My fingers drum restlessly against my leg, betraying my urge to snake my hand through the porch slats, snatch the note, press it to my chest, and drink in his scent.
That probably wouldn’t be smart.
My eyes dart through the darkness, the house looming close overhead. My pulse hammers in my ears. I force my hand to stay put, muscles quivering with restraint.
Right?
But…
Hedidwrite it for me.
So, that means it’s mine.
The thought lands possessively in my chest, anchoring me even as my pulse races. Before I leave my hiding place beneaththe porch, I go still and listen. The wind is calm. The animals are silent. Nothing stirs. Nothing breathes.
Except me.
My heart pounds so violently against my ribs that I am sure it echoes through the night, giving me away to anyone listening. I flatten my palm over my chest, desperate to quiet it.
It doesn’t.
Something furry crawls over my hand.
My breath freezes. I bite my lip so hard I taste blood, fighting a scream that claws at my throat. My muscles coil, every instinct shriekingmove, move, move.
Staring down a monster intent on killing me? A walk in the park. Facing down an eight-legged creature trying to eat my face off for dinner? Nope. Absolutely not.
Torch the house. Problem solved.
When I was little, Dad always took care of them for me. He’d remind me that fear was natural, but cruelty was not. Respect their lives, he’d say. They have their world, I have mine. I’m cool with that. We can share the same air, just not the same corners.
I only let myself breathe when the spider finally decides I’m not worth its trouble and scurries off. My shoulders slump, the tension leaving me in a trembling wave.
Just to be sure, I slip my phone from my hoodie pocket and open the secret app. Four camera feeds blossom across the screen, washing my face in a chill blue glow.
Living room.
Kitchen.
Guest room.
Bedroom.
Each room sits empty, so I swipe to the next set of feeds, hungry for more angles, more proof.
Back.
Front.
Garage.
Nothing stirs. No eyes catch me as I watch his place.
It took years to master slipping into Tomcat’s security system without leaving a trace. The club’s people are freaking smart, which makes it almost laughable that I’ve stayed invisible this long.
The thought makes something delicate and breakable twist tight inside my chest.
I don’t know who I’d be without this. Watching him fills a hollow I can't name.