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“Yeah. We’ve had a stalker the last few months. It’s been intermittent. Gets quiet for a while. Then something happens. Then quiet for a while. It’s been escalating though.”
“Escalating how?” Ramsey raises a brow because I haven’t filled him in on the latest development either.
“The day of the wedding I had pictures delivered in an envelope. They were from my parents’ lake house. Images of Trix and my brother outside.”
“Oh fuck.” Ramsey gives me a sympathetic look and Quentin follows suit.
“No. No.” I shake my head. “I mean, yes, they were intended to look that way, but it wasn’t what it looked like. Trix explained everything.”
“And you believe her?” There’s a hint of suspicion in Ramsey’s tone.
“She wouldn’t lie. But the pictures were rough. Whoever sent them—that was their intention. To make me think she would lie. That she still had feelings for him. Which means whoever it is has been watching us enough to know something’s been going on and wanted to try to stop it.”
“So someone who’s got a thing for one of you then?” Quentin’s brow furrows.
“I guess? Trix thinks it’s a fan of mine. I think they would have made themselves known by now if it was a fan. I think it’s someone who wants her.”
“Your brother?” Quentin asks.
“Rob? He’s engaged and has a baby on the way.”
“I’d still be fucking pissed if my brother went after my girl. Fuck, if he looked at her wrong, I’d set his shit on fire for thinking it.” Ramsey tosses his menu down on the pile at the center of the table.
“My girl. And you’ve never had a girl.”
“All the more reason if I did. Your brother’s a prick. I don’t think you can rule him out,” Ramsey says.
“Nah. I knew Rob pretty well when I played with him in Pittsburgh.” Quentin shakes his head. “Pissed, sure. Grumble about it, definitely. But spending his time stalking her? No way. Plus, the pictures had him in them, right?”
“Yeah.”
“So what’d he do, take pictures of himself?” Quentin looks to Ramsey.
“Hired someone. Put some cameras in the woods. Can’t imagine that it’s that hard to set something up if you’re dedicated to the task.” Ramsey shrugs.
“He wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hire someone. He didn’t even know she was coming with me. No way he set up cameras in the woods. He had a lot on his plate with the pregnant fiancée and the two kids in tow.” I shake my head.
“Honestly, it’s more fucked up if it wasn’t him, given that it means some stranger neither of you know about is dedicated enough to follow you out to the middle of nowhere.”
“I know.” I down a long drink of my beer before I set it on the table again. “I don’t want Trix to know, but I’m starting to lose my shit that we can’t figure this out. I’m just desperate to get to the bottom of it before someone gets hurt. I hate being away from her for a single second. I only feel comfortable being here because I know she’s with Madison, and Madison’s read in on everything.”
“They’re at East’s place tonight. Bea’s safe. Don’t worry.” Quentin gives me a sympathetic look.
“I can’t let anything happen to her. Not after everything. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and Lizzy just fucking loves her.” I can feel my heart rate kick up in my chest just thinking about something happening to her.
“Madison’s great at this stuff. She has lots of connections. You guys have gotten investigators involved, right?” Quentin asks.
“Yeah. But it doesn’t feel like enough. Sometimes, I wonder if her father is right about her being back with him, where he has a whole security team to watch her. But I can’t stand the idea of her being across the country. I don’t feel like anyone is gonna watch her the way I will, you know?”
“I get it. I’d feel the same about Madison.” Quentin nods.
“You’re doing everything you can. And like I said, you need an extra set of hands at the house, I’m there whenever you need me.” Ramsey gives me a nod. Ramsey doesn’t talk much about his life before football or his family, but I know enough to know that it wasn’t the same sort of middle-class suburban life I’d had growing up.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
A moment later, the waitress is back to take our orders, and while Quentin gives her his, I drift off to thoughts of Trix again. Hoping that I’m doing right by her. Because I can’t lose her, not now that I finally have her, and we have a shot at something real.
38
