Okay, he’s not only psycho but goddamn delusional.
I do it—I hit the button on my phone three times and say, “So you followed me home from the concert.”
“Yeah.”
“How’d you get in here?”
His eyes widen, and I watch as his hand taps along the kitchen counter closer to the knives.
“Only because I was planning to come out and get you,” I say to appease him. “After my shower. Sorry I didn’t make that part clear.” I hope if this is still recording that Gideon can hear the edge in my voice.
Mr. Psycho lets out a loud breath. “I thought for a second I might have read this whole situation wrong.”
You think?
The phone vibrates in my hand, and it’s Gideon. He got the SOS message and is probably checking up on me instead of doing what I wanted him to do, which is call the LAPD.
I wonder if I can answer it without tipping this guy off. I move to put my phone in my pocket as casually as I can and hit the Answer button as I do.
“So, Evah’s away, I gestured for you to follow me, and when you got here, you …”
He chuckles. “I didn’t quite know what to do when you didn’t leave the gate unlocked for me. I looked for a side entrance or something and then saw the gate between your yard and the neighbor’s. It led me to the side of the house where the fence is lower, so I jumped it and went to your front door which was unlocked. It was easy.”
Fucking app.
The fact he finds nothing wrong with what he’s saying scares me most of all.
“Oh. Right.”
“What’s the deal with you and Evah, anyway? You’re allowed to hook up when you’re not together?”
I begin to think this is all a huge misunderstanding by a fan who thinks he knows me and is under the delusion we have a connection. It’s definitely not the first time that’s happened, though this is the first with a guy.
My heart pounds so hard my body must think I’m working out. I break into a sweat, and I worry he can see it running down my face.
I blink and try to remember what he asked. “Umm, no, Evah and I don’t have a deal. I’ve never done this before.”
The guy finally moves his hand away from the knife block. He goes to take a step closer to me, but on instinct I stumble back.
His face falls, and his jaw hardens.
“I want to get to know you,” I blurt.
“What do you want to know?”
My mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
He steps closer again.
I step back. “Your name. There’s a start.”
It’s not the thing he wanted to hear. “I told you my name when we met tonight.”
I want to yell I met a million people tonight. How am I supposed to remember his name when I can’t even remember his face or actually meeting him at all?
“Sorry.” I try to laugh it off. “I’m terrible with names.”
He flicks his dark hair out of his eyes. “Billy.”
“Uh. Well, nice to meet you … again, Billy.”
“You seem really nervous,” he states.
No shit.
“L-like I said, I’ve n-never d-done this before.” Now I’m stuttering. Brilliant.
“With any guy? I figured because of the song—”
“The song isn’t about me. Common misconception.” I need to shut this guy down the easiest way possible—play the straight card.
“You’re seriously standing there and telling me you and Jay from Radioactive didn’t have this epic romance before he went and married some other guy?”
“That’s what I’m saying. We were friends, and we collaborated on a song. End of story.” Not quite, but telling myself that makes it hurt less.
Oh, great, now he’s singing. “Confusing love with isolation, holding on in desperation, I thought I’d found my one, the one I’m meant to keep … How is that not drawn from personal experience?”
“We cowrote that song. Jay did the lyrics. I wrote the melody.” Now I’m flat-out lying, but hey, talking about music is better than being stabbed to death. Winning.
How the fuck am I supposed to get out of this?
“But … you invited me here.”
Oh shit. Right. I already said I did that.
Keep talking. Keep him distracted.
Where the fuck is Gideon?
I want to check my phone and see if he’s still on the line, but I can’t draw attention to it in my pocket.
“Okay, you got me. I wanted to invite you here, but I’ve never been with a guy. And you’re right about Evah. I don’t know how she fits into all this either. And this is cheating on her, so I’m getting cold feet.” Maybe I should’ve gone into acting instead of Blake. Although, I don’t actually know how well I’m pulling this off.
The edge returns to Billy’s voice. “Well, I’m here now. I went through all that effort to get in here.”
A car door closes outside. It’s a noise that sounds a hell of a lot like hope.
I hope it’s Gideon or someone—anyone—who can help.
But most of all, I hope it’s not a neighbor.
Billy tips his head toward the sound.
Keep going. Keep talking. Pretend you didn’t hear anything, and don’t let him think someone’s here.
I step closer to him this time. “Sorry, you’re right. I shouldn’t have led you on.”
“Then don’t.” His feet inch toward me.
A few more steps and he’ll be on top of me.
“Wait.” I hold up my hand. “Uh … wait a second. I, uh, I’m …” I’m stalling for time I don’t think I have.
Disappointment fills my stomach with lead. If that was a car outside, they’re not here for me or they’re taking their sweet-ass time in coming to rescue me.
I swear I can hear voices too, but maybe it’s the million thoughts running through my head.
I don’t know what else I can do.
“You’re …” He moves, and I step back.
I’m about to be backed against a wall, and then I really won’t have an escape.
Pain shoots down my side as I hit a decorative table with a steel piece of art I don’t remember buying but somehow have. I manage to save the art, but Billy is the closest he’s been yet.
And as the gap keeps getting smaller and smaller, I close my eyes and wish for it to end quickly.
There’s a beat of complete silence, and then out of nowhere, the sound of doors flying open, yelling, and stampeding feet fills my ears.
I take a peek and find a team of people in black storming into the room. With their guns pointed in our direction, one of them yells, “Get down on the ground.”
The voice is so commanding, I almost do as it says.
Billy’s quick to sink to his knees, but he stares up at me with utter disappointment, hurt, and betrayal in his green eyes.
“Hands on your head!”
He does as he’s told but doesn’t take his eyes off me.
I’m frozen, standing completely still as if his gaze has locked me in place.
Arms come at me from the side and drag me away. It happens so fast, I try to elbow whoever it is because my mind hasn’t quite comprehended that it worked—that Gideon got people here in time.