“Of course I’m not happy! You’ve got a deranged dude sending you threatening mail.” He drops the papers onto the floor between us and stares me down. “I am the opposite of happy.”
“Well, so am I! I hate this.”
“You should have told me sooner!”
“I know, okay? Why are you yelling at me?” I yell back.
“Because I’m in love with you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt!”
“Why are you yelling if you’re in love with—” I cut myself off when I register what he actually said. I blink and stare back at him, the room suddenly twenty degrees warmer. “You’re—”
“In love with you. Yes.” Collin’s chest is heaving. He takes a deep breath and blows it out. His next words are soft. “If that freaks you out, that’s okay. But it’s the truth, Noli. You don’t have to say anything back. I—”
He breaks eye contact and looks away from me, running his hand over his head and glancing down at the floor to wherethe letters are still strewn about. Honestly, in the wake of his declaration, the letters feel pretty inconsequential.
My jaw is unhinged, and I snap it shut.
Collin returns his gaze to mine, stepping toward me and grabbing both of my hands. “I hate that you’re dealing with this. It’s not okay.” My eyes well up with tears. “Is there anything else?”
“He texts me from random numbers. The same sort of messages.”
Collin sucks in a breath. “Does anyone else know this has been going on? Poppy or Rose?”
I shake my head. “Don’t be mad, please,” I whisper.
“I’m not mad, Noli. Of course I’m not mad at you.” He pulls me to him, and my body collapses into his hug. “You’ve done nothing wrong. This is all Nelson’s fault. We’re going to fix it for you. I promise.”
I exhale, and my whole body shakes. “I don’t know if it can be fixed. Stalker laws are pretty lax. What can the police do, unless he physically attacks me or something?”
Collin leans me away from him, keeping his hands on my upper arms in a way that grounds me. He’s grinding his jaw, so I know he knows I’m right.
“We’ll do everything we can…” He pauses. “Okay?”
He’s looking at me with so much tenderness I go weak in the knees. “Okay,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
“I’m on your team, Magnolia.” He winces. “Sorry, I mean Noli.”
I shake my head. “Magnolia is fine.”
He angles his chin slightly. “Really?”
I shrug. “I used to think you were using my name as a sort of weapon, but I’ve decided that I actually like hearing it. From you, at least. When you say my full name, it sounds like you’re holding it in your hands. Like it’s precious to you. Like I’m precious to you. I like the feeling,” I add quietly.
He stares down at me with what I now know is love in his gaze. “Youareprecious to me, Magnolia. I’ve got you.”
37
A Sham for a Sheriff
Collin
Iwake up feeling warm and happy. Noli and I talked late into the night about our goals and dreams and everything in between. I love talking about big-picture stuff with her, and I love that we can get into a heated debate over the best flavor of Doritos.
Cool Ranch, obviously.
I blink an eye open and get my bearings. I’m still on the couch. Noli is curled up against my chest. We must’ve fallen asleep. It’s amazing how she fits so perfectly here with me. I can barely imagine my life before she agreed to be my fake girlfriend and then my fake wife.
My phone vibrates from somewhere in the living room. I crane my neck, careful not to jostle Noli, and spot it on the coffee table. I reach my arm out and palm blindly for it. I connect with it but knock it onto the floor. It vibrates again. And then again. And then three more times in quick succession.
