Page 32 of Semi Sweet (Working For Love #1)

A little while later, I sat in a chair at the campus police station, staring into space. I’d filled out a report and now I was waiting. I was so tense, I felt like I’d snap if someone made any sudden noises or movements.

A buzzer sounded in the distance and the officer on duty monitored who was at the door. “State your name please?”

“Sean Mizuno.”

My body slumped with relief at the sound of his voice.

The officer looked over his shoulder at me. “This isn’t the guy that was bothering you, is it?”

He had the security camera at the entrance on his computer screen. Sean looked on edge, his eyes filled with worry as he waited for them to let him in.

“No,” I answered quietly. “That’s my roommate.”

The officer unlocked the door with the press of a button and made Sean empty his pockets in the vestibule before he was allowed to be with me.

He all but raced to me, embracing me so tightly, he lifted me off the floor.

All this time, I’d been so careful about touching him.

I didn’t think about how comforting it would feel when I finally gave in. I all but melted into him.

“Are you alright? They called me down here.”

I tried to nod but couldn’t. I really wasn’t alright.

“I told them to call you,” I murmured into his shoulder.

“Miss Hale’s ex-fiancé has been spotted loitering around campus for about a week.

Multiple students and faculty made mention of it,” the officer explained.

“He had a verbal confrontation with her earlier. We were called to the scene when she pressed the emergency panic button closest to her, but he had fled the vicinity by the time we arrived.”

Sean let me down and we locked eyes. Without saying a word, I could see he was upset by this development.

“We have two officers out patrolling the campus looking for him, but it seems that he’s gone,” the cop continued before turning his attention to Sean. “How did you get here?”

“I took the train, sir.”

“Let me have one of the officers give you two a ride home,” he said. “It happens far too often that disgruntled perps wait for their victims in places like that and follow them home. He’ll take you the roundabout way.”

Evan’s threat echoed in the back of my mind. I’m gonna find him. And when I do, I’m gonna kill him. I wanted to believe he wasn’t that unhinged, but I didn’t know what to think anymore.

The officer radioed one of the other cops to return to the station so Sean and I could be brought home.

I said nothing as Sean asked the police officer what I should do for my other classes on campus during the week.

The officer suggested letting campus police escort me or contacting my professors.

I almost felt like I was in a dream, like I was watching what was happening to me through someone else's eyes.

It should have been weird sitting in the back of a police car, but I just felt numb, looking at my lap instead of out the window.

This officer was younger, not much older than Sean, and he asked where we lived.

Otherwise, the ride was silent. I could feel anxious thoughts and questions piling up, trying to force their way into my mind.

I held myself so rigidly, I jumped in the darkness when I felt Sean reach for my hand.

His skin was warm. I looked over at him, his face only illuminated when the cruiser drove under street lights, but his expression made it clear he would make sure that nothing happened to me on his watch.

I laced my fingers with his, grasping his hand so tightly, it hurt.

***

Once we were certain Evan wasn’t lurking anywhere near the apartment complex, the police officer dropped Sean and I off. Bear was his usual happy self when we entered the apartment, but Sean barely paid him any mind as he locked the door.

“Are you hungry?”

I shook my head. I still hadn’t said much since he’d come to my rescue.

“A drink? I can stay up all night and we can talk this out.”

I stared into space for several moments before I finally refused. “No, thank you.”

Sean walked past me towards the couch. “You should sleep in my room. You could lock the door, have privacy. I’ll take the couch, no worries.”

There was a beat of silence. I could feel all the dark, scared thoughts ricocheting around in my head. I wanted to cry and scream, break things, maybe sleep for the rest of my life. I wasn’t sure about anything except that I was terrified. I bit my lip, feeling desperate.

“Stay with me. Please,” I spoke softly because anything louder would give away how weak I felt. “I don’t think I can be alone right now.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “I–”

“It’s just to sleep,” I assured him. “Please.”

After triple-checking the lock, grabbing my pajamas, and making sure Bear was all set, Sean led me towards his room.

It was just as sparsely decorated as the rest of the apartment.

A full-size mattress with a navy blue comforter, a wooden night stand, and matching dresser were the only furniture.

Sean went to the dresser, pulled out clothes, and excused himself to get changed.

In those few short moments he was gone, I took in the room, his clothes, and the odd collection of things on the night stand. The crippling thoughts beat at me until they were overwhelming.

This is why you didn’t leave for all those years. You can’t get rid of him.

If Sean didn’t like you, you’d be trapped. You’d be dead.

Now Sean might be in danger because of you. You can’t keep doing this to him.

Your life is hopeless. Everything is hopeless.

I sobbed. I supposed I should be a bit proud of myself. I could have cried about everything that happened tonight countless times and I’d kept it together until now. Or maybe I should have succumbed to my emotions sooner. Maybe I would have known how to cope better.

Sean burst into the room. He didn’t question my reaction. I had a feeling he expected this to happen eventually. He pulled me towards him, putting his chin on the top of my head as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I can soothe you in three different languages,” he assured. “Let me know which one you’d prefer.”

“I don’t think I can do this without you!” I wailed into his chest.

“Yes, you absolutely can.”

When I shook my head, he started to rock us both back and forth.

“I told you this before and I’ll say it again. You are unbelievably strong. You’ve been dealing with that jackass for so long, this is just another test. The final chapter. And if you need me, I’ll be there, but you’ve got this.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I said, defeated.

“I’m being positive, not stupid,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t tell you I know what you're going through, but I know what it’s like to feel alone with no one to help you. Be strong, but know I’ve got your back.”

“He said he was going to kill you.”

Sean pulled back so he could look at me. “He knows you're staying with me?”

I shook my head. “He knows I’m staying with someone.

He just assumed I’m earning my keep by having sex with them.

” I felt myself going from hopeless to angry.

“At this point, I’d probably be happier if that was the case!

” I yelled at no one in particular. “I had to maneuver around him for everything in my life. Now, I’m so close to being finished with a college degree I don’t even like or really want to have a job in, and he’s preventing me from finishing that, too! ”

“He’s only preventing you from finishing if you allow him.”

“Sean Mizuno, I am not putting you or myself in danger for a marketing degree.” I felt the tears coming again. “What if he tries my internship next?”

“We’ll figure something out,” he promised. “You should sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

Sean was polite and turned around so I could change out of my clothes and uncomfortable shoes. I slid into his bed, the side that faced the window to the outside world, as he set his alarm. I curled up on my side, preparing to sleep back to back, when more thoughts bubbled up.

“Why can’t I give in to my feelings for you?”

“Olivia, please know I’m not expecting anything from you,” he replied. “I know I came at you with all the cupcakes and poems, but you have enough going on. I just want you to be happy.”

“You can’t mean that,” I countered. “I know for a fact there are women thirsting for you and they’ve only seen what you can cook and bake.

You could have any woman you want. So why wait for me to sort out my baggage?

” I rolled over to face him, the window gave off just enough light to see his eyes in the dark room.

“You have gone out of your way to take care of me. I know I feel something for you. I’m. ..I’m scared.”

“While I would love to know how I’ve already come up in conversation at the Rocky Mountain Press, let’s save that for another day.” I felt him reach his arms out and stop just short of touching me. “Uh, can I?”

I nodded and he pulled me closer to him so that my head was on his chest.

“We’ve talked before about the wall you’ve got built up. I think you’re giving in more than you realize. Slow. Like really slow. But I’m really patient.”

I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was smiling.

I wasn't sure if he was patient or stubborn, but if he was willing to wait for me to figure myself out, I vowed to not let him out of my grasp. I closed my eyes, deciding sleeping like this probably wasn’t a good idea.

It was the opposite of slow. But it was putting my mind at ease and that was all I needed for now.