Page 106 of Show Me

“What?”

“The cameras don’t cover that area.” His shoulders tense. “The driveway camera catches the front of the house. The back camera covers the porch and yard.” He shakes his head once. “Your car was outside the coverage area. I should’ve considered that.”

“Xavier–”

“I should’ve covered the entire property.” The frustration in his voice catches me off guard. Not at me. At himself. He paces a few steps before stopping beside the tire. “I knew I was prioritizing entry points.”

“That’s not your fault.”

His laugh is short and humorless. “No?”

“No.”

“You had another gift show up. Now somebody followed you to Bella’s house and punctured your tire.” He shakes his head. “If I’d covered the whole property, we’d know who did it.”

“It could’ve happened anywhere else. The grocery store.” I shrug. “The gas station. Anywhere.”

He exhales through his nose, slow and controlled, like he’s holding something back. “And you didn’t call me.”

There it is. I shake my head as Mr. Cole steps outside, nods at us, and slides into his pickup. The rattle of the pickup door slamming shut makes me jump.

“You called Emily.” Not a question either.

“Yes. And Bella.”

He stands, fast enough it makes me flinch. “You had someone in your house. You’ve got notes showing up, gifts, now someone’s messing with your car, and you didn’t think to call me?”

“I handled it.”

“That’s not the point.”

“It is the point,” I snap, pushing to my feet. “I’m not going to turn into someone who panics every time something happens.”

“This isn’t something,” he shoots back. “This is someone escalating.”

“I know that.” A dull ache pounds in my head.

“Then why are you acting like it’s nothing?”

“I’m not acting like it’s nothing.” I slap my hands on my hips as anger flares through me. Angry at the situation. Angry at him. Angry at myself. Angry that someone thinks they can stalk me and not have any consequences. That I have to alter my life. “I’m acting like it’s my life, and I’m going to live it.”

“By pretending you don’t need help?”

“I didn’t ask for it.”

“You shouldn’t have to ask.”

The words feel like a slap. I take a step back, arms crossing over my chest. “You made it pretty clear where the line is.”

His expression shifts. Barely. But I see it.

“This isn’t about that.” He rakes a hand through his hair, leaving strands standing on end.

“It is to me,” I fire back as a pickup door shuts on the other side of the lot. “You don’t get to draw a line and then be mad when I stay on my side of it.”

He paces once across the narrow strip of pavement beside my car. “I’m not mad you stayed with Bella.”

“I’m not staying there again.” The words come out before I can soften them.