Secret Words(9)

She didn't know if George and that girl were still together but she wouldn't be surprised if they'd split. It would serve George right. But what worried her now was that George might be being vindictive. He was the one who cheated and slept around but he wanted her to have that reputation. Now his pal Tim was bothering the hell out of her. Some dysfunctional trait in common must have bound those two as friends.

Nervous goosebumps covered her with the knowledge that Tim had known she spent last night alone in the house. Was he watching her? Following her?

She stood up and tiptoed to the window. She couldn't make out any person sitting inside any of the cars parked outside. She released the breath she was holding and let out a little laugh.

You're just being paranoid, Jasmine.

Still, she wanted to be with other people tonight. Who could she call?





*******





"Thanks so much for having me. I hope I didn't ruin any plans you have for tonight with my last minute dinner request," Jasmine said as she greeted Clarise Matthews, Jessa's other best friend who also worked for Ray—the Ray who was Kane's future brother-in-law.

She forcefully pushed aside the 'Kane connection' her brain made as she gave Clarise a hug.

"Of course you didn't, Jaz. We're glad you called," Clarise responded. "Come on in."

"Clarise was just saying to me how we should invite you over for dinner when you rang. You must have some sort of sixth sense," Will Matthews, Clarise's husband, said.

Jasmine chuckled. "Well, I'm here to help prepare. What are we having?"

"Pasta. Then we're having Clarise's special tiramisu for dessert," Will responded happily. "You're in for a treat. My wife makes the best tiramisu on the planet."

"Stop exaggerating," Clarise said.

"But it's true!" Will huffed.

Jasmine followed the couple into their kitchen, watching as they exchanged light-hearted banter, sweet little touches and a quick kiss.

This is why I want to find love. I want that too, not some freaky attention by a man who could be dangerous.

Tim's increasingly weird behaviour was unsettling her. A part of her wanted to believe he couldn't possibly be so stupid as to force himself on her, but what if she was wrong? She didn't get it right when she thought his friend George was a good guy.

Well, Tim should be leaving Sydney in two weeks. All she had to do was surround herself with people or stay put in Rob and Jessa's house until then. For now it was important to show Tim, if he was indeed stalking her, that he wouldn't be able to predict her movements so there was no point wasting his time.





~~~~~~~





"I've had a really wonderful time, guys. Thank you," Jasmine said sincerely as she prepared to leave.

"Hey, anytime, Jaz. We'll do it again soon," Clarise said. "Oh, wait, don't forget your leftovers."

Jasmine felt her phone vibrate and pulled it out of her purse as she waited for Clarise to come back from the kitchen. She froze as she read the text message.





*Sweet pea, are you staying home tomorrow night? You're out very late tonight. I'm jealous. Dinner tomorrow with me, okay?*





Her hand flew to her mouth as fear gripped her. Tim knew she wasn't home. Was he outside the house right this minute? What would he do when she got there?

"Jaz? What's wrong?"

She looked up at Will's worried face but she couldn't speak. She simply stared at him, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"May I?" Will gestured for the phone and she handed it to him.

"Do you know this person, Jaz?" Will asked as Clarise re-joined them.

"Is everything okay?"

Will held out her phone for Clarise to read the message.

"Jaz?"

"He's … I think he's stalking me," she managed to blurt out.

"Who is he?"

"An acquaintance from Melbourne. The son of dad's business partner. He was at the wedding," she answered, feeling somewhat calmer after the initial shock had worn off.

Clarise took her hand and gently led her to the sofa. "Tell us about him."

She related to them her recent encounters with Tim, including the time when Kane helped her out.

"This dude sounds a little unstable," Will commented.

"He thinks I sleep around. That's what his friend, who happens to be my ex, led him to believe. Now he's determined to have his turn. He can't seem to get it into his thick skull that I'm not that kind of girl."

"That's horrible, Jaz!" Clarise exclaimed. "I think you should stay with us tonight. He may be watching Jess and Rob's place."

"Geez, guys, I couldn't possibly impose."

"Don't be ridiculous. I can lend you some nightwear and we have a spare toothbrush. You can even stay here until we figure out what we can do to stop him from bothering you. Maybe we should report him to the police."