“How was your morning?” he asks as the silence stretches painfully between us.
“I’m sure you already know it was fine.”
He grins. “I know what you did. Doesn’t mean I know how you felt about it.”
I shake my head at him, finishing my panini while trying desperately not to focus on his lips as they wrap around his own sandwich. He moans low in his throat as he chews. My thighs clench. I know he’s doing it on purpose.
“I missed you this morning,” he says once he’s finished.
I glare at him. “You’ve been watching me. How could you miss me?”
He stands, leaning over my desk. I gulp. He smirks. “I’ve had you by my side for the past week, Angel. Any distance is too much.” I open my mouth, ready to argue, hoping he’s not about to take away my freedom. He pulls back, collecting the rubbish and placing it in the bin by the door. “See you later. I’ll drive you home.”
Then he’s gone. But his presence lingers for the rest of the afternoon.
I can feel his eyes on me still.
There's a gap in my schedule reserved for admin, but instead I snoop around my own office, trying—and failing—to find some indication that he's got cameras hidden somewhere.
Giving up my search, I huff, annoyed. I know he's watching. I just know it. But I don't know how.
The rest of the week is much the same. Eli drives me to andfrom work on his bike, I see my clients, he brings me lunch a few times (which I have to play off as appointments), then we ride home. In the evenings he makes dinner for us both, then we sleep in the same bed. Because of course, he refuses to let me sleep elsewhere.
It’s Friday now. Gia hasn’t shown any signs of coming after me yet. And with my new phone number, she hasn’t texted. But that hasn’t eased the anxiety.
I step out of my office, my usual mask in place, covering my emotional turmoil. Liam stands as I enter. Other therapists at the practice make their patients come to them, rather than greeting them in the waiting room, but I find they open up to you more if you’re more personable. Make them feel valued, and they’re more likely to give you the truth.
“How are you today, Liam?” I ask as I close the door to my office.
Liam doesn’t sit on the sofa. Instead, he stands staring at me. I decide to remain standing too, not wanting him to talk down to me.
“Where were you last week?” he asks me, his tone almost accusing.
“That’s not really any of your business,” I explain, but then I offer a half truth. “I took the week off for some personal time.” Not a complete lie.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
I fight to remain professional at his questioning. “Liam, we’re not here to discuss me or my personal life.”
He finally sits. “Sorry.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, taking my seat across from him.
“It’s just my intrusive thoughts.”
“What are they saying?”
“That you’re in danger.”
I press my lips together. “For any particular reason?”
“I don’t know. I just have this feeling.”
Well, I might well be in danger if Gia ever finds me. But he doesn't know that.
“As we discussed last time, the thoughts are not rooted in reality. There is no reason for you to think I’m in danger.”
He squeezes his hands into fists. “Something bad is going to happen. You need to get away from him.”