TWO
Harvie
I rollover in the bed, yawning so wide that my jaw pops as I crack my eyes open.
It takes me a second to remember where I am, but that’s a feeling that I’ve grown used to over the years. I’ve been a model since I was eighteen and I feel like I’m always traveling, always waking up in a bed that I don’t recognize, in a city that I don’t know.
At first, it was exciting. I mean, what eighteen-year-old wouldn’t love that kind of freedom? Especially when you live in a tiny town like Diamond, Texas, where the nearest big city is hours away. Lately, though, it’s been more of a pain.
I’ve spent the last five years bouncing from city to city and photo shoot to photo shoot. I’ve made some friends over the years but it doesn’t really matter when I only see them two or three times a year and we’re all too busy to text or check in with each other often.
“Hey, sleepyhead!” Arlowe calls from outside the cottage door and I grin as I throw my legs over the edge.
“Morning!” I shout back.
“Are you decent?” she asks, but she opens the door before I can answer.
I am wearing pajamas but Arlowe and I grew up together. We’ve changed in front of each other so many times over the years that seeing the other naked or partially dressed wouldn’t matter to either of us.
“Hey!” I say, throwing my arms around her shoulders in a tight hug.
“Hey,” she says, hugging me back just as tight. “It’s been too long.”
“I know. I needed a break. It sucks that this is why I’m getting one, but it’s going to be so nice to see you and hang out with you every day for a bit!”
“I know! How’s the cottage?”
I’m staying in a tiny little cottage on the edge of the King’s ranch that we used to play in when we were kids. No one knows about this place, so it should be safe until we can figure out who the stalker is or make them stop.
“It’s good. Thanks for letting me hide out here.”
“Of course. I tried to clean it out when you told me that you were coming, but it’s still kind of musty, huh?” she asks as she moves to open some of the windows.
Arlowe has always been an early riser. I’m sure that she’s been up for hours and I’m a bit surprised that she was able to let me sleep in until eight thirty without rushing over here.
“Thanks for letting me crash here,” I tell her gratefully, and she grins.
“Of course. Anything to keep you close by.”
I’ve missed Arlowe so much over the years. I tried to come back whenever I could but those visits were few and far between. We still talked to each other constantly, sending texts every day and calling at least once a week. It’s not the same as being here with her though.
Arlowe was there the day that I was discovered. We were at a mall nearby, shopping when I had been stopped. At first, I thought that it was a scam, but Arlowe helped me look into it more.
She was so supportive of me becoming a model, even though it meant leaving our small Texas town. I’ve brought her on trips with me over the years, but nothing can compare to being back home with her, surrounded by so many memories of us as kids.
“What are you doing today?” I ask her as I start to dig through my suitcase for something to wear.
“I’ve got to get some chores done and run a few errands. I thought maybe we could have dinner together though?”
“I’d love that.”
“Your bodyguard should be here soon, but I wanted to see you before then and make sure that you were alright.”
“I’m fine,” I tell her.
I don’t want to admit to anyone just how much this stalker has rattled me.
“Well, Rule will be able to handle it.”