Page 87 of The Stalker Snafu

My temper flared red-hot, and I itched to grab a frying pan from Adrian to smash it into Rafe’s stupid face—but that’d risk the bacon.

“Bro, give her a break.”

That probably wasn’t the right thing for Adrian to say, because Rafe’s hand was dangerously close to the vegetable peeler drawer when he turned on his twin. “You seriously believe Kincaid would date a freshman who looks like an elf and acts like she shits rainbows?”

I blinked back at him. “Hey, I do not act like that. My… bowel movements are the same as anyone else’s.”

Rafe’s unamused gaze cut straight through me. “Kincaid is the smartest guy I’ve ever met, and you’re like a knock-off Strawberry Shortcake who points knives at people. It doesn’t take a genius to see it doesn’t add up.”

My hackles rose. “First off, stop using the knife thing against me. I was protecting myself after seeing some scary dude who stalked me⁠—”

“You were acting like a psycho⁠—”

“Guys.” Adrian’s sharp yell carried over us, and we shut our mouths while glaring daggers at each other. He took a centering breath, crossing both arms. “Both of you, cool it. Rafe, it’s not for us to judge Kincaid’s relationship.”

His brother shrugged and leaned back against the island counter. “I don’t see why not. He’s my friend, and he has someone making claims without any evidence.”

“I showed you my evidence!” I cried, standing on my tiptoes to appear more intimidating—but both of them dwarfed me. “I showed you pictures yesterday.”

Rafe could only be bothered to shrug one shoulder this time. “Photoshop.”

I blinked at him, convinced I’d never met a more pigheaded man in my life.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I gritted through clenched teeth before getting my phone out of the waistband of my pajama shorts and tapping a little too firmly on the screen. I pulled up my text conversations with Noah, brandishing the phone in Rafe’s stupid face.

“Exhibit B!” I announced to the kitchen. “Texts between me and Noah.”

He grabbed the phone from my hand, glancing uninterestedly at the screen before a snort escaped.

“Bae?” he asked dryly, raising a brow as his thumb pointed at my contact name for Noah.

I crossed my arms, averting my eyes as Adrian walked up behind us to look over Rafe’s shoulder. “It’s a term of endearment.”

“It’s the last thing I’d expect him to be called,” Rafe muttered under his breath as he scrolled through the conversation history. It didn’t take long for him to shake his head. “These don’t sound like him at all.”

I gave him my driest look. “Just because he doesn’t say sweet things to you doesn’t mean he never does. It’s his number, isn’t it?”

“Numbers can be faked or spoofed if you have enough resources,” Rafe dismissed easily.

My lips pressed so tightly together they risked imploding. I wanted to punch him in the face. What sort of weirdo said stuff like that? Spoofed numbers?

“Explain this, then,” I challenged him, reaching over his arm to switch apps and scroll through the photos until I found a video of Noah and me, then hit play. I was beyond frustrated, so I didn’t even care if it was the embarrassing one where I pretended to be an anteater who ate chocolate chips off Noah’s stomach until he made me stop because he was laughing too hard.

All three of us focused on the screen, and the video was blurry at first—but I would recognize the back of Noah’s head anywhere. Facing away, his head rested against his pillow, highlighted by sunlight streaming through the window.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead.” My sleep-filled voice traveled through the phone speakers, and the camera wobbled as I assumed the video version of me straddled Noah’s hips. “Guess what time it is?”

Noah groaned, rolling over in the bed until his sleepy eyes and bare chest were in the frame. Video-Emma was definitely straddling him, and my cheeks heated as Rafe and Adrian kept watching. I crossed my fingers behind my back and prayed that the video was a completely innocent one. I couldn’t remember.

“Coffee time already?” Noah asked softly as his hands reached out for Video-Emma’s hips. His lips tilted up just as softly, and I felt his gaze straight through the screen. Talons squeezed my heart. “I have to leave for the airport soon, but we can do a quick stop by the cart.”

Ice filled my veins, chasing away the warmth his gaze had produced.

He’d just lied.

“I thought you weren’t leaving until tonight?” I cringed at the pout in Video-Emma’s voice. Did I always sound so whiny? Noah’s smile widened. “What about our movie marathon?”

“I’m sorry, beautiful,” he said, but his smile didn’t look the least bit apologetic. “We’ll reschedule for the night I get back.”