Page 10 of Taking Adalisa

“So, open it. You may want me near you in case you get emotional,” Margery suggests.

Taking a deep breath, I rip open the package and nearly drop the contents if it weren’t for Margery holding my hands up.

“A bracelet?” Margery questions. “There is nothing special or embarrassing about that. Unless there is some hidden meaning behind it.”

It isn’t just any bracelet. It’s the bracelet I took off the night of the munch and left on my nightstand next to my bed.

“Oh! There’s a note!” Margery squeals, picking up the piece of paper before I can.

“No!” I raise my voice, but it is too late.

“Oh,” she whispers as she reads it.

Worry churns in my stomach as I stare at her. What could he have possibly written in there for her to just say, “Oh?”

Is it something bad? Naughty? Stalkery?

“Give it to me,” I demand, holding my hand out.

Margery hands me the note, and I quickly read it.

Matthias

You left this on your nightstand. I want you to wear it when you go out. Protection. Wear it at night if you want me to know.

“An old friend who you left your bracelet at his house?” Margery asks. “Is there something more with him? What aren’t you telling me?”

I open and close my mouth several times as I stare at the note. What am I supposed to say?

“Adalisa?” Margery gently touches my arm. “Are you okay? Do you need to go home? You know I can look after the shop ifyou need to leave. I’ve been here several times on my own. No one has to know you went home early.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t need to go home. I’m just a little shocked.”

“How?”

“I didn’t think I left it at his house,” I whisper. “I thought I had misplaced it at mine.”

All a lie, another one I will need to stay on top of. How am I going to tell her the truth? I can’t ever, not unless I want her to look at me like I’m crazy and completely out of my mind for not going to the police when I first met Matthias.

“I swore I left it on my nightstand, but I couldn’t find it,” I mumble, lying even more.

“What does he mean it will protect you? Do you have some kind of kinky stuff going on with him?” Margery asks.

I stare at her with wide eyes. Her question immediately pulls me out of my shock.

“No!” I shout. “We don’t and we never will. We are just friends. I don’t want any more with him.”

We aren’t even friends, but he knows me better than my best friend.

“Why don’t you want anything else with him?” Margery asks. “If he cares about you this much, you should go with it. It’s time you found someone who loves you for you.”

If only she knew the truth, she wouldn’t be saying those things. But she doesn’t; she can’t.

“It’s complicated,” I mumble. “Everything is complicated with him.”

“You can talk to me about it if you want. I’m a good listener.” Margery places her hand on my shoulder.

“I don’t really want to talk about it, but thank you. I appreciate it.” I smile at her.

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