I run to the bathroom and empty the contents of my stomach, Caleb coming in a few moments later and rubbing my back for me. I flush the toilet and then stand and swill my mouth out, not at all embarrassed that I’ve thrown up and he’s seen. I’m trembling as he lifts me and carries me to the bedroom, where he lies me on the bed and spoons me from behind, holding me close, giving me the warmth I need to feel.
“We’ll find whoever is doing this, I promise you,” he whispers, as the light of the afternoon turns to darkness, and I feel despair over our happy ever after being tainted.
* * *
“Caleb?” I call out as I find myself alone in bed, the curtains letting in the moonlight that is the only thing illuminating part of the room.
I feel a little panicked that he isn’t here, but then I shake off the eerie feeling washing over me as I remind myself that I am perfectly safe here, in this house, with him.
I swing my legs off the bed and make my way down the stairs. The lights are all on but there’s silence. “Caleb?” I call out again, but still I’m met with silence.
I check the clock as I enter the kitchen and see that it’s just gone eight o’clock. Where the hell is he? But my eyes quickly find a note on the table, and scribbled on it is a message from Caleb.
Just nipped to the shop to grab some food, I won’t be long, and I waited but didn’t want to wake you. I made sure all of the doors and windows were locked, and I have my phone with me if you need to call me, but I will be back before you know it. I love you.
My phone sits beside the note, no longer in the clear bag, and as I illuminate the screen, I see that it’s blank and there are no waiting messages for me.
I let out a shaky sigh of relief and click the kettle on before going through to the lounge and putting the TV on for some background noise. I flick through the channels and settle on a rom-com that just started—something light and funny will help to settle me. All of the curtains are drawn, and I’m thankful that Caleb closed them, because I’m already enough of a jittery mess without worrying about the looming shadow of a branch rustling softly in the breeze.
I go back to the kitchen and make myself a drink, adding a spoonful of sugar to help with my nerves. I don’t know if that actually works, I think it’s more for shock that you add sugar, but I figured it can’t hurt.
I make my way back to the lounge and wait for Caleb to return. I hear the car pull onto the drive about ten minutes later, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear the keys in the door and then Caleb call out, “I’m back.”
Thank God. I immediately unclench and go to the hallway to see if I can help him with bringing anything in. As I peer out the door, I see him grabbing bags from the boot of the car, and when he looks at me, he smiles, his eyes lighting up when he sees me. I love that look on him, and I don’t think I will ever get tired of it.
“Have you been up long?” he asks.
“About twenty minutes,” I tell him as he shuts the boot of the car and walks towards me. I move out of his way and then shut the door behind him, locking us in our little cocoon.
ChapterForty
Cameron
“I find it weird that it’s all gone quiet,” I say to Marcie as we eat lunch in her office. It’s been just over a week since the last message came through on my phone, and whilst I’m happy not to have had anything else, I’m also dubious that this is all over and done with.
“Maybe your creepy stalker friend decided to try and freak someone else out?” Marcie ponders.
“We can only hope,” I say with a sigh and take another bite of my sandwich.
“Silence is good, right?”
“I guess.” I don’t believe that though. I’m still too unsettled for my brain to finally let me believe that it’s just come to some sort natural but creepy end.
“How’s Caleb been handling it, apart from wanting to flip at the cop?” she asks.
“He’s like my very own caveman, wanting to protect me and making me go all gooey inside.”
“Cringe,” she says, but her smile tells me she doesn’t think it’s cringe at all. “You guys are so sickening it’s ridiculous.”
“You’re only jealous.”
“Damn straight I am. I need me some caveman dick.”
I laugh at her plight. “If only that were my only concern.”
“It’s a big problem, trust me. My shower head has never seen so much action.”
“Eww,” I say as I laugh and throw a crisp at her. “Now that is cringe.”