Page 30 of Crossing Paths
There were just a few short sentences scrawled in a scribblyhand.
Naughty, naughty, Norah. Who’s the meathead? Lose him, or you’ll be sorry.??
The menacing happy face confirmed what she already knew: Devon Leifsen was responsible for the note. Her mind flashed back to the moment right before he’d shoved her, when he’d groped her butt. That was when he must’ve shoved the note into her pocket.
Placing the note on her bed, she took a picture with her phone and texted it to Dash. It was only after her message was sent that she wondered why her immediate reaction hadn’t been to wake up one of her sisters to show them the note.
The buzz of an incoming text from Dash brought her out of her thoughts.
Where’d you find that?
She hesitated for a brief moment before typingPants pocket.
The dots indicating that Dash was replying flashed on her screen for several seconds before his next text appeared.
Free tomorrow for some stalker hunting?
Yes.It was Sunday, but she’d just planned on doing more research on Leifsen. If Dash was with her, she could take that research into the field. She was surprised he could get away fromthe gym though. It seemed he spent most of his time working.Don’t you have to be at the gym?
Davies works Sundays. Any leads on where to start looking for Leifsen?
She smiled.Meet you at Green Valley Apartments at 9am? That’s where Chloe lives.
I’ll pick you up.
Okay.She hesitated, figuring she should leave it like that, keeping things professional. Then her fingers took over, typing before the cautious part of her brain could stop them.Good night, Dash.
During the pause that followed, Norah’s heart pounded as hard as if she’d just downed three espressos. She’d overstepped, gotten too personal. Dash was just her trainer, with a casual interest in helping her bring in Leifsen. Everything else—the dancing and intense eye contact and the careful touches to her lower back—hadn’t really meant anything. Her love-hungry brain had taken his friendliness and made it something more, and he was probably trying to think of the best way to let her down gently. She squeezed her eyes closed with embarrassment, jumping when her phone buzzed. She tried not to look, but she was unable to bear the suspense. Cracking one eye open, she peeked at the screen.
Sweet dreams, Norah.
She opened both eyes and read it again. Even as inexperienced as she was, she was pretty sure that wasn’t something he’d say to let her down gently. Those were the words of someone who was interested in her.
Realizing she was grinning at her phone like a fool, she forced herself to put it down on the bed. The note rustled, and the reminder of Leifsen erased her smile. She wondered if he was outside right now, looking up at her tiny bedroom window. She had to resist the urge to peer outside. Even if hewasout there, watching her, she wouldn’t be able to see him in the shadows. She shuddered, her eyes glued to the piece of notebook paper. It should’ve been innocuous, but it was menacing instead. Just like when he hacked into whatever laptop she was using, he was shoving his words in front of her without her permission. Both the note and his text boxes on the screen were invasions, violating her space.
Picking up the note with two fingers as if it were covered in slime, she tucked it into Leifsen’s file that she’d placed on the small strip of floor next to her bed. She wished she could burn it or at least shred it, but it was evidence. The memory of Dash promising they’d bring Leifsen in eased the tight ball of tension in her stomach. She wasn’t alone in this. Whether Dash was her trainer or a friend or even something more, he was there, cutting a clear path for her and lifting her high above the crowd.
Despite her dread that Leifsen lurked somewhere outside her dark window, Norah’s smile returned. She might have astalker, but she also had Dash.
Seven
They’d only been sitting outside the Green Valley Apartments for three and a half minutes before Chloe exited and headed for the tenants’ parking lot, her distinctive blond braids bouncing against her back with each long stride.
Norah straightened in her seat, her heartbeat speeding up as she spotted her.
“I see her,” Dash said, and Norah realized she’d grabbed his arm in her excitement.
Clearing her throat, she released him and pulled her hand back into her lap. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
As Chloe opened the driver’s side door of an older white cargo van, the hinges squealed a protest loud enough for Norah to hear all the way across the lot to the service road where they’d parked for their stakeout.
“Um…grabbing you.” Now she was feeling even more awkward than if she’d just let go and not said anything.
“You can grab me anytime.” The corner of his mouth that she could see quirked up.
Norah stared at his too-perfect profile, marveling at his self-assurance. It was like he didn’t ever get anxious or feel awkward. She wondered what that would be like, to live without the twothings that seemed to rule her existence.
