no turning back

• seven •

gladys

With each step, I walked to the beat of the song thumping through my earbuds. I was halfway through my second lap around the neighborhood when my phone rang.

I sighed, stopped walking, and checked my phone. The caller ID listed Barry, so I accepted it.

"Hey, kiddo," he said. "I just got called into work and I've gotta run out. You're good to stay in and make dinner for yourself?"

"Yep," I said. "Don't work too hard."

"Right." He snorted. "You know the rules."

"I do."

"Stay in," he went on, ignoring me. "Don't open the door. Call me if you see or hear anything suspicious."

"Understood," I replied, sighing.

"Don't get an attitude. I'm sorry I have to run."

I didn't have an attitude. That was a sigh of relief.

Denying it would only aggravate him more, though, so I just said, "I understand. Stay safe."

"You, too, kid."

Click.

Truthfully, I was grateful to have some time alone. Ben had been obsessively demanding this week, asking to go through my phone every day.

I was glad I'd blocked the anonymous number. Ben would stroke out if he knew I was in communication with Elijah. Not that I could prove it was him, but still.

Who else calls me 'angel'?

Thinking about this absurd situation with Jesse made my skin crawl. I would continue to ignore Eli or whoever it was for as long as I could.

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how my skin hadn't stopped burning with jealousy since I saw him all over her car. I never even had a damn car for him to lean on, but if I did, I'd want him to do that to mine.

Sighing, I pinched my nose and forced my feet forward again. Why did I even waste my precious thoughts pondering the what-ifs?

I remembered every promise and threat. He swore he would always come for me. Whether he would be successful in his endeavors, however, was an entirely other matter.

By the time I returned to the house, my mind and body were depleted of energy. I plopped onto the couch and checked my phone.

My walk had hardly killed any time. This weekend was dragging.

As my thoughts were tempted to turn back to Elijah, I quickly occupied myself. I read a few chapters of an e-book, played a game on my phone, and watched about five minutes of television.

Each occupation only offered fleeting entertainment, though. Nothing could curb my boredom.

The stillness and silence didn't usually bother me so much. I'd spent years living this way.

If I got antsy, Ben would drive me to the gym. I would love to go now, but he took our only vehicle and it was too far to go by foot.

Maybe I could walk to the park around the corner. It was technically outside the neighborhood but at least I wasn't walking across town.

If I was honest with myself, I was hoping my stalker would be brave enough to meet me on neutral soil like he once had.

Stop thinking about him, dummy!

I tied my sneakers back on, threw a coat on, plugged in my earbuds, and marched back outside.

The sting of the cool wind against my cheeks sent a reviving buzz down to my toes. A moisture hung in the air that made me think it might snow soon.