No surprise. You’ve been stalking I for a decade.

The sun has set on our time together, and you absolutely hate it.

But maybe you think the best way to predict the future is to create it.

You’re insisting on this avenue, though I keep saying no.

So, come find me, De Lorean...and then add on a zero.

I read the message one more time before I call her back. She answers on the second ring.

“What the hell is this?” I ask as soon as her face appears on my screen. “You said you’d give me your address.”

“No, I said I’d tell you where to find me. Doesn’t it remind you of the good, old days when I used to give you those little riddle adventures?”

“I hate you. I hate you so much.”

“How can you say that after all the effort I put in? Didn’t you see? I took the time to make it rhyme and everything.”

I thump my head on the steering wheel. “Can you please – just this once – make my life easy?”

“And where’s the fun in that?”

“Bella, you’ve given me no information to work with. There are no street names or landmarks or anything. How am I?”

“If you want an hour with my mouth on date two...you’re gonna have to work for it...so come find me.” She increases the pitch of her voice to sound overly dramatic. “Come galloping in on your trusted, white steed and claim your queen.” She tilts the camera to show me a glimpse of her naked body again. “All this will be waiting for you.”

She presses two fingers to her lips to blow me a kiss then hangs up, and I toss my phone on the passenger seat. This woman is the bane of my existence...which is probably the reason why I can’t get enough of her.










15. Isabella