Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
My obsession with her began two months ago. Since then, it’s dug deeper and deeper into my soul like an immovable anchor. I’ve been watching her, biding my time, loving her from afar, waiting for the perfect moment to act.
Does this make me a stalker? Absolutely.
Do I care? Absolutely not.
Penelope is the one to blame. She has a hidden desire. She thinks I don’t know about it, but I’ve got a plan to give her what she needs. And when I do, it will make her mine forever.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
PENELOPE
“Can we please go hiking next week? It’s my day off.”
I give my best puppy-dog eyes to my friend Anna, who’s sitting across the table from me.
“I don’t think I can, Pen,” she sighs. “I’ve been so busy with school. If you saw the mountain of homework I’m buried under, you’d thank God every day you didn’t go to college.”
“Hey, if I could afford tuition, I’d be right there with you. And come on, those last few times were so much fun!” I protest. “What about Saturday? It’s my only day off for two weeks!”
Anna sadly shakes her head and takes a sip of her Princess Pony Cocktail, which is so bright pink that it looks radioactive. At eighteen, neither of us should be drinking at The Salty Seahorse, the definition of a dive bar. But Anna’s boyfriend, Todd, is the bouncer and always lets us in.
I’ve hardly seen Anna lately, due to both of our busy schedules. We’ve been best friends since we were about 10. Her family is from the “well-off” part of Pines Grove, Oregon, while I grew up down by the mills where the tourists never venture. We never should have met if it weren’t for a youth-league soccer team we both happened to join. Despite our different socioeconomic statuses, we became fast friends. Inseparable.
But now that I’m working two jobs waitressing and she’s started her first year of college, it’s like a fight against the universe to spend any time together.
“I definitely can’t go this Saturday,” she replies. “I’ve got a paper due on Monday that’s going to kill me. Maybe I could go next weekend. But don’t quote me.”
I moan and sip my drink. It’s bright green, called a Plump Parrot’s Twist, and don’t ask me what’s in it. All I know is it is overly sweet and I’m not that into it.
“But it’s such a good destressor!”
“You know what else is a good destressor?” Anna asks while throwing me a cartoonish wink. “Getting laid!”
I clear my throat and sit up straight, putting on my best good-girl pose. “Ahem. Don’t forget you’re talking to a virgin here.”
Anna laughs. “You may be a virgin, honey. But you’re also a little freak!”
“Hey!” I gasp, causing her to laugh even louder.
I guess that’s what I get for opening up to Anna about my sexual fantasies.
She easily dodges my half-hearted pretend-slap, then counters by reaching out and pulling my hair. “Listen, I know you, okay? And that’s why I have set up a little surprise for you tonight.”
My eyes narrow. I know Anna. This is not good.
Slyly, she indicates the bar with her eyes, where a guy in a torn oversized T-shirt and black jeans is sitting. He looks about 25 and is gazing over her shoulder in our direction.
Realization hits me in the stomach like a punch. I look back at her, eyes wide, and screen my face with a hand so whoever that is won’t be able to see me when I say, “No, way!”
“Yes, way!” Anna grins.
“You did not!”
“Babe, you’ve got to get out there already!” She giggles. “He’s Todd’s friend, and from everything I’ve heard, he’s freaky just like you.”
Waitressing has taught me to be very good at dealing with people, especially the ones you don’t like or don’t want anything to do with. So this really shouldn’t bother me. But I came out tonight specifically to relax, destress, and have some time off with my friend. Not to get set up with some “freaky” guy I don’t even know.
“This is not happening,” I say firmly. But Anna simply nods over to the guy and snaps her fingers like she’s beckoning a dog. He gets up, a grin on his face, and begins to march over toward our table.
“Oh, yes, it is!” Anna laughs.
“He could be The Tree Saw Killer! That serial killer from a few years ago! The one that killed all those women!”
Anna slaps her knee, cracking up. “He’s not a serial killer, Pen!”
“I’m gonna tell him I have COVID,” I reply, flashing my eyes at her, causing her to burst into hysterics. “A super-contagious strand that could kill him if he gets anywhere near me.”
“Would you relax?” Anna cackles. “His name is Mack. Just be cool, all right? Don’t make me look bad.”