Page 124 of Faking the Goal

"Of course."

He helps me to my feet, then gathers everything I dropped and puts it back into the bag before handing it to me.

The entire walk back, I keep looking around. Across the street. Behind us. At every parked car we pass. Every time I hear footsteps, my pulse jumps again, and I find myself moving a little closer to Kentaro without consciously deciding to.

I don't know if he's still watching me.

Maybe he's watching both of us now.

But having Kentaro beside me keeps that thought from swallowing me whole.

We reach my building before I even realize we're here.

I'm about to tell him I'm okay now, that he can go, when my eyes land on my doorstep.

There's a box.

Beside it sits another bouquet of black dahlias.

All the fear I'd managed to get under control comes rushing back so violently that I go rigid.

Kentaro notices immediately. His gaze follows mine toward the door.

"Is something wrong?"

I don't answer.

I make myself walk forward even though every step suddenly feels like I'm dragging chains behind me. The closer we get, the heavier my legs become until we're standing directly in front of my door and I'm staring at the box like it might explode if I breathe too hard.

Kentaro looks from the package to me.

"Taylor?"

I can't take my eyes off it.

"Do you know who sent these?"

"It's from him." My voice sounds strange to my own ears. Tight. Thin.

"From him?" His brows draw together. "Who?"

I finally look at him.

"I don't know who he is. All I know is that... no matter what I do, he won't leave me alone."

His entire expression changes. Kentaro looks back at the box and bouquet, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he crouches in front of them, studying both before carefully picking them up.

Then he looks at me.

"Get inside." His voice is calm, but there's an edge to it now that wasn't there before. "We'll talk inside."

I fumble with my keys, my hands still shaking badly enough that it takes me two tries to get the right one into the lock.

Neither of us says anything for a while.

The box and bouquet sit on the coffee table between us, and I can't stop staring at them. Apparently neither can Kentaro because his gaze has barely left them since we walked into my apartment.

Finally, he clears his throat.