acting surprised. “I figured that was what was going on. Did he do something stupid?”
Opening my mouth, I hesitated. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I don't know. I'm still trying to figure it all out.”
At least that part was true.
“I think I get it,” she said, sipping at her drink.
“You do?”
“Oh yeah.” Her manicured nail jabbed at me. “Turns out he wasn't who you thought he was, huh?”
My eyes flew wide, hands crushing the table edge. She was too close to the reality of it all.
Her hair bounced, her nodding never seeming to stop. “I knew he couldn't be that rich. He was faking being a big shot, trying to impress you and all, and you figured it out. Well, good for you, Alexis!”
Laughing sheepishly, I slid deeper in my chair. Good for me. “I guess so.”
“You're better off without a faker.” She blinked at me. “Shit, I just realized something.”
My heart thumped. “What?”
Narrowing her eyes, she sighed dramatically. “That dress was probably a fake, too. And here I was, hoping to borrow it from you and never return it again. Life is awful.”
Holding my mouth, I bent forward and shook with laughter. The movement rattled me so hard it eased out the tension that had built up for several days. Wiping my eyes, I saw Laralie smiling at me knowingly. “Thanks,” I said. “I needed that.”
Dropping some money, she stood up. “Don't mention it. Just treat me to a good time in the future and we'll call it even. I haven't been out in forever!”
Together we slid out the restaurant door, the air feeling cleaner to me. My steps were lighter, too. Was the weight that had been sitting on the back of my neck vanishing?
It was a short walk back to our building. With all the people wandering the sidewalks, I didn't notice the detective at first. But he saw me, his arm lifting to wave. “Miss Willow!”
Laralie froze exactly like I did.
He'd been leaning against the stone wall that ran along the sidewalk. Now, he pushed forward, coming our way with determination. I counted his every step until he was right in front of me. “Miss Willow,” he said again, tipping his chin. “How are you doing?”