My heart started to pound.
It beat faster and faster as I frantically looked around the dark theater for him. Was he here?
Chelsea: Are you in this theater?
Damien: Where are you?
Chelsea: Don’t you already know the answer to that question, since you’re apparently stalking me?
Damien: You were supposed to be going to see the new James Bond movie. That’s where I am. Where are you?
Chelsea: We went to see the Will Smith movie. James Bond was sold out by the time we got to the counter.
Damien: Tell him you have to use the bathroom and meet me outside.
When I didn’t immediately answer, he texted again.
Damien: I just need five minutes.
Chelsea: Ok.
“I’ll be right back,” I whispered just as the previews were starting. “Going to the restroom.”
Seeing Damien standing there, leaning against a wall as he waited for me nearly took my breath away. It made me realize that my feelings for him hadn’t lessened one bit throughout this time apart. Every bit of longing returned instantaneously, and that really sucked for me. My heart wanted to leap into his arms and ask him to take me home, but my brain stopped my legs from moving any farther than a foot away from him.
Wearing his beanie, he looked and smelled so good. He wore a white collared shirt under a fitted black sweater, which was a different look for him. The sweater clung to his muscular chest, and he had the sleeves rolled up, displaying a thick metal watch I’d never seen before. Black jeans and big black cargo boots finished off the look.
He’d gotten all dressed up to stalk me?
“Hi,” he finally said. His voice sent shivers throughout my body. I’d missed hearing it so much.
“What are you doing?”
“You never gave me his information to check him out.”
“I didn’t even realize we were still speaking. How did you know I was here and planning to see the James Bond movie?” I snapped my finger. “Oh, that’s right. You hack into my account.”
“You never changed your password.”
“I shouldn’t have to. That doesn’t give you the right to do this.”
“I’m just making sure you’re safe.”
“You’re a stalker.”
“I don’t give two fucks if that’s what you think. I already told you I had a bad feeling about that guy. If I need to swallow my pride and make a fool of myself to make sure you get home safe, I will.”
“Why are you getting involved in my life? You dropped off the face of the Earth—not one word since you moved me out.”
“That doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you. Staying away from you these past few weeks has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Why don’t you spend Friday night picking up one of your whores and stay out of my business?”
“If you’d choose men who weren’t creepy, maybe I wouldn’t have to get involved.”
“You don’t have a right to tell me who to date.” Anger and bitterness rose like bile through me as I said, “I’m only out with him because I didn’t matter enough to you.”
“You have no idea how much you fucking matter to me,” he spat out.
“This time away has taught me a lot. I couldn’t ever really be your friend because I couldn’t limit my feelings for you. I didn’t know how to do that. You were right in keeping your distance. You should have kept it that way.”
Just then, a tall brunette seemed to come out of nowhere. Her lips were painted bright red. “There you are,” she said. “I thought maybe you ditched me.”
I looked her up and down then turned to him. “You’re on a date?” Raising my voice, I repeated, “You brought a date to stalk me on mine?”
“No. That’s not how it happened.”
Jealousy was pumping through my veins. I turned to her. “Do you know you’re dating a stalker?”
“Is this your sister or something?” she asked.
“It would seem that way, wouldn’t it?” I huffed.
“I’ll be there in a minute, okay?” he told her. “Go watch the movie. It’s gonna start.”
When she was gone, I shook my head. “I can’t believe this.”
“I didn’t mean for you to see her.”
“Whatever,” I said under my breath.
As he approached me, I backed away, refusing to allow myself any reaction to the nearness of his body.
“Look, I was out to dinner nearby, and I happened to log into the site on my phone. I saw you were gonna be here. I thought maybe I would catch you coming out of that dude’s car, so I could run his plate to get info and check him out. You ended up getting here late, fucked up my plan. I don’t want you getting in his car again until I’ve checked him out.”