Sarah giggled, taking a bite of the appetizer. “Not twenty but, yeah, everyday.”

Sofia reached for an appetizer. “I read somewhere online that… ”

That was it. Online. If Valerie could get to her laptop, she could shoot Alex a quick email. This was perfect. She’d left it in the car. She could send it from there and the girls would never know otherwise. She hopped off the counter where she’d been sitting and rushed into her room.

“What are you doing, Val?” Isabel called from the kitchen.

Valerie slipped on her fuzzy Tweetie Bird slippers. She’d have to remember to take these back to Alex’s place. “I gotta get something out of my car.”

“Now?”

Valerie pressed her lips together. Isabel was being absolutely no help.

“I wanna show Sarah something.” She walked out of her room and past the girls who were all looking at her funny.

Sofia’s smiled. “I like your slippers.”

“Thanks, my daddy gave them to me. I’ll be back.”

She’d barely stepped out the door when she got the distinct feeling she was being watched. Dread crept through her with every breath she took. It could very well be her nerves, but she could swear she heard something move in the bushes. She opened the trunk as soon as she reached her car.

Staying aware of her surroundings, as Alex reminded her to do a million times, she walked around the car and climbed into the driver’s side. She locked the doors as soon as she was inside. Of course, the laptop took forever to boot up.

After finally logging in, she sent a very quick but to the point email. She only hoped Alex wasn’t too wrapped up in trying to get a hold of her, to not bother to check the emails on his phone.

The laptop went back in her trunk. Isabel was too slick. If she saw her walk in with it, she’d know immediately what she’d been up to. It was crazy how naked she felt without her phone.

As she made her way back to her apartment, she squeezed the pepper spray bottle, holding her thumb on the button ready to use it. She hadn’t even thought of bringing the taser Alex made her promise she’d carry at all times.

A car raced into the parking lot, and Valerie froze. It stopped just inches in front of her, the headlights flooding her vision. She shielded her hands over her eyes. Her slippers firmly glued to the ground.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. The passenger door opened slowly. With the headlights still on her, she could only make out a figure. Even with the pepper spray in her hand, she felt completely vulnerable and useless. She couldn’t even move, let alone try to fight.

“Are you kidding me?” The voice boomed.

It took her only a second to realize it was Alex. Though relieved didn’t even begin to explain how she felt at that moment, she knew she was in for it.

***

Valerie’s startled eyes had never looked so beautiful. As irritated as he’d been with her for not answering her phone, knowing she was okay more than made up for it.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” He closed the door to Angel’s car, the tension in his muscles still there. He’d been tense ever since Bruce’s call and it had only gotten worse with every call Valerie hadn’t answered.

“I had to go to my car.” Valerie walked toward him.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay inside? This guy was watching you tonight.” Alex glanced around. He probably watched them now.

“I had to. They’re holding my phone hostage. I went to the car to send you an email from my laptop.” Valerie leaned her head against his chest.

Alex hugged her, feeling the tension he’d felt all night drain from his body. The other doors opened and Romero and Angel got out. They started toward the apartment.

“No!” Valerie pulled away from Alex. “Don’t go in there. Angel you can’t see Sarah.”

“I just wanna make sure she’s okay.”

“I can see Izzy,” Romero protested. “I’m not the one getting married tomorrow.”

“She’s fine.” Valerie assured Angel. “Sofia hid all our phones, so we’d stop being interrupted.”

Eric was the last out of the car and came to stand next to Alex. “Sofia did?”

“Yes, none of them know about the phone call Alex got. I’d like to keep it that way. No sense in upsetting Sarah for nothing.”

“It’s not nothing Valerie. The guy is a real psycho.” Alex frowned. Valerie didn’t even know the half of it.

“You know what I mean, Alex. I’ll tell her all about it after the wedding.”

“So, this is what you’re up to?” Isabel stood at the door of the apartment, arms crossed.

Angel and Romero started toward her. “Oh, no you don’t,” Isabel said firmly. “You can’t see Sarah, Angel.”

Alex, Valerie and Eric followed behind Romero and Angel. “I just wanna ask her something.”

“You have the rest of your life to do that,” Valerie interjected. “Starting tomorrow.”

Sarah peeked through the window curtain. Valerie shot her a warning look. The slit in the curtain closed immediately. Sofia stuck her head out the door behind Isabel and waved. “I’m spending the night, Angel. I just read your text. So no, I don’t need you to pick me up.” She laughed a little too loud.

“Have you been drinking, Sof?” Alex peered at her. He’d seen her drink, though she was only twenty. He’d never seen her drunk, and he didn’t like it.