Page 30 of Stalkers Anonymous

So she knows I know exactly how forward I’m being, I send a gif of a retro-looking guy fake-yawning and stretching, hooking his arm around a young woman’s shoulders. The woman in the gif traces the movement with her eyes, but a small smile quirks her lips before the video loops.

Luckily, Hailey’s response comes before I can spiral too far.

Hailey: Dinner sounds perfect. Where?

Cole: Your call. What kind of food do you like?

Hailey: I’m easy. Surprise me?

Cole: Challenge accepted. How about 7?

Hailey: Sounds good. Just text me the address, and I’ll meet you there.

I notice she’s choosing to drive herself rather than having me pick her up. Smart, given whatever’s going on with this patient. We’re getting to know each other, but she should use full Stranger Danger protocol for now. It’s what I’d do in her position. Besides, for all she knows, I’ve got a creepy white van hidden in a storage unit.

Cole: Works for me. I’ll find a good spot and text you the details.

Hailey: Looking forward to it. Now I really need to get ready for work before I’m late. 😊

Cole: Go save lives. Talk to you soon.

I set my phone down when I realize my heart’s beating faster than it should be. Tomorrow. I’m seeing her tomorrow.

And maybe, if I’m careful, I can help keep her safe without crossing any lines.

I spend the next hour researching restaurants, looking for the right place. Somewhere nice but not pretentious. Intimate but not presumptuous. I finally settle on Antonio’s, a small Italian place downtown.

I make a reservation for two at seven, text Hailey the details, then turn my attention to sorting through the various security systems I plan to show her. I organize everything by category—door and window sensors, smart locks, cameras, full system packages.

It’s thorough. Maybe…too thorough.

My phone buzzes with a text from Tyler.

Tyler: Evening check-in. How’d your day go?

I stare at the message, debating how much to tell him. Jack’s words echo in my brain. Doing the bare minimum and actually working on the problem are two different things. This type of situation is exactly what the buddy system is supposed to be used for…right?

Cole: Good. Making plans to have dinner with someone tomorrow.

Tyler: Nice! Friend or date?

Cole: A bit of both, I think.

Tyler: Anything I should know about it?

This is the moment where I could tell him everything. About Hailey, about the note, about how I’ve spent too many hours since yesterday resisting the urge to investigate who left it on her car. About the security presentation that’s definitely more detailed than necessary. But that would open a can of worms I have no interest in dealing with.

Cole: Nothing major. Just trying to stay in my lane.

Tyler: That’s the goal.

Not feeling the need to keep the conversation going, I set the phone down and pull out the journal Tyler gave me. I should probably document this. The urges, the rationalization—all of it.

Having dinner with Hailey tomorrow to discuss home security. She asked for help, which makes this different from my usual pattern of inserting myself into situations.

But I can feel the pull already. I’ve spent hours researching systems…more research than the situation warrants. I’ve been thinking about her schedule, her apartment, how to keep her safe. I keep telling myself this is different.

The bare truth stares back at me from the page, unvarnished and…unsettling.