When I'm With You (Little Hollow Series, #2)(20)

I jump off the sofa and run down the stairs to lock the salon doors after him, which makes me feel a little bit better. On the way back up to the apartment, I have Déjà vu from this morning. I know I locked that door. It gives me shivers and I turn the TV off and head to my room. I spend the rest of the day staring at my cell, wishing for Sam to call.

Around seven, it pings and I reach for it.

Pulling over into a motel, it’s the creepiest I’ve ever seen. If I die, I love you. Oh, and don’t eat my Oreos, if you do, I’ll be watching! S x

I laugh at her non-threatening threat and think about hiding them for a joke, deciding I can’t be bothered to move, I read over the text again. A shiver rolls through me at the thought that she’s in some sleazy motel all by herself. If anything happens to her, so help me.

I can’t promise anything. Actually, now you mention it, I do fancy a snack. Stay safe, I quite like having you as a best friend, love you. K x

I stare at my cell some more, waiting for the reply. I’m rewarded two minutes later.

Hard-ass, my ass. You’re a giant teddy bear and you know it! ;) I’ll text you in the morning, I’m just going to have some food and then I’m going to bed. Love you Kee x

I smile at the message and click reply.

You tell anyone, I’ll kill you myself! ;) stay safe, love ya too x

I jump as the buzzer for downstairs sounds and I tentatively walk across the apartment to pick up the phone.

“Hello?” I say into it, there’s no reply so I hang up and turn to head back to my room, when it buzzes again. I huff and pick the handset back up. “Hello?” Still no answer so I hang up.

The incessant buzz starts up again, this time for longer than the first two times. My skin bristles and goosebumps rise to the surface as I pick up the phone with more bravado than I feel. “Look asshole, if you’re not going to-”

“Keeley, it’s me,” a deep voice says, and I visibly relax.

“Lewis?” I sigh in relief. “I’ll come let you in.”

I hang up and lean my back against the wall to control my breathing. What is wrong with me?

I push off the wall and unlock the apartment door to go downstairs. Lewis is stood there with a curious look on his face and I wave him in and lock up when he steps inside. “What was with the verbal assault there?”

I turn and look at him, scoffing to hide my embarrassment. “Someone buzzed up twice before you did and didn’t say anything, must’ve just been teenagers messing around.”

I try to brush it off but I can’t help still feeling on edge, even with Lewis here.

His brows furrow. “I didn’t see anyone out there, must’ve ran off when they saw me coming.”

Just as he says that, the sound of an engine from down the street starting up makes me jump. Lewis puts a hand on my arm and guides me toward the stairs. “Hey, there’s no need to be on edge, Sam is fine. I gave her Connor’s address so she’s not going in blind.”

He’s misjudged my anxious behavior but I don’t want to correct him. If I corrected him, then I’d have to let him into a part of me I haven’t even told Sam yet. He’s a nice guy and all and I’m starting to see him as a friend, so why would I send him running for the hills just yet?

“Fancy pizza?” He asks, interrupting my thoughts, and my stomach grumbles at the thought. “I’ll take that as a yes then,” he chuckles.

He orders a pepperoni pizza and screws his nose up at my choice.

“What? It’s a perfectly acceptable pizza topping,” I say, rifling through mine and Sam’s extensive DVD collection.

“You just don’t put pineapple on top of pizza, it’s sacrilege,” he says, feigning disgust, or perhaps it’s real disgust.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!” I quip back.

He kneels down next to me and picks up one of Sam’s romantic comedies and I give him a knowing look, it says ‘yeah I know what you’re up to buddy’ and he raises his shoulders at me.

“What? So I like a chick flick every now and again, who doesn’t?” He says, amusement plastered across his face.

“Me. Give me action over mushy shit any day.”

I make a grab for one of my favorites and he concedes and settles down into the sofa.

I have a moral dilemma as I turn around and freeze. Where do I sit? If I sit in the armchair, then he’ll think I’m scared to sit next to him. But if I sit next to him. then will he try to get touchy feely with me? I can’t have him do that, I just… I just don’t see him like he wants me to. God, I wish I could, but I don’t.

I choose the friendlier of the options and take a seat on the sofa next to him, but I angle my body away from him, curling my feet under me so he doesn’t get the wrong idea. He eyes me quizzically, but I keep my eyes focused on the screen.

I’m so engrossed in the movie that half an hour later I jump as the buzzer sounds again, my heart pounds in my chest and I must look frantic because Lewis squeezes my shoulder. “Jeez, Keeley, you nearly gave me a heart attack the way you just jumped out your seat. I’ll get it, you stay here.”

I don’t even argue with him, I need to stop being such a, dare I say it, girl. He’s back in a little under three minutes and I start to calm as I eat the delicious pizza in silence, well almost. I notice Lewis staring at me and mid mouthful I turn to him. “What!” I snap, because he’s putting me off enjoying my meal.