Page 93 of The Stalker Snafu

“No.” I cut him off, wiping at my eyes before I could do something as stupid as cry in front of a room of boys. The lack of sleep really wasn’t helping. “No, I need to see he’s safe with my own eyes. I need to, Julian. You don’t understand. I love him, and I know we had a fight at Oliver’s party, but right now I don’t even care that Noah lied to me. I hate doing nothing. I can’t just sit by and wait while he’s who knows where—just, please.”

Finn rested a hand on my knee, speaking quietly. “I’m sorry, Emma. I’m sure he’s fine. And he’ll be back when he’s back.”

Sorry wouldn’t cut it.

“Do you know how crazy you sound right now? He’s listed as a fugitive, but you’re all telling me it’s a mistake and he’s fine. Imagine you were me,” I told Finn, laying my hand over his and putting every ounce of earnestness I could into my gaze, “and you had no idea what was going on with someone you love. You’re hearing that they’re safe, but you don’t know that.”

Finn’s gaze dropped to our hands, and he stared hard before looking at Julian—who groaned and shook his head.

“I’ll take her,” Finn declared, lifting his chin. Julian was still shaking his head, but Finn’s grip on my knee tightened. “Either she goes now, or I’ll just take her later when you’re busy at the clinic. She deserves to see him.”

I snuck a glance at Finn, touched by his resolve, but he was staring straight at Julian.

Julian let out a breath, standing up and rubbing both hands over his face as he paced to the foyer and back. The bags under his eyes were more pronounced. “We don’t know who has eyes on him right now. If someone spots you, it could be a disaster.”

“Then I won’t be spotted,” I assured him, squeezing Finn’s hand.

Julian planted his feet in front of me, and he studied my face long enough that the urge to blink was overwhelming. Finally, he crossed his arms. “I have a few conditions.”

My heart skipped a beat, then two, and then it went into overdrive as his shoulders relaxed.

“I have to go to the clinic to rearrange my schedule for this week, so Rafe and Adrian will take you⁠—”

“Thank you!” My arms shot up, and I jumped off the couch—but Julian’s hard look cut my celebration short.

“You’ll do everything they say. Everything, Emma,” he continued, pulling a key out of his pocket and holding it out. “Take this key to the duplex so you can get back in later. And you can’t talk to Noah. Not a word. They’ll try to get you an eye on him, but I mean it when I say you can’t talk to him. Okay?”

“Thank you, thank you!” I squealed, throwing my arms around Julian in a tight hug. He stood as still as a statue, until a beat passed, and then his arms wrapped around my waist and squeezed me back. I hid my face against his chest, hoping my eyes didn’t do something as silly as cry considering how relieved I was. Julian’s arms were warm and safe and all kinds of comforting, so I focused on that to distract myself from the onslaught of emotions.

Then the rest of what he’d said sank in, and I pulled back with a frown. “Wait. Did you say Rafe?”

Finn’s voice was equally upset. “Yeah. Why can’t I go?”

Julian was already shaking his head. “I don’t trust you to say no to her. And Rafe should be the one making this decision in the first place. I’ll call him to come pick you up.”

My frown deepened. “But he hates me.”

Julian lifted a brow. “Would you rather not go at all?”

I sighed before slipping around him and hunting for the spare pair of tie-dyed Keds I kept over here.

“Emma?” Julian said to my back, and I looked over my shoulder at his solemn gaze. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t,” I assured him, swallowing around the lump in my throat.

And at the time, I was convinced I was telling the truth.

CHAPTER 36

A Window

Rafe was not what I would call a safe driver. Considering how fast he zigged and zagged his fancy red car through all six lanes on the highway, it was a miracle we arrived unscathed. Physically, that is.

Mentally, I needed therapy.

We parked in an alley behind a row of small brick houses. I was tempted to fall to the ground and kiss the pavement, but the asphalt looked like it’d lived through too many dogs peeing on it.

Hard pass.