Page 63 of The Stalker Snafu

That it was a mistake.

I needed the last few months to not be one huge lie.

CHAPTER 24

A Clinic

I hopped out of the car as soon as Teresa pulled up next to the duplex. Noah’s car was missing, and it was dark inside. Teresa and I banged on the door, almost broke the doorbell from pressing too hard, and even crept around looking through all Noah’s windows.

Nothing.

“Can you think of anywhere else he’d be?” Teresa asked as we admitted defeat and got back into the car. I racked my brain, thinking of over a dozen coffeehouses we’d hung out at on Saturday mornings that Noah might’ve gone to—but that wouldn’t explain why he wasn’t answering his phone. He always picked up his phone… unless he was avoiding me.

A lightbulb went off in my head. I could think of one person he always answered the phone for. My adrenaline kicked back in, and I turned to Teresa. “Do you know where the nearest animal clinic is? The closest one with a veterinary school?”

She pulled out her phone’s GPS and had an answer in seconds. “There’s a clinic near Briarcliff College. It’s just a couple minutes away, and Westcroft’s is about a ten-minute drive.”

I froze for a beat—panicked that I’d choose the wrong one—before going with my gut. “Briarcliff is closer. Let’s check there first.”

Teresa nearly gave me a heart attack as she wove through traffic. She was cutting it close to missing her flight by the time we reached the clinic, and she winced as we pulled up to the entrance. “Emma… Shoot, I have to get to the airport and figure out parking. I can come in for maybe five minutes, but⁠—”

“It’s okay.” I hopped out of the car and grabbed my bag. “I’ll find him. I can take the bus back later.”

Her hands tightened on the wheel as she glanced at the clinic doors, so I forced a smile to reassure her.

“It’s fine, Teresa. I really appreciate your help. I’m freaking out, but you need to make your flight. Go!” I shooed her away, closing the door and starting for the clinic. “And thank you!”

The building resembled a miniature red barn, the front decorated with all sorts of flowers behind a white picket fence. I slid the replica barn door open to a charming little lobby painted yellow.

I hurried inside and scanned the room. A circular reception desk dominated the open area, with a few chairs scattered about the small space.

“I’m looking for Julian!” I called, rushing toward the reception desk. A middle-aged lady in light blue scrubs looked up from her computer, appearing unsurprised to see me barreling through the doorway. Her hair was pulled into a loose bun, and there was a pile of clipboards next to her.

She raised a questioning brow. “Julian who?”

The question had me skidding to a stop in front of her station, and my lips made their best impression of a fish as I blanked on Julian’s last name.

“I… don’t know. Doctor Julian? I’m looking for Doctor Julian!” I couldn’t remember his last name for the life of me. “Actually, I don’t think he’s technically a doctor. What’s the term for a vet student?”

“Oh, honey…”

“He has floofy brown hair.” I soldiered on, grasping at everything I remembered about Julian. “It’s a lighter brown, though. Um, a certain color of eyes. The color is evading me at the moment, but I know they exist. White teeth, and, uh, skin. His skin is… well, skin-like. Soft, I guess—even though I’ve never really touched it unless you count that time he glued my head back together. Oh, and he has teal scrubs! The kind doctors wear.”

The receptionist’s baffled gaze stared back at me.

“Have you never described a person before?” she asked incredulously.

“I’m under a lot of stress right now!” My voice went shrill near the end despite my best efforts to keep calm. Something was very wrong, and Noah’s vet friend could help me fix it.

“Honey, why don’t you sit down and breathe?” she suggested, pointing to the waiting area, where two adults I hadn’t noticed quickly looked away as if they hadn’t been watching the spectacle I was making. One held a fluffy white cat on her lap, who stared at me with creepy yellow eyes. I shivered. “It won’t help anybody if you hyperventilate. Let me finish this chart, then I’ll check the system to see which students are on the schedule for today. Okay?”

I blinked back at her before nodding. “That’s a good idea. Thank you.”

Internally, I scoffed. She was no help.

I needed to find him myself.

Three short hallways led to other parts of the clinic, each with rows of white doors that were annoyingly closed. I eyed the nearest one. Would the receptionist tackle me if I tried to open it? I pretended to walk toward a seat in the corner—peeking over my shoulder to see the lady going back to her chart—before shuffling to the side and grasping the doorknob.