Page 98 of Clashing
I’d drawn him many times. In the first couple weeks we hooked up, I’d snuck out of bed and drawn him while he slept. I became so familiar with him, his expressions, his posture. His body claimed a permanent residence in my mind.
Those drawings got tucked away in hiding once Collin and I started dating.
Collin.I could draw him. Except I couldn’t. I had to end it. The way I was with Ryker while dating Collin wasn’t okay. Besides, I wasn’t in a place to be with anyone. That meant I’d have to call him and set up a breakup date. I hated breakup dates, but he’d been good to me. I owed him at least that.
A weight settled over my chest as I took another sip of whiskey. I glanced out the window, where maybe another person’s life was less of a mess. Someone out there had their life together, and I pretended that meant one day I would too. Maybe I’d even see one of them walk by. Maybe—
My brows pulled together, and I focused on a figure outlined below a flickering street lamp. A person. A person who stared up at my window. I leaned over my desk, squinting.
The whiskey fell from my fingers and shattered on the ground, spilling liquid everywhere. My heart stopped. The figure stepped forward, more into the light. Fear seized my body into a rigid state.
Todd.
No.He started walking, and I fumbled for my phone. I had a restraining order against him. He wasn’t allowed to be this close. I quickly dialed the police.
“Nine one one, what’s your emergency?” a woman answered.
“There—there’s a man outside my apartment.” I peered out the window, watching him draw closer to the bar, every step an acceleration to my heart rate. “Someone I have a restraining order against. He’s walking closer to the building.”
She asked me questions. I tried to stay calm while I gave her details. She pulled up the file from when he put me in the hospital. Promised she’d send a car. Offered to stay on the phone but it freaked me out more to think I’d be distracted if he made it inside.
He can’t get in.The doors downstairs were locked. My door was locked. I was panicking for no reason.No way he’ll break in.
Logically, I was safe. He couldn’t get into the barandmy apartment.Unless he could.
My wooden kitchen chair scraped along the ground as I dragged it to brace against the door. I made sure it was snug, then backed away, white-knuckling my phone. Fright spilled through my body like a paralyzing poison. It crawled over every inch of my skin, freezing one muscle after another until I couldn’t move.
No matter how hard I breathed, I couldn’t take in the air I needed. I’d tried so hard not to let fear consume me after what happened. I’d tried not to be paranoid about everything. I didn’t want to give him that power. And yet, there I stood, consumed, my legs barely holding me up.
He can’t get in. He can’t get in. He can’t get in.
Glass shattered downstairs, and my blood turned to ice.
Okay, maybe he can.Hands shaking, I dialed the first number I thought of.
“Scarlett,” Ryker answered. “I’m glad you called. I—”
“Todd’s in the bar.” My voice croaked as hot tears streamed down my face.
Ryker’s tone dropped to a growl. “What?”
“He broke in. He broke in and—” The stairs creaked. “Oh, God. Ryker, he’s coming upstairs!”
“Baby, breathe for me, okay? Did you lock the door?”
“Yes.” I nodded. I didn’t know why. He couldn’t see me. “I braced it too.”
“That’s good, baby. You’re doing good.” His even tone almost tricked me into being less scared. How could he be calm right now? “Take a deep breath and grab two more chairs. You need to barricade yourself in your bathroom, okay? Brace your bedroom and bathroom doors. You can do this, Scarlett.”
I nodded again. Why was I nodding? I lunged for a chair, and the creaking on the stairs stopped.Knock. Knock. Knock.An involuntary whimper escaped me.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m going to be right there.” Ryker’s voice reminded me I was supposed to be moving, not freezing. “Get those doors braced. Take a knife from the kitchen. Worse comes to worse, you defend yourself.”
Oh God.I couldn’t process. Couldn’t understand through the racing thoughts tying my mind into complicated knots. “That’s so many things.”
Another knock. Todd’s angry voice oozed through the door. “Scarlett, open up.”
“Baby, listen. You gotta breathe.” Ryker’s tone was so much nicer. Calmer. Softer. “We gotta buy some time, okay? The more obstacles you give him, the more time it gives me to get there. You can do it, baby. You’re so damn strong.”
