Page 248 of Love Me Stalk Me
He blinks.
"Cal.” My words are calm. "I'm glad you did."
His brows furrow in confusion. "What?"
I shrug lightly, the blanket slipping slightly off my shoulder. "I know it sounds crazy, but thank God you did. You saved me."
His entire body relaxes slightly, the tension draining from his shoulders.
I rest my head against him. "It's kind of nice, you know?" I murmur softly. "Having someone who's a completely dedicated protector for you. Makes you feel valued."
A soft chuckle rumbles through his chest as his arm curls around my shoulders, pulling me close. His warmth seeps through my sweater, chasing away the chill that had settled in my bones.
The tension inside me unravels as I lean into Cal's embrace. For the first time since waking up in the warehouse with its concrete floors and musty air, I finally feel safe. I close my eyes briefly, then turn my face toward him, my nose brushing against the stubble on his jaw.
"I know, by the way."
His grip tightens slightly. "Know what, pretty girl?"
I smile softly. "I know you're Caleb."
His entire body stiffens. He turns to me fully now, eyes wide and vulnerable, reflecting the blue and red lights flashing around us.
"Izzy... what?" His voice cracks slightly.
I squeeze his hand, feeling the roughness of his palm against mine. “I first started to suspect it when Caleb called me ‘Izzy’ from time to time.” I let out a breathy laugh. “The chat history didn’t disappear, and when I sobered up, I went back and reread our conversations. At first, I thought maybe the app knew my real name from my credit card or something, so I wasn’t completely positive. But I knew for sre when you called me ‘pretty girl’ in the car yesterday.”
His brows knit together, but I keep going, watching his expression shift in the wavering light.
"It clicked right then," I explain gently. "You hesitated—just slightly. You never hesitate. But you did then, and I noticed."
His mouth opens, then closes, then opens again. "Then why did you keep?—?"
I shrug. "It was fun."
His jaw slackens in surprise, his eyes widening.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing at his expression. "I liked talking to Caleb," I admit quietly. "My relationship with him developed differently from ours. It made me comfortable. Besides, since I did suspect it was you all along, no harm done. I figured you'd tell me when you were ready."
Hisexpression shifts, confusion turning to relief, the crease between his brows softening. "You're not... mad?"
I shake my head slightly, my hair brushing against his shoulder. “I don’t like that you kept something like that from me," I admit, tracing a pattern on his palm with my index finger. "But you didn't use it in a negative way or to manipulate me, so... I can forgive you."
Cal frowns. “But I did manipulate you. I encouraged you to break up with Evan, to admit your feelings to me.”
I look up at him, meeting his gaze. “I think it’s different. You never backed me into a corner or made me feel like I had no other choice. You just… believed in me. Encouraged me to do what was best for myself. Evan manipulated me by using control to make me feel worse about myself. But you? You gave me the confidence to make my own decisions.”
Cal’s expression softens, a flicker of relief passing over his features. “I never wanted to take away your choice. I only wanted to support you in making the right ones for yourself.”
I lean into him again, resting my head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat pulses against my ear, a reassuring beat that drowns out the chaos around us.
He lets out a slow, shaky exhale.
"Is that why you wouldn't sleep with me?"
I tilt my head, watching his expression shift, his brows pulling together, his lips parting just slightly.
"That's why, isn't it?" I murmur, my voice softer now.
