Obsession (Stalker #1) (11 page)

“Jake, I realize we need to talk, but can we please do that over the chicken you brought, please,” she says. It’s not a question, she’s hungry and wants the damn chicken.

“Yes, let me set it up and while I do that, can you please bring up the message that Kev sent you?” I ask, calmly.

I’m setting up the food for us on her coffee table because she never eats at her kitchen table. I go over to the fridge and grab us some cans of Coke and we’re all set.

“Did you get it?” I ask. She hands me her phone and I read:

Abby, you looked so hot last night. You don’t even know what you do to me. I’m hard just typing this to you. You make me think the dirtiest thoughts and I want them to all play out with you. You don’t need Jake, Abby. You need me. Tell me it’s not too late for us!!! You have teased me for far too long and I’m growing impatient waiting for you. But wait I will. Talk soon, K
<3

I look back on my first encounter with Kev and think that even though it was a bit weird at the time, this just doesn’t seem like something he would say or do.

“Ok, so tell me what happened when you got home,” I ask her calmly, while we are both eating our chicken. She’s sucking all the sauce off her fingers and it’s distracting me.
Fuck.

“Abby, please stop licking your fingers for a minute,  baby.”

She blushes and it looks good on her, but we need to talk.
Fuck, she looks all cute as fuck in her comfy clothes sucking on her fingers. It’s hot and killing me.

“I called Dallas and filled her in with my life choices. I told her I love you and how our morning went with meeting Tiffany. I read her the message I got from Kev. She offered to come over, but I was so tired and just wanted to chill out. My friend sent me a book and it made me ugly cry, so I needed a joint. That’s when Kev got home. And then, you showed up. Boom, done,” she shrugs.

There are a few things we need to discuss about what she just said to me.

“Baby, why wouldn’t you think to call me? You are
MINE
now and that means I’m always here for you. If you are scared, I need to know. If you feel like something is off, babe, I need to know. I trust your instincts and wouldn’t think it was nothing.”

“I don’t want to come off as the girl who overreacts to what is most likely nothing. I wanted to talk to Kev. That’s exactly what I was doing when you got here. Why’d you come back, anyway?” she asks, curiosity in her voice.

Fuck. I don’t want to sound like a pussy
… “I missed you and just wanted to have dinner with you. I know you don’t cook a whole lot and I wanted to make sure you ate,” I say, hoping I don’t sound like a pussy.

Being a daddy to a little girl has made me a bit soft, I won’t lie. It’s also made me fiercely protective and I want to protect Abby. There is no fucking way in hell I’m leaving her in this house with a possibly untrustworthy cop. Even though I believe him, Abby is mine and she’s not staying here with him. Abby is scared even though she won’t admit it. She doesn’t know it yet, but tonight she’s coming home with me.

Abby smiles at me. “You don’t sound like a pussy. It’s sweet and thoughtful. No one has ever been this concerned with me before. You’re spoiling me, Jake, and I could get used to this.” Abby gives me her best Cheshire grin, and I swear her eyes become more cat-like. It’s sexy as fuck.

“Abby, I believe Kev didn’t do it. I don’t think he wrote that message to you, but someone did. You came home and there was blood on your floor and on your cat. You said yourself that something felt off. I believe you. It would really make me feel a whole lot better if we packed up some of your stuff, and Oreo, and went home, err- to my place. I know you’re a trained ninja, but it would make me feel better knowing that you are safe, in my bed,” I say, trying not to sound like a dick. I am using a tone that hopefully conveys how serious I am. This isn’t a negotiation.

“Ok,” she shrugs.

“Ok?” I ask. I’m confused as fuck because Abby is not an agreeable type of person.

“Yeah, ok. I’m not an idiot, Jake. I’m freaked out and I know now that I should have called you. I’ve never had a man in love with me before and I’m not sure how things work. Dallas was worried, too. I was trying to figure shit out on my own. That’s what I’m used to doing. My friends are always there for me, but this is different, and so is the situation. So, I’ll go pack up some stuff. FYI, I don’t travel light and there are certain things I need to always have. Then, there’s packing up Oreo’s stuff. Oh, and thanks for saying he could come because I won’t leave him behind, Jake. I refuse to come home to my cat boiling in a pot or some shit.”

She’s serious when she says this. I totally thought she’d fight me. She’s probably more worried about her cat than herself. No doubt, she loves that cat. I’m going to help her pack up, but before I do, I need to talk with Kev to get some shit straightened out. He is going to know Abby will be staying with me.

“Abby, I’ll be right back to help you pack up your stuff,” I say, without really telling her where I’m going.

I make my way upstairs and there are two doors. I’m not sure which one is Kev’s apartment, so I knock on the left door first. Kev answers. “I figured you would want to talk to me. Come on in.”

“Look, I believe you. Since you are a cop, I’m going to leave this with you to figure it the fuck out. In the meantime, Abby is packing up her stuff and will be staying with me. I’m not taking any chances. She doesn’t feel comfortable here now and I don’t blame her.

“Jake, I’ve been looking around my apartment and from what I can see nothing is missing, but my laptop was left open. I’m almost positive I closed it, but I can’t be sure. While I’m at work, I keep the apps on my phone off or otherwise it drains my battery. I don’t have Facebook open and that’s really not my style of propositioning a woman,” Kev says. I believe him.

“What do you know about the other guy that lives here?” I ask. Since he is a cop, I figure he wouldn’t just let anyone move into his house. I check out Kev’s apartment and don’t notice anything that stands out as suspicious.

“I don’t know a whole lot about him. His name is Brody, he works in IT and I think he travels a lot for work because he’s hardly here. He’s an ideal house mate. He always pays his rent on time and I don’t hear a peep from him,” Kev says.

My Spidey senses kick into full gear. “Kev, I’m not taking any chances when it comes to Abby. I know you’re a cop, but I want her with me, in my bed, where I know she’s safe,” I say. I know he’s the kind of guy who gets what I’m saying. He knows I’m staking my claim on Abby, and he knows I still don’t trust him completely.

“Yeah, I understand. Put my phone number in your phone just in case you need anything. Call anytime, day or night. I’ll come out in about fifteen minutes to help you load up her stuff. I assume she’s taking Oreo?”

“Of course, she’s bringing him. Said she didn’t want to find him boiling in a pot or some shit,” I chuckle. Abby does have a way with words.

“Ok, I’ll see you in a bit. I’m just going to change, and I’ll come help,” he offers, being sincere.

“Thanks.”

I make way back downstairs to help Abby pack. I get inside and it looks like a fucking tornado whipped through her apartment. I smack my hand to my head.

“Abby, what all do you have packed, babe?” I ask her, still shaking my head.

“Just the basics, really, one suitcase is full of clothes. The other is filled with hair supplies, accessories, jewelry, shoes, hoodies, purses and whatever else I could fit, for now. Plus, I have this backpack filled with all of Oreo’s food, toys, catnip, food and water bowls. And oh, I need to get his litter box, too. I’ll clean it out before we transport it. I also need to find his kitty carrier because he’s not a fan of the car,” she says, sounding as if all the stuff she’s packing is perfectly normal. I guess it’s different for women.

“Ok, do you need anything else, or will this at least do it for the week?” I question gently.

“Uhhhh, yes! I believe we are good to go. Wait. I need my stash, Jake. Is that cool?”

“Abby, I accept who you are and don’t expect you to change. Bring whatever you need, babe,” I reassure her. “Also, Kev will be down in a few minutes to help us load all your stuff.”

“I know you went and talked to him, Jake. I hope you weren’t too harsh,” she says.

“No, baby, I wasn’t. He also understands. He’s going to look into things while we aren’t here and see if he can find clues. He gave me his phone number in case we need anything,” I say. And she smiles.

“I know that probably wasn’t easy for you, but, thanks. I’ve been friends with him and lived here for two years and nothing like this has ever happened before. I trust him. I know you don’t fully trust him, but I do,” she says. Just then, Kev shows up to help.

Kev says, “Well, thanks, Abs, nice to hear. I feel like I need to apologize. I’m so sorry you don’t feel safe here anymore, Abby, and I’m going to try and figure shit out. I understand why you’re moving to Jake’s, for now.”

My jaw clenches a teeny tiny bit because I’m not letting Abby move back in here. This isn’t the time or the place for this conversation and I will have that one with her soon.

“Thanks for helping, Kev. She doesn’t travel light,” I laugh.

“Ok, if you guys have all my stuff, I’m going to grab Oreo and put him in his carrier. It’s best if I do this alone, so he doesn’t freak out,” she says, puttering around in her kitchen.

I grab one suitcase and the backpack while Kev grabs the other. We both mutter, “Holy shit!” at the same time.

Kev and I are wheeling her suitcases and going outside to load everything into my Jeep. Her stuff fits in the back which leaves the back seat for Oreo and his belongings. I’d like to get her settled in tonight, since we have to go to work tomorrow.

Abby shows up outside with Oreo in his carrier, and he is howling like he’s been castrated.
Holy shit, I hope he stops screaming.

“
Is he going to be ok?” I ask with concern
. Concern for my ears…

“Yes, he’ll be fine. I think we should keep him somewhere separate from Ozzy, for now, until they get used to each other. Do you think Ozzy will want to eat him?” she asks. I can see the fear on her face.

“I don’t think Ozzy will eat him. I don’t know what he’ll do, but I’m sure it will all be ok. Separating them is probably a good idea. Oreo can stay in Izzy’s room with the door shut. All his stuff can go in there,” I reassure her.

Kev is standing and looking awkward.

“Thanks for your help, Kev, and stay in touch. I’d like to be kept updated as often as possible,” I say, stretching out my hand to shake his.

“You got it.”

“Oh, Kev, don’t look so sad. It’s not like I don’t believe you. We’re still friends. I love you like a brother,” I say, hugging him and then whispering in his ear, “Go for it, Kev, with Amanda. Go get her!”

“Ok, sorry to break up the party, but it’s getting late, and we really need to get going,” I say aloud.

Kev and Abby break apart and he’s grinning at her.
What the fuck is that about?

“Abby, let’s roll on out, baby,” I say, placing a screaming Oreo in the back seat. I open the door for Abby. She climbs in and I get into the driver’s seat. We are off.

What in the ever lovin’ fuck is going on right now? I thought everything was fine and now she’s leaving. This is what happens because I didn’t add the audio. I don’t know what the fuck anyone is saying, and Abby is leaving.

She came home, found Oreo and the blood… That’s it! That’s why she’s leaving. Her fat fucking cat scratched the shit out of me and left a blood trail. FUCK ME!!! I should have killed that fucking cat.

She’s lucky he’s going with her or I’d boil him in a pot like in ‘
Fatal Attraction,’
even though in the movie it was a bunny.

I stand and start pacing around and around in my apartment. How could I have been so fucking careless? I need a fucking drink. I stalk over to the kitchen and grab my Jack Daniels. Nothing else will do right now. I grab a tumbler and fill it three fingers high, slam the bottle down on the counter, and take a swig. There is nothing like that first burn of alcohol sliding down your throat.

Well, almost nothing.

I finish my drink quickly and fill up another three fingers worth in my glass and go back to my computer, to watch, except there is nothing now. Abby is gone because HE fucking took her from me and I’m not so sure if she’s coming back to stay. If I were Jake, I would make sure Abby never had to. This throws a terrible wrench into my plans and for our life together, but it’s not over.

Not by a long shot.