“Leave, and bring Sky some water,” snaps Tina, then turns to me. “Sky, sit down. You don’t look well.”
“Not well?” I half shout. “How dare you! Both of you!”
“It was Dylan’s decision. I—”
I slam my hands on the table. “I need to leave before the rest of this building hears me screaming at you. Because I’m this bloody close.” I hold my forefinger and thumb millimetres apart.
Tina picks up her pen again. “The press release, what do you want to do?”
I blink at her indifferent reaction to mine. “Do what the fuck you like!”
My anger blinds as I stumble from the room. I shove the letters into my bag. If they won’t deal with this, I bloody will.
The heat hits my already clammy skin; the English summer weather hit a sticky, muggy stage. Add in the pregnancy and I’m uncomfortable and nauseous. I parked my car around the back of the SMC offices, and when I round the corner, I halt and back up.
The scene greeting me shifts my day from crap to a huge bloody nightmare. A girl leans over my car bonnet as she writes a note, oblivious to passers-by. Her long, blonde hair falls across her face obscuring her features, but there’s no doubt who this is.
Lily.
The apparition wears blue shorts, exposing her long legs and a short cut white top. An ordinary girl on a summer’s day, not a stalker hitting the jackpot. My racing heart pounds harder. Do I confront Lily or leave this?
How closely does Lily follow me? How long for? Close enough if she knew I’d be here. I’m not often in public alone. Has she snatched her chance?
I should bloody show them I can deal with her myself. I’m in public. She can’t touch me.
I stride across the car park to confront her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl.
“Sky! I was hoping I’d catch you.” She gives me a warm smile, cornflower blue eyes shining. “I was writing you a note to leave on the car. You keep missing our coffee dates. I wanted to see you again.”
“I think you’ve sent me enough notes.”
Lily’s delusional smile continues, despite my stony look. “You didn’t reply to my letters. I wondered if you weren’t receiving them. I wish you’d give me your phone number. Then I’d be able to contact you more easily.”
“Why would I do that?” I snap.
“In case I need to get in touch, silly.” Lily tucks the pen into her small handbag and takes out her phone.
Does she seriously think I’ll give her my number? But if I say no... If she touches me... I look around the small car park, towards the busy street. How fast can I move if I need? “We haven’t spent any time together, Lily. Have we?”
Genuine hurt fills her eyes. “That’s unfair of you.”
“Unfair?” I choke.
“I’ve tried calling at your apartment, but you’re never there. And oh!” She grabs my arm with warm fingers, and I snatch it away. “Why didn’t you tell me about the baby?”
What the hell? Who told her?
I take a sharp breath against the wooziness growing in my head. “Lily. I’m warning you. Back off or I will involve the police.”
“What? Why? Sky!” She pulls her mouth into a sympathetic look and reaches to touch me again.
I grip my bag and take another step backwards. Obviously whoever Dylan has watching Lily failed today.
“Is this about the thing I told you last time we met?” she asks. “I thought you should know. That’s all.”
“The ‘thing’? The fictional rape you mean?”
“No. The baby, silly!” She sighs. “That’s why I’m leaving the note. I wanted to see you again so we could talk about everything we need to.”