Page 76 of Wish You Were Mine
I didn’t want to turn around again. Didn’t want to draw attention to myself, or my fear, if this was nothing. But…what if it wasn’t?
I glanced back.
He was behind me.
And yeah. Definitely closer than before.
He could just be headed the same way, I told myself. If he was an athlete, he probably lived in the same dorms. He could?—
He picked up his pace.
Nope.No. My stomach dropped.
I sped up, practically speed-walking now, my heart thudding louder with every step. Everything felt tight—my chest, my throat, my limbs still sore from training.
Come on, Lucy. Don’t freak out yet. Just find somewhere, anywhere you can duck into.
Except everything nearby was dark. Closed. Was there an emergency button somewhere?
I scanned the street like my life depended on it. And then I saw it.
Owen’s apartment.
Or at least the one I’d seen him leave last week.
I was pretty sure he’d come down from the second-floor unit, the one with the faint porch light still on.
Maybe I could hide out there for a bit? Just until this guy passed by?
If I crossed the street now, and the guy behind me didn’t follow, then I could just continue home. No need for a detour. But if he did stop…
Well, hopefully Owen was home and would be okay with a visitor.
I sprinted across the street. Cut straight for the steps. Risked one more glance over my shoulder.
And there he was.
Jogging across the street.
Straight toward me.
No.
Nope. Not waiting to see if this was some harmless misunderstanding.
I ran.
Boots slamming against the concrete as I bolted toward the stairwell, heart pounding. I took the stairs two at a time, adrenaline giving me wings—until my foot slipped on a patch of ice.
My leg shot out. I slammed my shin against the metal stair with a sharp cry, “Oww—” Pain was instantly shooting down the front of my leg.
But I couldn’t stop.
I scrambled up the rest of the stairs, one hand gripping the rail as I reached the landing, praying I’d picked the right door, praying Owen was home.
I knocked frantically.
Come on, Owen. Please be around. Please don’t be in the shower or something.
