Page 75 of Haunt the Mall

Or she’d dumped the clothes under the counter and took off under the pretense her work was done.

< AJ: I can stay if you really need me to >

A shadowed figure lurked in the doorway.

I gasped and clutched my phone. “Fuck.”

“Sorry.” My spider man crept into the light and pushed his bangs back.

I pressed my palm to my racing heart. “No, I’m sorry. I guess I’m used to being alone for the most part.”

Jinx looked up from his snack.

“Well, besides my guard cat,” I corrected.

Jinx resumed eating.

Victor leaned against the doorway and jerked his chin at my phone. “Who were you texting?”

“Work.” I sighed and typed out a message. “Apparently, I’ll have a lot to do tomorrow.”

< Me: Go home. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. >

< AJ: Thanks, boss [thumbs up emoji] >

“Mmm.” He audibly swallowed, his gaze dim on my cat. “If you’d rather I leave—”

“No!” I stopped short of launching myself at him. “I mean, no. You could even sleep over.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”

I leaned against the fridge. “I have to open, so we can’t exactly sleep in, but I have enough cereal and milk for both of us.”

Jinx slid between my legs and licked his lips. He craned his neck to survey me and Victor. I smiled at him. At the word ‘milk,’ my cat was already prepping himself for the remnants of our breakfast.

“I don’t have my razor,” Victor demurred.

“You can use one of mine if you want. No pressure. I know this is last minute, so I’m not expecting you to—”

“Give me a moment.” He strode out of the room, leaving me and Jinx blinking at one another.

'What was that,' my cat seemed to ask.

'I don’t know,' I shrugged back.

The door clicked open and closed. Victor left?

What the fuck? Jinx and I hurried to my bedroom window to peek through the curtains. Victor was checking his car trunk. For what? A shovel? An ice pick? An ax? We had plenty of condoms here, so that wasn't it. He talked low on the phone to someone. Who was it? His parents? He could be letting them know he wouldn’t be home, although it kind of depressed me to think this grown-ass sexy man was shacked up with some judgmental therapists, if that was even what they were. Maybe he lived with his sister. I cracked open the window just enough to make out his voice.

“You’ll be fine. And if you’re not, you can call.” His shoulders sagged. “I really need this.”

My heart clenched. He needed me. Or at least an escape. Who was he talking to though? Was I even allowed to ask?

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He grabbed something dark and turned around, slamming the trunk shut. His eyes flashed with something brighter than the brake lights.

“Oh my god,” I hissed, ducking. Did he see I was spying on him?

His soft chuckle made my cheeks flush.