Page 69 of Death, Interrupted

“Eating you out while you ride my face. I’m not just saying this, baby, but that was fucking epic, and I think it’s my new favorite thing in the world.”

I laughed and scrunched my nose, then shook my head at him. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m just being honest.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and squeezed me tight, and we stayed in bed while for the rest of the morning while the music in the background continued to play.

Chapter 24

Sumner

My life seemed to have fallen into old patterns again in the past three weeks. Ones that came before my time with Joey. I could finally focus on my work again, spend time with Sly with less worries, and even go out by myself without being scared of my surroundings. Today, that outing was grocery shopping. The bags dug into my fingers by the time I reached my building. It had been a long afternoon, and all I wanted was to drop everything, take a shower, and then call Sly to come over so we could make dinnertogether.

I climbed the stairs and reached the third floor, already trying to get the key ready to open the door, when I saw something on my doormat. I squinted at it, unsure what it was at first. It looked like a shirt, but it definitely wasn’t mine.

Setting the bags down, I bent down to pick it up, ready to take it inside and worry about it another day because I desperately needed to see Sly. God, I missed him. Even if I wouldn’t have admitted to it a few weeks ago, I was falling in—

“Ohmygod!”

The air went out of my lungs as dark red chunks of something stained my hand and fell out of the rolled up shirt.

For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. My hands started to shake, and the sound in my ears went sharp, like static. I couldn’t breathe right. My heart was pounding too fast, my throat closing up until all I could hear was my pulse.

My thoughts immediately went to Joey. This was him. It had to be.

Who else would leave a bloody shirt in front of my apartment?

He’s back.

He remembers me.

He remembers…

I stumbled back against the wall, tripping over the bags. The cans of Pepsi rolled acrossthe floor, and one made it down the stairs. I pressed my hand against my chest and tried to steady my breathing, but it didn’t work. I knew what was happening, but this panic attack came fast. Too fast.

My mind went to the darkest places before I could stop it. I hadn’t seen him in weeks. There had been silence on his side, and I thought that maybe it would stay like that. But the sight of that shirt, the blood, the smell…it threw me straight back. I could almost hear his voice again, echoing rough and loud in my head.

He’s coming for me.

I’m not safe anymore, and not even Sly can help me now.

He’s already found me.

I managed to pull out my phone with trembling fingers and pressed Sly’s name as I begged for him to pick up.

“Please please please…”

He picked up on the second ring. “Sumner?”

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I gasped once, unable to take my eyes off the shirt on the floor, and finally managed, “There’s blood…s-someone left—”

“Hey, hey, slow down.” His voice came through steady. He was trying not to panic, too. “Where are you?”

“At my door,” I whispered. “There’s a shirt—there’s blood on it.”

“I’m on my way,” he said immediately. “Can you go inside, baby? Can you do that for me?”

I shook my head as if he could see it. “I c-can’t go in,” I said, my eyes glued on the shirt. My chest was tight. “It’s right there, it’s blocking the door.”

“Okay. Then stay where you are. Look at something other than that shirt. Or close your eyes and just listen to my voice. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. You know how. You’re okay. I’ve got you.”