Melanie

I definitely didn't plan on having sex with Marcus last night. It wasn't something I had anticipated or prepared for. It just... happened. But now, as I sit here, reflecting on it, I can't say I regret it. Not one bit. There's something about Marcus that ignites a fire within me, making me feel desirable and sexy in a way I've never experienced before.

Our connection is undeniable, and that's what made it so hard to handle when I thought Marcus was cheating on me. It felt like my heart was shattering into a thousand pieces, each shard splintering again and again. But that all feels like a distant memory now, as if someone else lived it.

Evie's voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present moment. I blink, realizing I've zoned out.

"What?" I ask, slightly dazed.

Evie rolls her eyes. "I asked if you prefer walnut or cherry wood," she repeats, sounding exasperated.

I consider it for a moment before replying, "Walnut."

"Thank you," Evie says, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I giggle and start flipping through fabric samples, selecting a few to show Evie for her new couch. She talks to the salesperson for a moment before joining me, sitting down next to me.

I begin to show her the samples, but she waves them off impatiently. "We'll get to that later," she says, cutting me off. "Now, what's going on with you?"

"Well, there is something I have to tell you, but I wanted to talk about it later," I admit.

"Well, we're talking about it now," Evie retorts, sounding irritated. "You're not helping anyway, and you're driving me crazy."

I chuckle, acknowledging her frustration. "You're right, Evie. I'm sorry."

Evie waves off my apology impatiently. "Just tell me what's going on," she insists, leaning in closer.

I mirror her movement, lowering my voice to a whisper. "Last night," I begin, "I had sex with Marcus."

Evie pulls back instantly, her eyes widening in shock, and she starts to exclaim, "You had—"

I quickly cover her mouth with my hand, shushing her. "Yes," I confirm quietly. "And please, keep it down."

Evie's expression shifts from shock to frustration as she removes my hand from her mouth. "We were together all day, Melanie, and you didn't say anything until now?" she exclaims, her voice tinged with annoyance.

I sigh, feeling guilty for keeping it from her. "I know, Evie, I'm sorry," I apologize, my voice filled with remorse. "I wanted to talk about it somewhere quiet, and I was planning to invite you over to tell you all about it. Where was I supposed to tell you something like that? At work or, maybe, here?"

"Just because you make some good points doesn't mean you're off the hook," she says, a mischievous smile forming in her face. "I want details."

"Okay, okay," I say, holding up my hands in surrender. "I'll tell you everything."

"Good," Evie says, nodding in satisfaction. "But first, let's see these fabric samples."

I nod, relieved to change the subject. We go through the samples together, discussing the pros and cons of each one. After much deliberation, Evie finally settles on a vibrant blue fabric for her couch.

With that decision made, we spend another hour at the furniture store, picking out the rest of the pieces Evie needs for her home. By the time we leave, the sun is beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the city streets.

"Okay, let's go straight to your apartment," Evie declares, determination in her tone. "I can't take it anymore; I've got to know."

I chuckle at her determination. "Okay, let's do it," I agree, falling into step beside her.

As we walk through the parking lot, my heart sinks as I spot someone leaning against my car. "Fuck," I mumble under my breath.

"What?" Evie asks, turning to look at me.

I point to my car, and Evie follows my gaze. Her expression darkens as she sees Daniel. "Fuck," she echoes my sentiment.

"He hasn't seen us yet," Evie whispers, tugging on my hand. "Let's go."

But before we can even take a step back, Daniel spots us. "Damn it," Evie curses under her breath.

"It's okay," I assure her, though my stomach churns with unease.

We continue walking towards my car, and Daniel's smile widens as he sees us approaching. A strange feeling washes over me, one that I can't quite place. It's an ugly feeling, I know that for sure.

As we approach Daniel, he greets us with a smirk. "I've been trying so hard to find you, Melanie," he says, his tone accusatory. "You really did hide from me all these days."

I meet his gaze evenly. "I didn't hide from you," I reply calmly.

"Then why haven't you been to any of your usual places?" he presses, his brow furrowing in suspicion.

I shrug nonchalantly. "Just busy," I respond vaguely.

Daniel's eyes narrow, his gaze sharpening. "Busy with Marcus?" he asks pointedly.

Evie jumps in before I can respond, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Busy with her apartment, loser," she retorts, her tone mocking. "Do you even know how much work that takes?"

Daniel shoots her an angry glare, but I'm silently thankful for her quick thinking.

"So, where is this new apartment?" Daniel demands, turning his attention back to me. "I never got to see it."

"And you won't," I add firmly.

"Why not?" Daniel presses, his voice tinged with frustration.

"What do you want, Daniel?" I ask, my patience wearing thin. "We're broken up, you accepted it. You should leave me alone."

Daniel pushes off my car and closes the distance between us, his expression intense. "I'll never accept that," he says defiantly.

I meet his gaze head-on, my resolve hardening. "You should," I insist.

Daniel grabs my arm and pulls me towards him, I feel a surge of panic coursing through me. "I won't," he says firmly, pulling me closer to him despite my efforts to break free.

Evie jumps in, coming to my aid. "Let her go, Daniel," she demands, her voice tinged with anger.

I add my voice to Evie's plea. "This is not the way to get me back," I say firmly, meeting Daniel's gaze with defiance.

Instantly, Daniel releases me, and I stumble back, rubbing my sore arm. "You should leave me alone, Daniel," I say firmly. "It's over."

Daniel's eyes flash with anger, and he takes a step closer to me, his voice low and threatening. "If I see you with Marcus, you'll regret it," he warns, his words dripping with malice.

Evie interjects, her voice sharp with indignation. "So, if you see her with someone else, that's okay?" she challenges, her eyes blazing with fury.

Daniel shoots Evie an angry glare before turning on his heel and storming off. "Loser!" Evie calls after him, her words echoing through the parking lot.

Turning back to me, Evie wraps me in a tight hug, concern etched into her features. "Are you okay?" she asks, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Surprisingly, I find myself nodding. "Yeah," I reply, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I'm okay."

Evie returns my smile, relief evident in her expression. "That's great," she says, squeezing me tighter.

I glance around, scanning the parking lot, but there's no sign of Daniel anymore. "We should probably go," I say to Evie.

"Definitely," Evie agrees, her tone serious. "And let's take the long route home, just to be safe. We don't want anyone following us."

I bristle at Evie's suggestion, but I know she's right. "Yeah, good idea," I say reluctantly, trying to push aside the unease that gnaws at me.

I climb into my car and quickly lock the doors, waiting until I see Evie pull out of the parking lot in her own car. Once she's on the road, I start my engine and follow closely behind her, keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings as we make our way home.

As I focus on the road, my phone rings, and I see it's Evie calling. I quickly put her on speakerphone.

"Hey, Evie," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I just thought it would be better if we talked while driving home," Evie explains.

I chuckle nervously. "Yeah, good call," I reply.

We continue driving, the tension palpable in the air. Suddenly, my heart lurches as I notice Daniel's car in my rearview mirror, trailing closely behind mine.

"Evie?" I say, my heart racing.

"Yeah?" she responds.

"Daniel's following us," I say, my voice trembling.

Evie curses loudly, her frustration palpable even through the phone. "Damn it," she mutters. "We'll drive aimlessly for a while, see if he gives up."

"Okay," I reply, my hands tightening around the steering wheel as I follow Evie's lead, praying that Daniel will eventually lose interest and leave us alone.

As minutes turn into what feels like an eternity, it becomes increasingly evident that Daniel has no intention of backing off. My frustration mounts with each passing moment, my mind haunted by the memories of Mallory's kidnapping, a wound still fresh and raw. Panic starts to seep in, tendrils of uncertainty wrapping around my thoughts as I grapple with what to do next.

Evie's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts, a lifeline in the midst of chaos. "Mel," she says, her tone steady despite the tension thick in the air, "we should go to my place. Maybe he'll leave then."

Nodding in agreement, even though she can't see me, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Yeah," I reply, my voice trembling slightly, as I turn the wheel, directing my car towards Evie's house. "Let's do that."

As we drive, I steal glances at my rearview mirror, my heart pounding with unease as Daniel's car remains steadfastly on our tail. The streets blur past us in a blur of lights and shadows, each passing moment stretching into eternity as we navigate through the city's roads, desperate to shake off our unwanted pursuer.