She looked over to the stands behind the bench. Alex stood with her dad and Kara, all of them clapping and smiling. This was the way it should be. Everyone happy. Everyone confident. No doubts. No fears.
She wasn’t going to let stupid emails and pictures frighten her anymore.
As she walked through the heavy double doors onto the court, Lily looked around for her family and Alex. The crowd had thinned down significantly while she was changing in the locker room. Only a few family members and friends still hung around the stands. She looked to her left and found her dad, Kara, and Alex standing behind the score table.
“Nice serve!” Kara said, giving Lily a high five when she reached them.
“You played great, honey.” Her dad threw an arm over her shoulders and gave her a big squeeze. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.” She looked toward Alex, who returned her smile. She could tell it was a bit forced, but he pulled it off nicely. “I’m glad you guys could come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Her dad managed to hold his smile for only a moment before his face sobered. “How are you doing? Have you heard anything else from the police?”
“Nope. Nothing. I’m sure it was just a bad joke that went too far. Nothing to worry about.”
He glanced skeptically at Alex. “What do you think?”
Alex met Lily’s gaze. She hoped he’d get her silent message. She didn’t want her dad any more worried than he was already. Alex looked back at her dad and frowned.
“I’m not sure it was just a bad joke. But I promise I’m not going to let anything happen to her. I should be hearing something from the detective I spoke to today soon. He mentioned an idea he was checking out.”
Her dad scrunched his forehead, his eyebrows forming a single line of concern.
“Maybe you should come home tonight-“
“Dad, stop. I’m fine. I want to stay here. Nothing else is going to happen.” He didn’t look convinced. “Please, just go back home and get some rest. I’ll be fine.”
He finally relented. “Okay. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I will.”
He hugged her again, and then Kara hugged her as well. She waved goodbye as they headed out the side door. She let out a sigh of relief and turned back toward Alex, but the look on his face almost forced the air back in. His eyes were practically shooting bullets over her shoulder, in the direction her dad and Kara had just gone.
“That guy’s got some nerve,” he mumbled.
Lily followed his gaze up to the balcony. Standing in the shadow of the bleachers was Jackson. His face was partially obscured by his baseball cap, but she was sure it was him. Before she could react, he turned and walked out the balcony door to the stairway.
“Stay here,” Alex said. He trotted across the gym and flung open the double doors leading out to the front lobby.
She couldn’t just stand there and let those two go at each other, so she took off after him. As she entered the lobby, she saw Alex follow Jackson out the front doors and heard him call Jackson’s name. Jackson kept walking like he didn’t hear him, and the doors closed behind them.
Through the glass Lily saw Jackson finally turn around on the front walkway, throwing his arms out. His mouth formed the word “what” as he faced Alex. She pushed the door open just as Alex raised his voice.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She rushed down the steps to get between them, but she stopped when Jackson looked at her. He raised his palm to her, telling her to stay back.
“Excuse me?” Jackson said.
“I said, ‘What do you think you’re doing here?’” Alex clenched his teeth and practically growled, his whole body stiff.
Jackson stepped forward and stiffened as well. “Making sure Lily’s okay.”
“Are you stalking her or something?”
“What?”
“How come you keep showing up everywhere?” Alex inched closer. “Why don’t you just leave her alone?”
Lily’s heart raced. Jackson might have a good four inches on Alex, but he certainly didn’t have the training. Had Jackson ever even been in a fight? Alex would surely hurt him, but Jackson wasn’t backing down. In fact he looked ready to spring at any moment.
“If Lily doesn’t want me around, she can tell me so herself,” Jackson said.
She stepped toward them, hoping she could diffuse the situation.
“Guys, please. Both of you need to calm down.”
Alex turned his head toward her, but kept his eyes focused on Jackson.
“I thought I told you to wait inside.”
“I just don’t want to see you get into a fight. You’re both overreacting.”
Jackson glanced at her again. “Can I just talk to you for a few minutes?”
“Man, you really don’t get it do you?” Alex snapped. “She doesn’t want to be with you. Get over it and move on already!”
“Why don’t you let her speak for herself?”
They glared at each other, hatred shooting arrows between them. She had to think of something.
“Look,” Alex said, “I know Lily thinks you’re a real nice fellow and all, but I’m not buying this whole nice-guy routine. I know what you did, and you better believe the police already know too.”
“What I did? What are you talking about?”
“The anonymous tip? That was a nice touch. By the way, the next time you try to sabotage someone’s career, make sure you’re intelligent enough to pull it off. You didn’t even bother to mask your freaking IP address!”
“Yeah, the detective you sent to my house this afternoon mentioned something about that. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him. I never sent anything. And you can search every computer I own, which is none by the way. But why would you bother with checking out simple little things like facts?”
Lily stepped between them to get their attention. “Wait a minute. What’s going on?”
Alex finally faced her. “I’ve been trying to tell you, Jackson isn’t who you think he is. He sent a message through the website at the police department claiming he was a female I’d interviewed, and that I had sexually harassed her.”
“What?” Lily turned to Jackson, hoping there was some kind of mistake.
“Internal affairs had to check it out,” Alex said from behind her. “And the IP address on the message came back to him, or rather to his dad. But still-“
“Still,” Jackson interrupted. “Still you didn’t bother to check out whether I could have sent the message. I don’t even own a laptop. And the computer at my dad’s has barely been used by my mom since he died last year. So your little story doesn’t add up.”
Lily took a few steps back now, wondering how things had gotten so messed up. She studied Jackson’s face, looking for something that would tell her the truth. So much didn’t make sense.
“Jackson?” she asked. “Did you send anything?”
He took two steps toward her, but before he could say anything, Alex blocked his path and shoved him back.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Alex!” She grabbed his arm, trying to hold him back.
She cringed and waited for the first punch to come flying from one of them, but Jackson suddenly took a step back and put his hands up.
“I’m not trying to start anything with you. I just want to speak with Lily and make sure she’s all right.”
He looked at her with the same tired eyes they all seemed to share. Then his expression softened, and he almost grinned. In the flash of that moment, she wanted nothing more than to link her arm through his and head down to the creek for some fishing. How strange.
“I’m sorry,” Jackson said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She couldn’t take her eyes away from his. They were so safe, so true. In some strange way, it was like looking into a mirror after nearly forgetting what she looked like. She started to tell him to stay, that she wanted to talk with him and s
traighten all this confusion out, but Alex cut her off.
“You’re really a piece of work aren’t you? So kind and concerned. I’d almost believe it myself if I didn’t know any better.”
“What is your freaking problem?” Jackson said.
Alex stepped forward and this time drove his finger into Jackson’s chest.
“You are my freaking problem, and if you so much as breathe wrong, you will pay.”
Lily’s heart leapt into her throat as Jackson pushed his finger away.
“Keep your hands off me.”
“Just stay away from Lily, and stay away from me.”
Jackson looked at her once more and this time didn’t hold back his smile.
“Listen, Alex. Lily and I have been friends for more than twelve years. You can’t change that. And no matter how much you think you love her, you do not own her. And my guess is that the harder you try to control her, the more you’re going to see the look that’s on her face right now.” He raised a finger and pointed at her. “She’s terrified of you.”
“The only reason she’s terrified is because of you. Now get out of here before this gets ugly.”
Jackson nodded in Lily’s direction. “Do you want me to go?”
She didn’t know what she wanted. Maybe she wanted to leave with him. But that thought was too confusing right now.
“Maybe that would be best for now,” she said. “I’m fine, really.”
“If you need me-“
“She doesn’t need you!” Alex said. “Now get out of here!”
Jackson sighed and took one more look at Lily. Then she watched him walk toward the parking lot, his hands shoved in his pockets. He gave her one last glance as he rounded the corner of the gymnasium.
“We need to talk,” Alex said from behind her.
“You better believe it.” She spun around. “You have no right to tell me who I can talk to. Jackson has been my friend for-“
“Twelve years. Yeah, I caught that part. And I love you with all my heart Lily, but honestly I don’t care how long you’ve been friends with the guy if he’s the one threatening you.”
She threw her hands in the air and groaned. “I do not want to have this conversation with you again! Jackson would never hurt me! And the way you were talking to him was-“
“What?”
“It was scary Alex.”
“So now you’re scared of me?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying, but I’ve never seen you so angry.”
“Can you blame me? The guy is obviously following you! He’s just magically shown up everywhere you’ve been lately.”
“He was just checking on me to see if I was okay. The last time he saw me I was in the hospital for crying out loud!”
He reached for her hands, but she pulled away. She couldn’t face him right now, couldn’t separate her anger and fear enough to know what she was supposed to do.
“Look, I’m sorry I upset you.” He pulled back and let out a heavy sigh. “I just don’t trust him.”
“Alex, I don’t know who I can trust right now. I just need to be alone for a little while so I can think straight.”
“Lily, no. I told you, it’s not safe for you be alone until we figure out who’s doing this.”
“I’ll be fine. I just want to go back to my room and be alone for a little while. Give me a break.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but then his cell phone interrupted him. He pulled it from his waist and looked at the screen.
“It’s Detective Brody. Maybe his lead panned out.” He opened the phone and brought it to his ear. “Detective Walker.”
He scrunched his brow. Maybe they’d found something, and this nightmare could end soon.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “What about Lily?” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Can’t you just tell me what you found out?”
He began to pace in front of her, his entire expression hardening.
“I see. Yes, sir. I’d be happy to cooperate. I’ll meet you there.” He turned off his phone and shoved it into his pocket. “I have to go meet with him. He found something, I’m sure of it. But all he’ll say is that he really needs to speak with me.” He shook his head. “Something’s not right. I’m missing something here.”
The breeze had grown cold, and Lily wrapped her arms around her chest.
“Can you take me back to my dorm first?”
“Just promise me you won’t go anywhere until I find out who’s behind this.”
She nodded her head, but she refused to make that promise out loud. There was one trip she needed to make alone, and there was no way she was going to let him keep her from going. She had to figure out once and for all how much Jackson was involved.
Jackson was surprised to hear his doorbell ring. He had hoped she would come, but he didn’t actually believe it would happen. In fact, it was probably just Matt at the door. He forgot his key at least once a week.
He tossed his damp towel into the hamper as he left the bathroom and stopped in his bedroom to pull on some jeans. Most of his clothes were already packed for Atlanta, but he managed to find one clean pair.
The shower had settled his anger and his racing heart, though it had taken a while. It was by the grace of God he hadn’t come to blows with Alex.
He pulled open his front door to find Lily waiting on the steps, and his heart plunged into his stomach. She stared back at him, her gaze fluttering over his bare chest. The momentary spark of attraction lifted his hope, but he pushed it back down.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asked.
“At the police station.” She glanced around like she was nervous. “The detective wanted to talk to him.”
“It’s about time.”
“Don’t start.” She bit her lower lip. “Can I come in for a minute?”
“Sure.”
He pushed the door open wider and let her through. She stood in the middle of the living room gripping her hands in front of her. She looked so uncomfortable. Of course, it had been nearly a year since she’d been to his house, since he’d blown everything to hell and back. He should never have let her walk out that door.
He was sick of the tension between them, sick of trying to make sense of a life without her. When she looked up at him again, he reached for her hand and pulled her into him. She didn’t resist, and as her body relaxed into his, she let out a deep sigh. Wisps of her damp hair tickled his chin. She smelled like apricots.
Her cheek was cool against the heat of his bare chest, and his heart pounded against it. Her fingers grazed his back. If he could just freeze this moment, hold her long enough, maybe they could get back to each other. He slid his hands up her arms, found her hair, and touched his lips to her forehead.
Then the moment was gone. She stepped away from him, pulling his hope with her. She wrapped her arms around her chest and darted her gaze away from his.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” she said.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. He’s the jerk.”
She frowned. “He means well. He’s just worried, that’s all.”
“I think it’s more than that.”
“I didn’t come here to argue about Alex.”
“Why did you come here?”
“I need to know for sure. Did you try to get Alex in trouble at work?”
“I swear. I didn’t send anything. You know I didn’t.” Doubt still clouded her expression, but he was sure it wasn’t directed at him.
“I believe you,” she said. “It just doesn’t make sense. None of this does.”
“You just can’t accept that he could be doing this.”
She looked up at him in that withering way she always had when she was tired of fighting. Then she dropped onto the futon with her head in her hands.
Why wouldn’t she just listen to him? Her incessant devotion to this fairy tale relationship was maddening. How could she not see the truth staring right at her? She lifted her eyes
to his and patted the futon next to her.
“You seemed pretty anxious to talk to me earlier. What is it?”
His determination to make her see the truth was waning. As much as he wanted to get Alex out of her life, he didn’t want to hurt her. And she was bound to be devastated by what he’d found.
He stepped over her feet and joined her, leaning his head back against the worn cushion. He stared at the latest crack threading its way across his ceiling. Thank God he was finally getting out of this dump.
“Do the police know anything more?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I got a note in my mailbox at school-“
“What?” His heart sped up again. “When?”
“Yesterday. Alex took it to a detective to see if they could get fingerprints off it or anything. But he said it was unlikely. Too many people have handled it.”
“Are you okay?” He reached over and rubbed her arm.
“I’m not going to let this person scare me anymore. If they want to come after me, let them.”
“Lily, no-“
“I mean it, Jackson. I’m sick of feeling helpless.”
“You’re not alone, you know.”
She leaned back against him with a heaviness he recognized, and he fought the urge to wrap his arm around her. She was so close, and her body next to his felt so right, so peaceful.
“Look, this may not be the best time for this,” he said. “But I thought you should know what I found out.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“It’s why I wanted to talk to you. I did some digging around the past couple of days, and I found out something about Alex.”
She jolted upright and faced him. “You did what?”
“He’s not who he says he is.”
“You had no right to do that.”
“I just want to protect you. He’s lying to you.”
“What are you talking about?”
He gripped her hands, preparing for the blow he was about to deliver.
“He’s married.”
She rolled her eyes, and he could swear she almost laughed.
“Is that what all this was about?”
He couldn’t believe it. Not only was she not surprised, but she seemed to think it was funny.
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