Thirteen

As I step out of Silas' house, the wind picks up, kicking leaves across the sidewalk. A reminder that October is a few weeks away. And the best time of the year will be here. Halloween. I can't wait to see all the kids in their costumes and hand out candy. It is the only time of the year when you aren't judged for dressing how you truly want.

"Are you sure I can't walk you home?"

"Yes, Silas. I'm fine. I need to clear my head before I go to sleep anyway. I had a great time. Thank you again for supper."

"And hey, you didn't die. That's a success." He reaches his hand out for a high five.

I smack his hand. "Yeah, I'll cook next time, and we'll see if I pass the test."

"I'm sure you will." He pulls me in for a hug, holding me tight. "Be safe walking home. Weirdos are out this late."

"I'll be okay. I can take care of myself. But thank you for caring." He releases me, rolling his eyes.

"Stubborn like an ox, aren't you."

"Yes. The sooner you figure it out, the easier it is for you. Goodnight, Silas."

"Sweet dreams, Teagan."

I leave his place, feeling a sense of relief. I'm glad we came to a solution about the room, and now I need to break it to the moms that they need to rehome their group. I should consider what's best for the business, and potentially expanding into retail with a coffee bar could be the right move.

I was so deep in thought that I completely missed the person sneaking up behind me. I cross the street, giving us space. I don't have to look back to figure out who it is; my instincts are already on high alert. My masked stalker has come to play.

I quicken my stride, trying to add space between us. I head toward the school, which is probably not the brightest idea. The streetlights are too distant to reach this side of the school. I keep going, not letting anything stop me until I finally make it to the slide connected to the tower and bridge.

"You can't run away from me all the time. Let me have my fun." I hear his muffled voice behind me; his mask distorting his words.

"What kind of fun? You sicko." The words are barely out of my mouth when his hand wraps around my hair and yanks me backwards into his chest. Before I can scream, his gloved hand covers my mouth.

"Shh."

My heart is pounding so loudly that I can't even hear what's happening around me. I sense his hand shifting from my hair to my waist, stirring up a sense of familiarity, yet uncertainty clouds my thoughts. His gentle yet firm touch traces delicate patterns on my skin beneath my shirt, summoning a rush of tingling sensations down my stomach, creating a trail of goosebumps in its wake.

I slam my hand over his when he reaches the waistband of my jeans. Clarity is starting to make its way through me. I can't help but wonder, what am I doing here? Is this truly what I desire? Honestly, who am I trying to fool? Embarking on this adventure with a stranger, whom I'll probably never cross paths with again, feels like the most daring thing I've ever done. But they know who I am; they could know everything about me. They could ruin my entire life if they wanted to. They hold all the cards in their hands.

"Trust me."

There's that trust word again. I don't even know this person; how can I trust them? He pushes his fingers inside my mouth until I gag on them. I move my hand away from the one on the waistband to take his fingers out of my mouth. When I feel his palm slide into my jeans, I freeze.

My stalker now knows I go commando. And it's a free pass to the fucking clit. I dig my nails into his wrist, trying to remove his fingers from my mouth, but it's no luck. He pumps his fingers in and out until drool falls from my mouth. When he withdraws them, his fingers in my jeans start moving.

"Fuck." I groan when his finger slides inside.

His hand delves into my hair, yanking my head back and causing me to arch my back. His finger buries deeper as his palm rubs against my clit. I brace myself against a pole by the slide when my legs shake. With each stroke of his finger, my hips meet the stroke of his palm, trying to chase the orgasm that my clit desperately needs. He must notice because he slides his finger out and presses them on my clit.

"Fuck my fingers," he demands .

I don't think twice; my hips move, grinding on his hand, sending shockwaves throughout my body. He releases my hair, wrapping his hand around my waist and lets out a small groan when my ass rubs against his hard-on. His fingers press harder into my clit, the more I push into him. I also want him to come, and I won't stop until he does.

He drops his head on my shoulder, and the glow from his mask reminds me that I'll never know who this is. But it only drives me wild at this moment. He pulls me closer to his body the more I grind into his hand, and I hear his breath hitch and a quiet ‘fuck' falls from his mouth. His nails bite into my skin as he chases his orgasm. Just hearing that sends my world tumbling.

As I let out a loud moan, he quickly covers my mouth with his hand to muffle the sound. My legs feel like they're about to give out, but he steadies me by pulling his hand away and wrapping his arm around me for support. That has been the most intense orgasm I've ever had by far. He removes his hand from my jeans, and the cloud slowly clears; I realize what I have done.

I slowly move away, watching him stay where he is. He cocks his head to the side as if he's watching his prey get away .

"This can't happen again. I had a lapse of judgement. Whatever your fascination is with me, you can forget about it. You got what you wanted. Now, leave me alone. I have a boyfriend."

He tilts his head back and bursts into a hearty laugh.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Sweets. But we both know you don't."

His nickname sends my stomach into a frenzy and gives me electrifying shivers from head to toe. I can't stand here and be in his presence anymore. It's too dangerous, and who knows what he's capable of. Anything by the looks of it. Jesus, he stuck his fingers in me in public, for Christ's sake.

I step back as his mask switches off, plunging us into darkness. I stand there scared, not knowing what to think. As I reach into my back pocket, my fingers fumble around for my phone. With a quick press of a button, the flashlight bursts to life, illuminating the darkness around me. It's then that I realize I am completely and utterly alone.

"Are you kidding me, you asshole." What am I even saying? Why am I getting angry at him? It's good he left, he's stalking me. Oh, my God. I'm losing my mind.

I swiftly leave the park before anyone notices me. The last thing I need is for Elma to catch wind of this. I wasn' t thinking, the pussy was leading the way on this one. I cut across Mr. Campbell's yard like I usually do if I come this way. I'm sure he knows, but he hasn't said anything. Until he does, it shall be my shortcut, mainly to get away from a masked man.

As I turn the key in the backdoor and step inside, a feeling of safety envelops me. As I let out the breath, it fills the room with a sense of relief. I gently push the door closed and lean back, feeling the weight of the night start to lift off my shoulders.

What the hell am I going to do now? He's taken things to the next level, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say he knows my daily routine. Who's to say he hasn't already been in my house? I had a sense of dread one morning. Was it because he was in here? I have so many unanswered questions I'm not even sure I'll get my answers.

I ensure the deadbolt is securely locked before checking the front door. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I can't help it. I refuse to relax until either he's out of my life for good or I unmask him and reveal his true identity. I swear I will unmask him one way or another. He won't be able to hide forever.

I had the worst night's sleep. The nightmare that woke me kept me up for hours. That's how I know I'm under too much stress when outside shit is plaguing my dreams. The horror of dreaming of Nancy was enough to wake me from a dead sleep. Especially when that dream involved her showing up at the shop and shutting down the construction, that's all I need. I can't afford any hiccups. I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come.

When I turn the corner, I see it. The black Land Rover is parked outside my shop, and only one person in this town drives it. I don't have time to call Dad and tell him to hurry and get his ass down here because World War III is about to start. Nancy's hands are flying around while arguing with John.

Here we go.

"Nancy, what brings you down to the peasant part of town?" I casually walk up next to John, arms crossed, and shoot her my most intense glare.

She smirks at me, holding up another pink piece of hell. "I came back to deliver this, Teagan. I'm sure you know what it is."

"I don't. Refresh my memory, would you?"

She huffs. "I'm declining your renovations."

"Why? It's not renovations, Nancy. I'm fixing the damage the city caused. I'm not altering the structure of the building, so your permit is pointless. You're doing it out of spite." She doesn't need to know about removing the room. That's here nor there at the moment.

She shoves the paper into my chest, but I refuse to take it. "You will follow the rules, or I'll threaten you." She releases the paper, and it floats to the ground. She swivels on her heels and starts walking back to her blacked-out Land Rover when I call out.

"Have the day you deserve, Nancy. Don't get hit by a fucking bus."

She slams her door shut, reversing from the parking spot and speeding away.

"That lady is a..." John trails off.

"A cunt, John. You can say it. I'm a big girl, and she deserves any word you throw at her." I'm rubbing my temples, starting to feel a headache creeping in. I could use either an energy drink or a strong drink right about now.

"I'll get the crew back to work. We'll work double time to finish this quickly before she can return."

"Thanks, John. That would be wonderful. Did you need anything from the store?" I rub my temples more as the pressure slowly builds.

"No. I'm good." He walks into the shop, leaving me alone.

I can't shake off this morning; I'm stuck in a pit of despair. I'm counting on John and his team to come through so I can start getting back on track. Without my usual routine, I feel like I'm losing my mind.

The walk to the corner store is boring, to the point where I wish Elma would find me and gossip with me. It's been a while since she filled me in on what's happening in this town. It would be nice to know if Nancy is telling lies about me. I'm sure she's already telling everyone that I want her dead, which wouldn't be a rumour; it would be a fact. But Elma is nowhere to be found on my walk, and with my headache worsening, I'm not sure I would be able to handle the gossip. Every step I take feels like miniature jackhammers drilling into my skull. If I don't grab some caffeine, I might not make it back to the shop. Is caffeine the answer? Probably not. But I'm going to say it is.

The bell above the door hits me like a sledgehammer when I enter the store. Another sign that I will not be replacing my bell.

"Morning, Teagan. How are you?" Tom calls out.

I wave him off. Heading for the cooler and grab the beautiful can that'll make me feel better. I don't even wait; I crack it open and slam half of it back, feeling the carbonation bite my throat. Let the magic work .

"Tom, it's been a morning, and it's not even ten yet," I tell him when I reach the till. He chuckles as he scans my can.

"I can tell. I'm sorry about the shop. Elma told me."

"Of course she did. I have a crew working double time to get it back into shape before the end of the week. I can't handle any more delays."

He gives me the look. The one that screams he knows who I'm talking about. "Nancy," he says with a lip curl.

"Yeah. Don't get me started. But I should get back and make sure she doesn't reappear. Thanks, Tom."

"My pleasure, Teagan. Good luck."

I spin around absentmindedly and accidentally collide with a solid chest. My can slips from my hand as I see stars. I quickly shut my eyes and grab my head, hoping the pounding will ease. Arms envelop me in a warm embrace, drawing me in closer, and I catch a whiff of the comforting woodsy cologne.

"Dimples, you okay?"

I groan in response. The thought of talking has flown out the window. I bury my face further into Silas' chest, trying to block my surroundings out. Maybe I should've just gone home. He goes to move me, and I cling to his hoodie.

"We have to move. We can't stay here forever."

"I need to get back to the shop." I groan, slowly pulling away.

Silas lifts his left eyebrow. "You're going to the shop while you have a migraine?"

"It's a headache, and it'll go away once I drink." I raise my empty hand. "Never mind. Sorry, Tom, about the mess."

"It's a little liquid, Teagan. No worries. Get home and feel better."

Silas steers me toward the door, never letting me go. But instead of hanging a left toward my shop, he turns right.

"Where are we going? The shop is the other way."

"I'm taking you home."

"This isn't the way to my house, Silas."

He tucks my head closer to his chest. "My house is closer, and you need the sleep. If you want, I can check on the shop."

"Nancy stopped by; that's why I have a headache. I swear the karma bus will take that witch out one day, and I'll be watching from the sidelines, eating my popcorn and enjoying the show."

"Come on, my little psycho pants, let's get you some meds and into bed before you plan the murder for everyone in this town. "

"Not everyone, one particular person, Silas. You have no idea what shit I went through so far this morning. God, I hate that woman."

"It's alright, Dimples. Don't drown in anger. It'll only ruin you." He brushes my hair to the side, and I notice a grim look on his face. When he spots me watching, he smiles.

"Don't worry about me, Teagan. That's a life I left behind. Stop talking, or you'll make your headache worse; a few more blocks and we're at my place. How you feeling?"

I give him a thumbs up, but in reality, my head wants to explode, and I want to tear it off my shoulders and kick it across the road.

He chuckles. "Come on, I've got a bed with your name on it."

At this point, I don't care whose bed it is. I need to lie down. Even though I can't afford to be away from the shop, what if Nancy returns and rains down on everything. John will be left to the wolf, and then what? This isn't how I pictured my day going. All this stress has finally caught up to me when I can't afford it.

Walking back into Silas's place feels natural. His house is minimalist—white walls without pictures, no décor in sight. For one person, a couch and loveseat in the living room seems to be a lot. He guides me up the stairs to where his bedroom is. A bed and a dresser, nothing more.

"Is this thing made out of clouds?" I lay starfish on his bed, making a snow angel in his sheets before finding a comfortable spot.

"Ah, memory foam. Here, take these." He hands me two white pills and a glass of water. I stare at them for a second. "Don't worry, they are only Tylenol, I swear. Want me to get the bottle to show you?"

"No, I trust you. Thanks again, Sunshine." I swallow the pills and close my eyes. The warmth of the blanket wraps around me.

"Rest, Dimples. I'll be here when you wake up." His lips brush across my forehead.

I roll onto my side and breathe Silas's woodsy scent before falling into a deep sleep.