Page 8 of Taking Adalisa

After rolling my neck to get rid of the tension in it, I scoff and sit in a chair. I wouldn’t be surprised if Matthias has been following me for months and months, finding everything about me that he could.

Freaky.

Terrifying.

I should be scared and going to the police, but I can’t bring myself to. There is just something about him that makes me want to get to know him more. There is a pull between us.

I haven’t seen Matthias since the munch, three days ago. Part of me is disappointed I haven’t seen him again, but the other part of me is grateful. I’ve tried so hard to get him out of my head. Though, like he said, I think about him constantly.

Infuriating.

Annoying.

How did he know I would think about him all the time? Was it a lucky guess, or did he put something in my drink that night that makes me think about him so much? He couldn’t possibly have done that. There is nothing you can put in someone’s drink to do that.

But somehow the thought of him is firmly stuck in my brain.

I think about him constantly. Every single time I do, I get frustrated with myself. How do I get him out of my head? Every single thing reminds me of him, especially at work, where I met him several times without knowing it.

“Still thinking about the speed dating?” Margery asks.

I look over at Margery and nod. “Sadly.”

“It went that badly?” She sits down next to me at the counter.

It wentthat badlybut at the same time, it went amazingly. I felt comfortable around Matthias until he told me everything he knew about me to the people at the munch.

“Adalisa?” Margery asks. “Are you all right? Did something happen that we need to notify the police about?”

“No, we don’t need to call the police,” I gently reply. They won’t be able to do anything.

I don’t know who Matthias is, but he has a bad boy aura about him. Him telling me the police will pretend like they saw nothing is running around my head. Who could he be that is so terrible that the police don’t want to get involved?

Unless he is paying them to stay out of his business. They would if he paid them enough.

“It went how I thought it was going to go. It was okay during times, and other times I was horrified,” I reply honestly. “Some things shocked me. I know they shouldn’t, but they did.”

Now I’m lying. But I don’t need Margery to worry about me, not when she is starting finally forget about Ethan. She should have done that a long time ago, but she really loved him.

“If any of them follow you or harass you in any way, let me know. We can go to the police. I’ve gotten to know one of them really well since Ethan died. He was there for me when I needed someone,” she whispers.

“I think he just wants to get with you,” I point out and instantly regret it. “Shit. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was uncalled for and rude of me.”

Margery chuckles and shakes her head. “You think I didn’t know that already? He was making some pretty obvious advances toward me. I’ve told him no several times, and he stopped. He was there for me in the end. I haven’t talked to him in years, but I know he still works there. He will listen to you.”

I raise my hand. “I don’t need to talk to him. Nothing is going on. Everything is fine, I promise.”

Another lie.

I hate lying to her, but I don’t need her to worry about me. Not when she is finally coming out of her shell. I don’t need her to retreat when she finds out someone has been to our workplace and has been following me.

That will freak her out.

“If it changes, you tell me right away.” Margery points a finger at me. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. Not when you are the only person I like in this city.”

“I thought you liked Ethan’s sister, Bonnie?” I ask.

“I haven’t talked to her in eighteen years. We were friends, and I loved her, but she’s probably forgotten about me by now.” Margery looks down at her hands. “I want to talk to her again, but I don’t want her to remember Ethan and it make her sad. I don’t know if she would, but I also don’t want to trigger her if she isn’t ready.”

---