Her Destiny (Reverie #2)(44)
All I know is that I have to leave Nick. And I don’t want to.
A woman appears in the parking lot, accompanied by two little girls who look a lot like her. She’s holding their hands as she leads them to her car that’s parked pretty close to Nick’s. Her daughters are wearing bright pink puffy jackets, the color vivid against the otherwise gray morning, and seeing them out there, acting so normal, like it’s any other day, spurs me on.
Leaping up, I grab Nick’s keys and go to the door, unlocking it with a quick twist of my wrist. I’m already dressed and ready to go since I’m wearing yesterday’s clothes and shoes. When I emerge outside, I drag in a sharp breath, startled by the crisp cold in the air. I scurry over to Nick’s truck, looking around me, aware of my surroundings at all times just like my brother taught me.
I climb into the truck and reach behind the passenger seat, snagging the handle of my small bag. Breathing deep, I stay like that for a minute, my knees on the seat, my head bent as I inhale Nick’s scent that still lingers. The woman with her cute girls drives by at the precise moment I finally back out of the truck and shut the door, offering me a friendly wave and I return it, seeing her making my pumping heart ease.
I’m safe. There’s nothing to worry about.
Eager to get back to Nick so I can snuggle with him in bed for a few stolen minutes before I drag my butt into the bathroom and take a shower, I start toward his door, my steps faltering when a guy about my age appears out of nowhere, right in my path.
“Hey,” he greets, his voice easy. Friendly. His entire demeanor is nonthreatening what with that pleasant smile on his face, the hood of his black North Face black fleece jacket pulled over his head, his hands in his jeans’ pockets. He acts like he knows me and I wonder for a moment if we’ve ever encountered each other before.
“Hi.” I come to a stop, my bag slung over my shoulder.
“You lost?”
I shake my head, frowning. “No. Do I look lost?”
“Oh. Sorry.” He laughs. “I’ve just never seen you before. And I know everyone that lives here.”
“Do you live here?”
“Well, yeah.” He laughs again and shakes his head, as if my question was super lame. “Crazy storm yesterday, huh? You doing all right?”
Why would he ask if I’m doing all right? “I’m fine. And that storm was definitely crazy,” I agree, starting to step around him as I lift my arm in a little wave. “See you around.”
Before I can make my way toward Nick’s front door the guy reaches out, his fingers curling around my upper arm and stopping me from leaving. I turn to look at him, slowly disengaging my arm from his gentle grip, wondering what the heck he wants.
“Are you visiting someone?” he asks, his voice low and dark.
Okay. This guy is being sort of creepy. “How is that any of your business? What are you, the plain clothes security guy who prowls the lot?” I’m sort of joking, sort of not. I don’t like how this guy is acting.
His smile and nonthreatening stance evaporate in an instant. He’s scowling, his hands going to his hips. “When there are strangers loitering around the complex, I make it my business.”
“I’m not loitering.” I lift my chin, tilting my head toward the building where Nick’s apartment is. “You’re right. I’m visiting someone.”
“Who?”
I start to walk again, uncomfortable with this guy’s constant questions. “See you later.”
“Hey.” He barks the word out, coming after me to grab hold of my arm and yank me around, his grip tight, his fingers biting into my skin even through the thick fabric of my sweatshirt. “You can’t just walk away from me like that.”
“Let go of me.” I struggle against his hold, panic rising within me. If I screamed loud enough, would Nick hear? Would anyone hear? Is this how Krista felt when she encountered the person who eventually killed her? I’m being completely irrational but this guy is scaring me. “What’s your problem?”
“You’re my problem.” He pulls me close into him, thrusting his face in mine. His dark, angry eyes stare straight into me and I shrink within his grasp, frightened by what I see—which is absolutely nothing. His eyes are flat. Dead. “You and your stupid boyfriend.”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Who is this guy? What does he want from me? I shouldn’t have come out here, lulled by the supposed safety I saw in the normalcy of the woman walking with her children. I should’ve woken Nick up and asked him to come with me. How could I have been so stupid? He would’ve come with me. He probably would’ve run out here and grabbed the bag and made me wait inside. He’d do anything for me.
But can he save me now?
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” He pauses, the gleam in his eyes growing, the light against the dark vivid. Scary. “Reverie.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
I wake up to my bed empty, the space Reverie occupied next to me long gone cold. Sitting up, I run my hands through my hair and look around, my vision blurry, my head fuzzy. Didn’t get much sleep last night.
Not that I mind. I was occupied with…other things.
Namely Reverie.
Heaving a deep breath, I reach over to my bedside table and grab my cell, checking my text messages. I don’t have many, which is normal. There are two from Evan, who I gave my number to before I left with Reverie. He’s asking both times when are we leaving for the bus station and I send him a quick reply, saying we should be there within the hour.