Page 22 of Stalking My Stalker

I want him to find me.

There. I admit it.

Even though I know I’m making a huge mistake, I reach over and unblock his name in my phone, and before I can even set it back down again, it begins chiming with a non-stop string of alerts. They just keep coming, one after the other.

My heart jumps, and my lips twist up in the corners.

I look down and see an endless chain of texts from Parker, stretching all the way back to the night I left.

Where are you?

Ali, you’re scaring me.

Did you leave me? Please, tell me why.

I’m worried. Just let me know you’re safe.

I know it’s wrong, but a warm feeling soaks into my heart as I scroll through two weeks’ worth of texts. It’s clear he’s hurting, and I feel bad about that, but him expressing desire for me like this…

It makes me feel just like I did before when he would watch me from across the street. Or when he would sneak into my bedroom at night.

Even just through texts, Parker has the ability to make me feel like the only girl in the world.

Please text me.

I love you…

You’re scaring me.

Are you okay?

I’m nearing the end when the phone shakes in my hand.

Incoming Call: Parker.

I nearly drop it as I quickly ignore it. If he knows he’s been unblocked, he’ll never stop.

Please, just tell me if you’re alive.

I can feel his anguish through his texts. I feel suddenly awful. This is all my doing. I could have handled this like a mature adult and broken up with him, but I just ran off and left him wondering what happened. That’s no way to treat someone.

Janice was lying, baby…

His text causes my heart to leap.

I knew it!

The phone rings again, sending a jolt through my body like an electric shock. I stare at his contact name, fighting an internal war with myself over which course of action to take. I know the right one. I know the decision I need to make, but it’s just not that simple…

“Do it,” I mutter at myself. “You know you want to.”

One more ring and it’s going to go to voicemail.

But Parker knows now that I’m alive. My phone actually rang and didn’t go straight to voicemail. Not answering now would be even more cruel.

So with the deepest of breaths, I slide my thumb across the glass of my screen and take the call.

I lift my phone to my ear but can’t find the resolve to say anything.

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