Page 36 of Chasing After You

Josh looked like he wanted to say something about that, but Oliver suddenly cleared his throat loudly from the other side of the cafe. I didn’t turn. I didn’t give him the attention he wanted. This moment wasn’t his—annoying little pest.

Instead, I leaned in slightly, my voice low. “Can we meet again? Soon. Not like this—public, with someone watching your every move. Just you and me. Somewhere quiet.”

Josh hesitated, worrying his bottom lip between his front teeth. He seemed to weigh the request with surprising seriousness. And then, at last, he gave a slight nod. “Text me and we’ll figure something out.”

My breath caught.He didn’t say no.

I could feel Oliver’s glare scorching a hole through the side of my head as I stood. He was tense, ready to interfere again if he thought I so much as flinched in the wrong direction. I didn’t look at him.

I looked at Josh.

He looked up at me like he didn’t want to admit he was already sad to see me leave.

I forced myself to walk away.

With each step toward the door, I cataloged every detail of this place—not because I cared about the cafe, but because it hadhimin it: his scent, his voice, his presence.

“Bye, Josh,” I said, just loud enough for him to hear.

He smiled softly. “Bye, Dori.”

My hand closed around the door’s handle, and I let the bell ring out above me.

The door shut behind me.

And I walked away.

But not far.

I would never be far again.

Let him go home to his apartment. Let him think the stalking was over. Let him believe, for now, that he had a say in how this would unfold.

Because I wasn’t done.

Not even close.

He had given me a second chance—and I was going to use it to make him mine again.

Completely.

The way he needed.

10

Josh

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Oliver asked from his spot on the guest room’s bed. He hugged one of the pillows to his chest as he watched me pack.

“Yeah, of course.” I shoved my clean clothes from the laundry basket into my duffel bag. I didn’t have much to pack, since I’d only brought the essentials to Oliver’s. “Besides, I’m sure Hayes and Hudson want me out anyway,” I laughed, thinking of how they’d been getting increasingly frustrated that I was always around, cockblocking them.

“I’m just worried,” he sighed. “Wouldn’t it be better to stay here for a few more days at least?”

“Why? Gonna miss me?” I grinned.

Oliver huffed. “Well, yeah. But I’m more concerned about the whole stalker thing. The stalker whom you had one conversation with and determined that he’s no longer a problem.”

“Dorian’s just… a little intense. He didn’t mean me any harm. He’s always been a bit different. And he promised he’d stop with the stalking. We even texted a little yesterday and made a plan to hang out on Wednesday night.”