I fake another laugh, grabbing his arm, flirting to buy myself time.
Cam sent me flowers. Cam wrote me letters. Cam put my favorite chocolates in my trailer. It’s been Cam, the whole time.
“You can do better than him, Hayls,” he continues, unaware of my internal freakout. “I’ve always been here for you.”
“You’re drunk, Cam.” I fake a coy smile, brushing off his comments. “You don’t want me.”
My gaze flits to Brooklyn and she smiles back at me until I flash her a hint of my panic and her face drops.
“I’ve wanted you for over a year, Hayley,” Cam continues. “We’d be—”
“Hayley, where have you been?” Brooklyn interrupts, curling her arm through mine. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I smile, holding back a relieved sigh. “I’ve been lighting it up on the dance floor, line dancing with my man.”
“Oh, I saw him anddamn.”
“Right?” I smile again but a nervous energy still runs through me. The last thing I want to do is piss Cameron off. I told Reed he was harmless and I thought I meant it, but now I don’t know what he’s capable of.
He’s been following me. Stalking me. And all this time I thought we were friends.
“Speaking of, here he comes now.” Brooklyn’s eyes bounce to somewhere behind me and I turn to greet Reed, unsure how to play this.
I’m about to say something flirty when his jaw clenches, his assessing gaze roaming my face. For all the times I’ve teased him about being a bad liar, truth be known, I can never get anything past him.
I subtly shake my head and he schools his features, handing me my water as he leans in, whispering in my ear. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head again, squeezing his waist as I step back. “Reed wants to introduce me to someone,” I lie to Cam, my eyes flashing to Brooklyn. “We’ll be back.” I don’t want to leave them alone, but there are plenty of people around. I don’t think he’ll do anything here.
And it’s me he wants.
God, I don’t even know if he’s dangerous.He’s never hurt me before, but I obviously don’t know him as well as I thought.
Reed squeezes my hand as we walk away, and the second we’re out of earshot, he spins my way, concern clear in his features. “What’s wrong, Hayley? You’re scaring me.”
“I… Shit. Please don’t overreact.”
“Hayls,” he growls and I grimace.What a shitty thing to say.
“Sorry. I—”
“Did he touch you again?”
I jerk my head in disagreement, and before I can think it through, I blurt, “I think he’s my stalker.”
“What?”
“I think—”
Reed slams his glass down on the table beside us and storms across the room, his hands curling into fists.Fuck.
“Reed, wait.” I drop my glass beside his, ignoring the water that sloshes to the table, chasing after him as I swerve through the foray.
I manage to catch up as he reaches Cam, grabbing his shoulder to still him. “Reed—”
Without a word, Reed snakes his arm behind him, securing me out of harm's way. Then he rears his free hand back, ready to strike. “Stay the fuck away from her.”
“Reed.” I grab his elbow this time, using both hands to hold him back. “I might be wrong and—”
