Page 22 of Don't Watch Alone
He held my keys out like a peace offering, the familiar birthday keychain Mary had given me reflecting in the light. “Looking for these?”he’d said, but his smile felt too sharp and rehearsed.
At the time, I’d been so thrown off—relieved, really—that I didn’t question it. I mean, sure, there’s a hole in the lining of my purse, and sure, things fell out. But for him to be just standing there? At that exact moment? And being the one that found my keys?
The more I consider it, the more it bothers me. The odds. The timing. The way he just… appeared.
I get goosebumps at the thought of it. Every instinct I have is screaming now, because something’s wrong. With Mary. With Andy. With this whole damn situation.
And tomorrow… tomorrow is his first day on the job at Electric Avenue. And I’m scheduled to work the closing shift. With him. Alone.
Chapter ten
Blaiz
Iclockinandglance around, but Andy’s nowhere in sight. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe Greg didn’t actually hire him. I haven’t told Tony because I know he’d blow up, and I can’t afford to lose this job, not yet anyway. Not until I find something else.
I start folding shirts, trying to settle into the shift, when Andy walks in. So much for wishful thinking. It wasn’t a fucking dream. He’s really here.
Right on cue, Greg steps out of his office.
“Blaiz, you’ll be training Andy today. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”
Perfect. I have to train the guy who has been stalking me.
“So, what do we need to do?” Andy asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“We mostly straighten displays… clothing, jewelry, belts. When someone comes to check out, I’ll show you how the register works.”
“What should I do now?”
Leave the fucking store sits right at the tip of my tongue, but I hold it back.
“Go straighten the belt display. Make sure the same styles are on the same hooks.”
He nods with that weird little smile and moves toward the accessories wall.
I focus on a stack of sweaters, trying to keep my hands steady. I still remember how he has been watching me. And now I’m supposed to work side by side with him like everything’s fine. Like this is normal.
I hear the belts clinking together. I glance over. Believe it or not, he’s lining them up with remarkable care and accuracy. His back is to me, like he’s enjoying every second he gets to be here with me.
I force myself to look away. To act normal. I need this paycheck. Moving back in with my parents would be a fucking nightmare.
“So, do you usually work alone, Blaiz?”
His voice startles me. He doesn’t turn around, but I hear the fake casualness seeping through.
“No, Mary usually works with me.” The second it’s out of my mouth, I regret it.
“Mary, right. She didn’t come back, did she?” he says. Not as a question like he already knows the answer.
I say nothing for a second, then, “No, she didn’t.” I refocus on a denim display. I can feel his stare intensely on my back.
“Too bad,” he says. Then adds, “She was... very particular about the belt display.”
I gasp. He shouldn’t know that. It was something Mary and I joked about—how she’d fix the belts even if they were already perfect. No one else would’ve noticed that detail. Unless he was watching from inside the store and listening to us.
I squeeze my fists. Confronting him would only make things worse. I need to keep it together.
Every time I glance up, I catch him staring at me. Then, he starts walking over towards me.
