Page 28 of His Ex's Little Sister
“Beau and I need to get back to the office. Give us a holler if he shows up again.” Leo pulls out a business card and passes it to Robin. “Take care with that one,” he tells her. “I’ve got a kid sister your age, and ain’t no way I’d let a man like that near her. Our emergency number is on there. Call anytime at all if you have a problemwithhim.”
Robin hesitates for a moment, seeming to contemplate whether or not to accept the card. “Thanks,” she answers, and takes it, sliding it into herpurse.
I walk her to her truck. There’s a lot I want to tell her, but she has already insisted that she doesn’t want me to stick around at her place, so I respect her wishes. Still, I follow her for her trek home, watching my rearview mirror like a hawk just in case this dickbag shows up. We take the side roads to get to the small, detached one-level house she’s renting out near that spot where she was taking pictures. The place is secluded. On her side of the road, the houses are separated by large yards, and there’s nothing but bare land, cattle, and a few barns on theotherside.
Robin steps over to my driver side door once she parks in her driveway and unloads her purse, guitar, and a file folder that was in herbackseat.
“I’m good from here,” shetellsme.
“I don’t agree, but I’m not gonnaargue.”
“Thanks. Have a goodnight.”
The unsettled feeling in my chest doesn’t let up after she goes inside and locks up. It’s still with me when I get home. I twist and turn all night, and there are several points where I want to vault out of bed to check up on her. The next morning, just so that I don’t end up going batshit crazy, I take the long way to the office, intent on passing by herhouse.
Except I don’t count on seeing Robin’s baby blue relic of a Chevy truck a few cars ahead—or a dark gray late model Honda sedan that seems to befollowingher.
