Page 26 of Stalkers Anonymous

That’s when I see it.

A piece of paper tucked under my wiper, stark white against the dark glass.

My stomach drops before I even register why. It’s just a piece of paper. Probably nothing. But something about it immediately feels wrong.

“What’s that?” Cole asks, his tone suddenly concerned.

I force a casual laugh that sounds false even to my own ears. I’ve always been a terrible actress. “Probably just an ad for a car wash or something. Or maybe Rachel left me a note.”

But in my gut, I know it’s neither of those things.

I quicken my pace slightly, reaching my car before Cole can. I snatch the paper, folding it quickly before he can see what it says. But it only takes me the space of a heartbeat to read it.

I’m watching you.

My entire body tenses. Three words. Nothing else.

“Everything okay?” Cole asks, his hazel eyes studying my face with an intensity that should probably worry me but doesn’t.

“Fine,” I say, shoving the note into my jacket pocket. “Just one of those annoying flyers. They put them on every car downtown.”

It’s a terrible lie. We both know it. The whole street is full of parked cars, and mine was the only one with anything on the windshield.

Cole’s jaw tightens. His expression sharpens with the protective alertness of a predator catching the scent of prey. “Hailey.”

“Really, it’s nothing.” I pull my car keys from my purse, needing something to do with my hands. “Probably just someone being weird.”

“Someone being weird by specifically targeting your car?” His voice has an edge now. “Can I see it?”

“No.” The word comes out more forcefully than I intended. I soften my tone. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m sure it’s nothing. Just… Fort Collins has some strange people sometimes.”

Like Lars Winters.

The thought hits me hard. It could be him. He knows my name. He knows about Chewy. Could he know my car, too?

But I’m not going to drag Cole into this. I just met him. He doesn’t need to be involved in whatever situation I have developing with a patient who’s probably just trying to scare me so he can manipulate me into getting the drugs he wants.

“Hailey.” Cole steps closer, and I can see the conflict playing across his stubbled face. The sight of him so concerned forces a fracture in the walls I’ve built to protect myself. “If someone’s bothering you—”

“It’s nothing,” I interrupt. “I can handle it. I’m not helpless.”

I instantly regret the bite in my tone.

“I never said you were.”

“Good.” I press a button on my key fob, the sound of the car locks disengaging cutting through the tension. “Because I’m not. I’ve dealt with difficult people before. Creepy patients, asshole colleagues who can’t take the hint—it comes with the territory. It’s fine.”

It’s not fine. I’ve already said too much.

“This was a doctor?” Cole’s voice sharpens even more.

I immediately shake my head. “No.” Hot tears press at the back of my eyes, but I blink several times to force them away. “It wasn’t one of the doctors.”

Cole’s hands clench at his sides, but I can tell he’s forcing restraint. “A patient did this?”

Fuck. I knew I said too much.

“Maybe. I don’t know.” I open the driver’s door, creating a barrier between us. “Look, I really do need to get to work.”