Chapter 16

The bookstore had a new shipment of romance novels.

I spent the morning unpacking boxes with Ethan, laughing at the ridiculous cover art. Shirtless men. Women in flowing dresses. Dramatic titles like The Rake's Redemption and Tempted by the Billionaire.

"This is basically p**n," Ethan said, holding up a particularly scandalous cover.

"Glorious, wonderful, life-affirming p**n," I corrected.

He laughed. "You're something else, Lucy."

"You're just figuring that out?"

We worked side by side, shelving books, making jokes, pretending the world outside didn't exist.

It was nice. Easy. Normal.

At lunch, Ethan pulled me aside.

"I wanted to ask you something," he said.

"Okay?"

"There's this art exhibit downtown. Opening night. Tomorrow." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you'd want to go. With me."

I blinked. "Like a date?"

"Like two people who work together. Looking at art." He smiled. "No pressure. Just... hanging out."

I hesitated.

Vincent was out there. Mason would lose his mind. And Ethan was just a friend—right?

"I'll think about it," I said.

"Okay." He nodded. "Just let me know."

He walked away. I stared after him. Ethan was nice. Normal. Easy. Everything Mason wasn't.

My phone buzzed at 3 PM.

Unknown number: The bookstore boy is asking you out. How cute. You should say yes. I'll be watching.

I felt sick.

Unknown number: Don't worry. I won't hurt him. Not yet.

Unknown number: But if you want to keep him safe, you'll meet me alone. Tomorrow night. Midnight. The warehouse on 5th.

I dropped my phone. My hands were shaking. I called Mason.

He answered on the first ring.

"Lucy? What's wrong?"

"Vincent texted me." My voice was shaking. "He knows about Ethan. He knows about the art exhibit. He wants me to meet him. Tomorrow. Midnight. A warehouse on 5th."

"Don't go."

"I'm not going to."

"Good."

"But—"

"Lucy. Don't."

I took a breath.

"What do we do?" I asked.

"We figure out another way. Together."

Mason picked me up from work.

Ethan was still there when he arrived. The two of them locked their eyes across the bookstore. Ethan smiled. Friendly. Polite.

Mason's expression was cold.

"Who's this?" Mason asked.

"Ethan. My coworker."

"Right. The one who asked you out."

Ethan's smile faltered. "I didn't mean any—"

"Stay away from her." Mason's voice was flat. "It's not safe."

"Mason," I warned.

"Don't." He looked at me. "I'm not playing games. Vincent is watching. He's using people to get to you. And I'm not going to let anyone else get hurt."

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Ethan stepped forward. "I don't know what's going on. But Lucy is my friend. And I'm not going to—"

"You're not going to do anything." Mason's voice was sharp. "Stay away from her. Or I'll make you."

"Mason."

He looked at me. His eyes were dark.

"Let's go," he said.

I looked at Ethan. His face was pale. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I'll explain later."

I followed Mason out.

The car ride was silent. Mason's jaw was tight. His hands gripped the steering wheel.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

"Yes, I did."

"He's just my friend."

"He's a threat." Mason's voice was flat. "Vincent sees him as leverage. If he gets close to you, Vincent will use him."

"So you threatened him?"

"I didn't threaten him. I warned him."

"There's a difference?"

"You're damn right there is." He looked at me. "I'm not going to let anyone get hurt. Not you. Not him. Not anyone."

I stared at him. "Okay," I said quietly.

We drove home in silence. Clara was waiting. She recently began coming around playing cupid.

She took one look at us and sighed. "Let me guess. Vincent texted. Mason got jealous. Ethan got threatened."

"How do you know about Ethan?" I asked.

"I'm his assistant. I know everything." She handed me a glass of wine. "Sit. Drink. Tell me everything."

I did. Clara listened without interrupting. When I finished, she turned to Mason.

"You need to apologize," she said.

"I don't apologize."

"You do. To Lucy. And to the bookstore boy."

"Clara—"

"Vincent is the problem. Not Ethan. Not Lucy. Not you." She met his eyes. "Stop pushing people away. Start letting them in."

He stared at her.

"I don't know how," he said quietly.

"Then learn."

That night, I sat in the guest room and stared at the wall. Ethan texted me.

Ethan: Hey. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. That guy seemed pretty intense.

I typed back: I'm okay. He's just... protective.

Ethan: Protective is one word for it.

Ethan: Look, I'm not going to push. But if you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here.

I smiled. Ethan was good. Kind. Patient. Everything Mason wasn't. But I didn't want Ethan. I wanted Mason.

My phone buzzed.

Mason: I'm sorry. For how I acted.

I stared at the screen.

Lucy: You're apologizing?

Mason: Don't make it weird.

Lucy: You just apologized. That's big.

Mason: Don't say that.

Lucy: You're scared, aren't you?

Mason: Yes.

Lucy: Of Vincent?

Mason: Of losing you.

I set down my phone. My heart was pounding. I walked downstairs.

Mason was in the living room. Dark. Quiet. A glass of whiskey in his hand. "Lucy," he said.

"Hi."

"Come here."

I walked over. Sat beside him. He pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry," he said against my hair.

"I know."

"About Ethan. About threatening him."

"He's just my friend."

"I know." His voice was rough. "I just—I can't lose you. And I don't know how to handle it."

"Mason—"

"I'm trying." He pulled back. "I'm trying so hard. But I keep screwing up."

I cupped his face. "You're not screwing up. You're trying. That's what matters."

He looked at me. His eyes were wet. "How do you do that?" he asked.

"Do what?"

"Make me believe things can be okay."

"Because it's the truth" I kissed him.

*** ***

The next morning, I went back to work. Ethan was there. He smiled when I walked in.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey."

"Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." I took a breath. "I owe you an apology. For yesterday."

"Not your fault."

"Still. He shouldn't have threatened you."

Ethan laughed. "He didn't threaten me. He told me to stay away. That's not a threat. That's a warning."

I blinked. "You're not scared?"

"Of him? No." He smiled. "He's in love with you. That's not scary. That's just sad."

I didn't know what to say.

"I'm not going to push," Ethan said. "You're not into me like that. I get it." He shrugged. "But I'd still like to be your friend. If that's okay."

"Of course it's okay."

"Good." He nodded. "Now let's get back to work. Those romance novels aren't going to shelve themselves."

I laughed. And for the first time, I felt like I had a friend. I know. Sloane's my friend but another addition to that? Awesome.

At lunch, my phone buzzed.

Mason: How's your day?

Lucy: Good. How's yours?

Mason: Boring. I miss you.

Lucy: I miss you too.

Mason: Don't tell anyone.

Lucy: Your secret's safe with me.

I smiled at my phone.

Ethan looked over. "Friend's brother?"

"Yeah."

"You're glowing again."

I laughed. "Shut up."

That night, I sat in the guest room and stared at the wall. Vincent was still out there. Still watching. Still planning.

But for the first time, I didn't feel alone. I had Mason. I had Sloane. I had Clara. I had Ethan.

And I had hope. My phone buzzed.

Unknown number: I saw you today. Laughing. Smiling. Happy. It won't last.

Unknown number: I'll be waiting. Midnight. Tomorrow. The warehouse on 5th.

Unknown number: Come alone. Or your bookstore boy pays the price.

I felt sick. Vincent was escalating.

And this time, he was threatening someone I cared about. I called Mason.

He answered on the first ring. "Lucy?"

"He texted again." My voice was shaking. "He's threatening Ethan. He says if I don't meet him tomorrow night, he'll hurt him."

"I'll get security on Ethan. Don't worry."

"Mason—"

"I'm not going to let anything happen to him. Or you."

I took a breath. "What do we do?"

"We figure out another way. Together."

"Together?"

"Together." His voice was steady. "I'm not going to let you do this alone."

I felt something loosen in my chest.

"Okay," I said.

The next morning, I went to work. Ethan was there. Same as always. Smiling. Unaware of the danger.

"I need to tell you something," I said.

"Okay."

"Vincent. The guy who robbed me. He's threatening you. Because of me."

Ethan's smile faltered. "What?"

"Someone's watching you. Protecting you. But you need to be careful."

He stared at me. "Lucy—"

"I'm sorry." My voice cracked. "I never meant to drag you into this."

He reached across the table. Took my hand. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere."

"You should."

"I should. But I'm not." He smiled. "Because you're my friend. And I don't abandon my friends."

I didn't know what to say. So I just nodded.