SWNOVELS The Fake Zone: Chapter 30
I take another drink of Sprite, replaying the conversation in my head again as I wait for Hudson and Evelyn to meet me. I stare blankly at the menu for the tenth time, Mariachi music playing in the background as I munch on a tortilla chip.
“Hey,” Evelyn greets merrily, stopping at the table. I stand and wrap my arms around her, my lungs filling. I sent her three texts last night and two more this morning to ensure they were okay, and I didn’t leave them like sitting ducks.
“We ran into Grey, and I kind of invited him to come,” she whispers guiltily in a rushed voice.
I glance up, spotting them just a few feet away. Knowing Evelyn, ran into means they texted him, inviting him to come.
I can’t believe I cried in front of Grey. On my intimacy scale, crying is a ten. I haven’t held his hand, but Grey has brought me to orgasm and now seen me cry. I don’t want him here because I’m going to be opening the intimacy gates to Hudson and Mila, apologizing and delving into all things Julian Holloway, which include my fears and insecurities.
“Hey,” Hudson says, greeting me with a loose hug before he slides into the booth across from me. Evelyn sits next to him, forcing Grey to the seat beside me. I scoot over to give him extra room, but he moves with me, his thigh grazing mine, just close enough to feel the heat of his skin and wish he were closer.
I consider postponing this conversation and pretending I just wanted to see them to catch up, but my last class will keep me out until after eight, and the chance of Evelyn being home alone makes delaying this conversation impossible.
“Yesterday, after meeting with Briggs, I saw Julian Holloway.” I rip the Band-Aid clean off.
Hudson’s gaze snaps to mine. “Again?”
“Again?” Grey’s hand drops to the table, and he goes still, eyes pinned on me, making my face heat. I know if I turn to look at him, I’ll find accusation staring back at me.
Hudson looks from me to Grey and back again. “You need to tell him. We should have told him last year.”
“I did. I told him about Julian breaking in when asking him to train me.”
Hudson doesn’t look half as shocked as he does proud and relieved.
“When did you see him the first time?” Grey asks, eyes critical as he turns to look at me, his thigh pressing against my knee.
“Last Sunday.”
Recognition has his sapphire eyes blazing, realizing that was the same night I came and watched Cole fight at Better Days.
I turn my gaze to Hudson as he asks, “Why didn’t you call me?”
“You were in practice, and Evelyn was in class when it happened.”
“Where did you see him? Did he talk to you again?” Evelyn searches my face. “God, Mila. Are you okay?”
“He talked to you last Sunday?” Grey asks. Evelyn and I take turns telling him about our first incident.
“We run through that park every day,” Grey says.
I nod. I’ve wondered how many times he might have seen me, no less than a dozen times. I pull in a breath. “I think he might be following me. He was waiting beside my car yesterday.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Hudson mutters, dropping his menu. “What happened?” His gaze rakes over me as Grey’s had, taking inventory of my features like he’s searching for wounds.
“He was talking about a bunch of nonsense.” I shake my head, still unable to recall all the details of the conversation. “Something about ignoring letters and missing someone’s funeral.”
“Letters? We need to go to the police,” Evelyn says.
“I did, and they said he wasn’t doing anything illegal. That unless I can prove he’s following me or wants to hurt me, there’s nothing I can do.”
“What about a restraining order?” she asks.
I shake my head again. I read extensively about restraining orders last night after terror led me down one too many rabbit holes online. “Same situation. To get one, I’d have to prove he has the intent to harm or kill me, and it would still have to be reviewed by a judge.”
The guys have to abide by stricter rules to play college football.
“Did he ask for anything? Make any demands?” Grey asks.
“No, but our conversations have all been pretty short. Yesterday, we were only alone for a couple of minutes when a guy came outside, and I stopped him. He called the cops, and Julian left.”
Hudson runs a hand over his hair, jaw strained. I know he’s mad at me and, even worse, disappointed. “Mila, he’s already broken into your apartment. Why in the hell did you think going to your parents’ house alone last night was a good idea if you think he’s following you?”
Grey bristles beside me, but I can’t look at him to know if Hudson’s tone or something else puts him on edge because my emotions are shuffling like a deck of cards. It’s anyone’s guess which one is going to be flipped over first.
“I didn’t want him to follow me to the apartment.”
Hudson’s gaze hardens. “That was stupid. You put yourself in danger.”
“I refuse to put the two of you in danger.” I swallow as my throat thickens and my face grows warm.
“Mila,” Hudson’s voice turns soft. I quickly shake off his impending apology. I can’t hear it right now. I want his anger—need it to help me flip over a new card that won’t entail me sobbing over our tortilla chips in a restaurant filled with strangers.
“Do we think he’s a stalker?” Evelyn asks. “What do we do about a stalker?” She reaches for her phone, ready to devise a plan.
“I don’t know.” My voice is raspy from the emotions I work to swallow again. “It doesn’t make sense. He’s been gone for months. I haven’t seen him since he broke into my apartment. Nothing about this makes sense.” This line is becoming my catchphrase, and in my head, I hear Briggs reminding me again that it doesn’t have to make sense.
Evelyn shifts her water glass and sets both hands on the table. “The apartment’s safe, though. We have an alarm system, and to get in, you have to stop at the gates and be let in by the guards.”
“There’s no gate to walk in,” Grey says. “We run the green trail every morning.”
Hudson leans back. “We should stay at the dorm.” He turns to Evelyn and then me. “It’s a locked building. He’d need a key card to get in, and there are cameras and security everywhere. Plus, a hundred guys are on the same floor and would be happy to put him at the bottom of a dogpile.”
I hadn’t even considered the idea. Fear has made me tunnel-focused, but the thought surprisingly calms my frazzled nerves. As safe as our apartment has felt these past few months, knowing Julian is a mile away any given day sends ice into my veins. Plus, Hudson’s right, the dorms are secured, filled with people, and he’s on the fourth floor, ensuring Julian won’t be staring at us through any windows.
“You guys can have the bedroom, and I’ll sleep on the couch,” Hudson says.
“I’m not taking your bed,” I tell him.
“You could stay with me,” Grey offers.
I turn to Grey.
He presses his thigh against my knee a little harder. “That way we could get some extra training sessions in.”
Despite the cradle of fear I’ve been cocooned in all day, his words elicit filthy thoughts that make my face flush. “Are you sure? I know you need to focus and…”
“I’m positive,” he says. “I wouldn’t offer if I weren’t okay with it.”
“We’d still be close. I could walk to classes with you,” Evelyn says.
Hesitation fills me as I stare at Grey. Staying in his hotel room for one night was way different than moving into his dorm for a week—maybe longer. “For how long?” I ask.
“Until we figure this shit out,” Hudson says, sealing our deal.