Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I gritted my teeth but didn’t argue.
She obviously felt threatened, and I wasn’t about to pass up an escort, no matter if she was mean to me or not.
Tonight had been overwhelming, and though Garrett hadn’t seen anything, I know what I felt.
And that was unsafe.
After Garrett reluctantly agreed, we set off not for the elevator, but the stairs.
“Where do you live?” she grumbled.
“Down a floor.” I gestured with my finger in the direction.
“Of course you do,” she groused.
I didn’t know what that was supposed to mean, but I didn’t question it and instead remained silent as I led the way to my apartment.
Once there, I put my thumb on the handle and pushed the door open wide.
There was a long pause as I waited for her to say what she had to say, but nothing was ever said.
“Delphine?” I asked.
There was no answer.
I sighed.
Had she even come out of the stairwell?
I tried to remember if I could hear any extra noise, but Rooster was panting so hard that it was making it hard to hear much of anything besides that.
I went inside and closed the door, being sure to dead bolt it.
I then cursed myself for my blindness.
Had I been able to see, tonight would have been completely different.
Right?
My phone dinged, and I pulled it out of my pocket as I took Rooster’s leash off.
“Siri, read my messages.”
Mom:
Are you home?
Mom:
Text me when you’re back. I’m not nearly as worried now that I know Garrett was there.
Mom:
I just love Garrett. He’s so cute.
Mom:
Do you think that we can come down to see you maybe in a few months over Easter? I want to see Garrett again.
Mom:
Okay, I’ll stop now.
Garrett:
Did Delphine get you back safe and sound?
“Reply?” Siri asked.
“Reply to Mom: I’m back safe,” I said.
“Done,” Siri confirmed.
I didn’t know what to say to him, so I left it alone for a bit as I opened the door and walked out onto my balcony.
A soft woof had me smiling, then reaching up to press my fingers against Boss’ nose. “Hey there, buddy. Isn’t it time for bed?”
“You know,” Delphine said. “Your apartment is pretty bare.”
I screamed.
Like a freakin’ B-actress movie girl that was about to die.
I screamed so loud and long that I ran out of breath and felt dizzy.
“What the fuck?” Delphine asked.
“I thought you left!” I cried out.
“God, stop barking! You three are overly dramatic.” She sighed.
That’s when I realized that not only was Rooster barking, but so was Boss above me.
“What the fuck is going on?” Garrett asked.
I assumed that he was now hanging over the balcony looking at us.
“She’s in my apartment!” I cried out, heart still pounding.
“You literally just had some man ‘chasing’ you. I looked through your house to make sure he didn’t happen to get inside.” She snorted.
“I called out to you, and you didn’t answer. How was I supposed to know you were here?” I asked.
“I don’t know, open your ears?” she suggested. “Geez.”
She left, then.
At least I thought she did.
I heard the door slam, and then I closed my eyes as I dropped down to my knees on my balcony.
Frog parking only. All others will be toad.
—Parking lot sign
GARRETT
I could hear her crying.
It was literally breaking my heart.
“Bindi,” I called out. “Can you go open your door?”
“No,” she said through her tears. “I’m going to stay right here and cry.”
I eyed the distance from my balcony to hers, and decided not to risk it.
My family probably wouldn’t understand my falling to my death from five stories because I wanted to get to a crying woman.
So instead, I stayed exactly where I was and watched her cry.
She did it silently, and that hurt my heart even more.
Was she silent when she cried because that one time she was forced to be, and it became such an ingrained habit that she couldn’t cry any other way?
I’d looked up the robber that had gone to her house when she was fourteen and stolen all kinds of stuff.
They’d found him at a house a couple of blocks over after he’d left, and Bindi had been brave enough to crawl out and call the police.
The guy was currently serving a life sentence for robbery because he was a many times over repeat offender.
The judge had finally thrown the book at him at his last trial and he would be there for the rest of his life.
“Bindi,” I tried again when I just couldn’t take it anymore. “Could you please let me in?”
She sniffled, then shook her head. “No, Garrett. I’m sorry I even came to your place today, to be honest. I shouldn’t have involved you since you said it was dangerous to be seen with you right now, anyway. Had you found whomever it was that was following me, you would’ve been obligated to do something about it, and that would’ve drawn attention to you and me.”