softly.
“Hi,” I gritted out. Folding my hands around each other, I jerked my head back around to focus on the minister. But as I did, my gaze landed on the beautiful woman sitting several pews ahead of us.
Alexis Moreitti was watching her son and me with a guarded expression, and I quickly looked away from her probing stare. I couldn’t tell if she disapproved of us sitting together or if she was angry we had both arrived so late. Either way, the look in her pretty eyes made my chest ache because it only drove home for me just how much Jordan and I didn’t belong together.
It was glaringly obvious to me that his mom didn’t like me. It wouldn’t have been the first time a guy’s parents didn’t think I was good enough to be with their son. There were a few guys I was only friends with, but their mothers had basically shunned me. I was too…much for some people. I’d been called a flake, an airhead, and any number of other names by overprotective mommies who thought their precious little boys were too good for the likes of me.
But I’d never wanted to be accepted so much in my life as I did by Alexis Moreitti.
I craved for her to smile at me as I’d seen her smile at Mia so many times. As if I were one of her own, maybe even as the daughter she’d never had. I knew it was wishful thinking, but I’d lain in bed countless nights fantasizing about it. Which was ridiculous.
Just like it was ridiculous to imagine Jordan and I belonged together.
As the service continued and Violet’s broken sobs tore at something deep inside me, Jordan shifted beside me. His arm went along the back of the pew, and I felt his fingers grazing over my shoulder through my dress. Once he was settled, his fingertips skimmed the bare skin of my upper arm, drawing tiny circles that left goose bumps in their wake.
I shrugged his hand away and scooted over so that he wasn’t as close, but he followed until his thigh brushed against mine. As pissed and disillusioned as I was where this guy was concerned, my body couldn’t help but react to his nearness. Heat pooled low in my tummy, and an ache began to throb between my legs. I was disgusted with myself for feeling even remotely attracted to the asshole, especially at a funeral.
He wrapped his fingers around my arm and pulled me in closer as he lowered his head. “Why did you block my number?” he whispered, but there was no mistaking the hurt and underlying anger in his voice.
“I didn’t,” I hissed, keeping my eyes trained straight ahead.
“Yes, you did. I’ve been calling you every damn day, Arella. Texting you practically every hour. And nothing goes through.” He tightened his fingers, and he nuzzled my ear with his nose, making me shiver as his breath fanned over my neck, exposed from the way I’d styled my hair. “If this is my punishment, I surrender, baby. Just give me a chance.”
Angrily, I pulled my phone from my purse and opened my contacts. Clicking on his name, I brought up his information to show him I hadn’t blocked him—
Only to find that he was, in fact, blocked.
My hands turned clammy instantly, and I nearly dropped my phone as they began to shake. I hadn’t blocked him, so who the fuck had?
Mind racing, my heart pounding against my rib cage with my growing fear, I tried to remember the last time I’d actually spoken to Jordan on the phone or via text, and I couldn’t recall. It had been at least two weeks before Christmas, I was sure of that much.
The only time my phone was ever out of my sight was at work. I usually kept it in my dressing room with the rest of my things so it didn’t distract me while I was filming.
Had…?
I began to tremble.
Had the stalker been in my dressing room? Did he know my passcode? That was the only way anyone could have unlocked my phone without using my face to do so.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Getting sent pictures and dead birds was one thing. But to know this person may have been close enough to touch my things—my phone that was my lifeline—was enough to make me feel light-headed.
Telling myself to calm down, I unblocked Jordan’s number and was seriously glad I’d turned the phone to silent before entering