“Sorry about that,” I tell Tanner as I turn the computer off. “I’m sure you could have found a better way to spend your afternoon than sitting in a stuffy office watching me type a report.”
“Mm,” he says, shaking his head as he takes another drink from his water bottle, “It was interesting to see you work. Really, I don’t mind.”
I set the plate down and stretch my arms high over my head then sigh as I crack my neck. “I think I’m gonna head home and get some sleep before this guy strikes again,” I tell him as I get to my feet.
“Okay, um. Want me to give you a ride?” he asks, standing up and handing me my water bottle.
“Sure,” I say gratefully. Tanner smiles and holds his arm out causing me to roll my eyes good-naturedly. “I don’t think you want that suit smelling like soot.”
“Like I said, I don’t mind,” he replies with a warm smile. “Actually, I need to swing by the place I’m renting to grab something before I drop you off. Is that okay? It’s not far from where you live. I promise.”
I nod in agreement.
I don’t really care at this point, especially since it’s close to my place, because if this takes too long, I’ll just walk the rest of the way home.
Chapter 18
They’ve been gone all day.
I stay behind for as long as I could before I followed him.
When I saw him entering the firehouse, I knew it would be too tempting to follow him in, so I waited on the outside looking in.
He went inside with a bag of Chinese food that I was able to smell from where I hid. My stomach growled at the scent, yet I held my ground and didn’t go in. I decided that she should have one final meal before she’s faced with the white color of my fear, because after all, isn’t that what anyone that is condemned is promised?
I take a shaky breath.
I don’t want to think of her as eating a last meal, but I don’t know what else to do to get her attention. Especially now that she’s become so preoccupied with someone else.
Enamored is more the word, I think.
I can tell by the way she sneaks glances at him when she thinks he isn’t looking.
I can feel it when they walk by me like I don’t exist, emanating off her girlish giggles at whatever bullshit he’s managed to illicit such a reaction from her.
They look so happy together and it only feeds my anger.
She’s known him for less than forty-eight hours and looks at him like he’s the most amazing man she’s ever known in her entire life.
I know it’s time to turn my hatred inward.
There’s no more room for error or doubt.
Makena Washington has to finally see me again for the first time in a long time, and when she does, she’ll understand why it has to end the way that it does.
But first, I have to beat them back to her house.
I’ll wait in the dark like I always do until it’s time to show myself to her and she’ll either love me again.
She has to.
It’s the only way to keep this ending from how it’s been playing out in my head.
Chapter 19
I raise an eyebrow in amusement.
Tanner wasn’t lying when he said the place he’s renting isn’t far from my home.
As a matter of fact, it’s only two doors down from mine, and it makes me wonder why I haven’t seen him more recently. I’m fairly friendly with most of my neighbors since they see me as a hero, and I’ve always done my best to greet new people when they move into the area.
Of course, he could have started renting the small beach house on a day I spent at the firehouse or inspecting a scene somewhere.
“Wanna come in?” he asks, as he turns the car off and glances at me with a charming grin.
“I thought you said this wasn’t going to take long?” I reply curiously.
“It’s not,” he says with a laugh, “But I figured I’ve seen the inside of yours, you may as well see the inside of my mine. You don’t have to though, Makena. I was just trying to be friendly.”
With a shrug, Tanner pushes his car door open and I chew my lower lip for a moment before I step out of the car as well. Worst case scenario, I fall asleep on his couch while he retrieves whatever it is that he’s looking for, and he’ll have to carry me home.
All in all, not a bad deal if you ask me.
He smiles at me over his shoulder when he notices that I’m following him, then turns his attention back to the door as he slips the key in to unlock it. Tanner steps aside and with an overly dramatic grand, sweeping gestures motions for me to go in first. I grin at him as I drop into a little curtsy before I wander in, his chuckling echoing behind me as he steps inside then locks the door behind us.
The place looks much smaller on the outside than it does on the inside and I can’t help but wonder how much it costs for him to rent this spot.
“So why do you have a home and rent too?” I ask him as I glance around curiously.
“Huh? Oh, sometimes I just need to get out of my own head for a while and relax,” he replies distractedly with a shrug as he tosses his keys into a small, plastic black tray that sits on table near the front door. “Feel free to poke around while I go grab what I need, Makena. I don’t mind.”
I nod as he disappears down a narrow corridor to where I assume is his
