Jealousy Junction by Cathryn Grant (rosie project .txt) 📗

about this guy that made me feel like he wanted to hurt me. It was startling to see how calm, almost friendly he seemed. There’s a vibe that comes off people you can just feel. Sometimes your sense of that vibe is off, but more often than not, there’s something to it. There’s an animal instinct we’ve retained from our prehistoric ancestors. Or maybe it’s just the mysterious makeup of the human being—accurate, knowing senses that go beyond what we see and hear, smell and touch. Self-preservation. It’s the same with sex—why this guy and not that one? No one can explain it.

He took a few steps away from me and leaned against a tree. He pulled a pack of gum out of his coat pocket, removed a stick, and shoved it into his mouth.

“What do you want with my sister? She told you she’s not interested. Stalking her isn’t going to change her feelings. You should have some self-respect.”

“Not interested?” He laughed again. “What did she tell you about me?” He shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up at my living room window.

I turned. Tanya was standing there, staring down at us. All the fun and tipsiness was gone from her face. She looked terrified. When she saw me looking, she pounded her fist on the glass. It sounded very faint from where I stood. I turned back to Dave.

“I figured she lied about who I was, but I never figured it went in that direction.” He chuckled. “Nice meeting you.”

“You need to leave us alone. I’ll get a restraining order if you don’t stay away from us.”

“I haven’t threatened you or done anything, so a restraining order probably isn’t going to do what you think it will.”

“You broke into my house!”

“Is it breaking in when the door is unlocked?”

“How did you know it was unlocked?”

“I’m always looking for opportunities.” He smirked. “I saw the Uber arrive, so I figured I’d get a closer look while you were out.”

“Why did you put Tanya’s suitcase in my room?”

“What?”

“Her suitcase…why did you move it? And what did you want with her passport?”

“I took the passport so she can’t take off to someplace I’ll never find her, but I wasn’t moving suitcases. Like I said, I thought you were her, and I assumed that was the bedroom where she was staying with her new guy.”

“But you followed me. You were asking about me at my store.”

“I told you, I thought you were her. Now that I have that straight, we’re good.” He looked up at the window, the hint of a smile on his lips. “I’m not giving up. Eventually, she’ll crack.”

“Crack?”

He nodded.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ask your sister.”

He folded his arms across his chest and turned his attention back to the window. I asked him again to explain, but he didn’t respond.

I turned and went into the house, feeling as if getting Tanya to tell me the truth had just become a hundred times more difficult. Dave didn’t feel scary, but now it occurred to me, without any definite reason why, just a sudden opening of my eyes, that maybe I’d been concerned about the wrong person. Maybe the person who I needed to fear was sleeping in my house, eating at my table, dancing in my living room, and flirting with my boyfriend.

Chapter 19

Inside the house, I found Tanya standing just inches from the window, her breath leaving clouds of steam on the glass. I didn’t think she’d moved since I’d looked up at her. She turned slowly, the look of rage on her face terrifying beyond anything I’d experienced from her before. Far more frightening than the mysterious guy standing outside, still watching.

“Why did you go out there?” Her voice was low, deeper than normal, almost ominous.

“It’s making me anxious, having him there all the time, not knowing what he wants. I’m sick of it.”

“I told you what he wants.”

“I think you’re lying.”

She leaned toward me, her eyes fiery. “You don’t know anything about me! You’re as awful as I always thought you were.” She rushed past me, shoving me out of the way, and ran to the guest room. The door slammed, and although I didn’t hear the click, I was sure she’d locked it.

I collapsed onto the couch, letting my head fall back, so I was staring up at the ceiling. I closed my eyes. My mind was spinning, and it wasn’t from the martinis. In fact, it seemed as if all the alcohol had evaporated from my bloodstream.

I sat there for a long time, trying to sort things out, but my mind couldn’t make sense of anything. Finally, I went upstairs. I locked my bedroom door. I had no idea what I was dealing with, and I wanted a good night’s sleep. In the morning, I could decide whether telling Tanya to leave was worth the final death knell it would deliver to our relationship. If I was honest with myself, we didn’t really have a relationship, but I would think about that in the morning. I would figure out how to get Tanya out of my house.

The buzz of my phone woke me at one a.m.

Jerry: Hey. Sorry I haven’t answered your texts. Been busy checking into a few things.

Seeing those words, my heart felt like it was going to explode. I almost started crying, thinking about how stupid I’d been to let my imagination run wild. I sent back an emoji with hearts spinning around its face because I didn’t know what to say.

Jerry: Alright if I come over? I know it’s late. I guess I woke you up.

Alexis: I’m waiting for you. Hurry.

It sounded too eager, typing hurry, but that’s how I felt and suddenly, being honest about every little detail of my life seemed like the most important thing in the world.

When I thought he might be getting close to the house, I went to the bedroom door and pressed my ear against the wood. It was a