Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
“My first class is at 10:30, too. Do you eat at the second job, or will you be hungry after?”
“I’ll be famished.”
“Great. Then you can bring my car back and I’ll make us something to eat.”
“You cook?” I ask with interest before realizing I can’t go to his place again.
“I eat, don’t I? I better know how to cook.”
I sigh happily. “I love a man that can cook. Unfortunately, I can’t hang out tonight. I’ll be dead on my feet after running around all day, so I won’t be much fun. And I need to feed my cat.”
“You need to feed your cat,” he replies, and I can practically hear his deadpan tone through the phone screen.
“And hang out with her,” I text back. “She misses me.”
“What if I miss you?”
My heart drops right out of its cavity at the unexpected flirtation. “You don’t,” I shoot back, “You’re just used to getting your way.”
“Maybe. In any case, you’re coming over. We can do it the easy way or the hard way.”
“What does the hard way entail?”
“Keep telling me no and you’ll find out.”
I crack a smile. “I mean, I haven’t actually SAID the word no…”
“Good. Don’t start now.”
I sigh, but before I have a chance to answer, he texts again.
“What time do you get off?”
“The restaurant closes at nine, but I’ll have to clean up. Then I have to swing by the apartment to feed Toast, so I can probably be there by ten.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
___
My brain is fried by the time I’m leaving work.
I didn’t feel unsafe earlier because it was daytime. It’s been a dreary day, but the sky was bright enough so there was no darkness to hide in.
Can’t say that now.
Ordinarily I have no problem going to my car by myself, but as it got later tonight, I found myself worrying. My phone was unlocked for a long time last night, so it’s likely the guys went through it. I don’t know if there’s evidence of where I work in my phone, but my best bet is probably to assume there is and to operate under the assumption that by now, they could know where I work and what time I get off.
Julie, one of the other waitresses, notices me lingering by the door on her way out. “Are you waiting for a ride?”
“No, just… hyping myself up to walk to my car,” I say lightly.
She eyes me strangely, which I suppose is fair. “You want me to walk with you?”
“No. Thank you, but I’m okay.” I flash her a smile to assure her, and after a moment she leaves.
I might feel safer with an escort, but there’s no way in hell I’d risk her safety as well as mine. The guys that might be after me are rapey assholes, and they would likely outnumber us. If I’m going to have an escort, I’m gonna need a guy.
I think about going to the kitchen to get one of the guys back there to walk me outside, but then I think about them making fun of me about it for the rest of my life, and I decide it’s not worth it.
Before I step outside, I open the phone so both of my contacts are easily clickable in case of emergency. I parked close to the door even though we’re not supposed to so I wouldn’t have to walk far, and I’ll walk fast.
It will be fine.
I hate the dread that stays with me as I speedwalk out the door and to Killian’s car. I feel safer once I’m inside with the doors locked, but I still look around to make sure no one is waiting in the shadows.
Then I start the car and get the hell out of here.
The dread starts all over again when I get home. I don’t even bother looking for a spot behind the building. I park on the street since I won’t be here long, then I hustle inside, my heart pounding until the moment I close and lock my apartment door.
Toast is curled up on the couch, but her eyes open when I come inside. I smile at her and walk over to give her a little head scratch. “Hey, pretty girl. Let’s get you some dinner, hm?”
She uncurls and stretches, so I go to the kitchen to get her a tin of food and dish it out in her little bowl.
Stacie must be in her bedroom. I try not to make too much noise in case she’s studying because I know how thin the walls are.
I’m making good time, so I decide to hop in the shower to wash the smell of restaurant off me and actually do something with my hair. I brush on a quick coat of mascara and grab a backup lip gloss since my favorite was in my clutch last night, then I wrap my towel around me and open the bathroom door.