Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
ARLOW
“Calliope.” She jerks violently, spinning around to face me, eyes wide with shock. “What’s wr—” The sight of the sketchbook in her hand causes any further words to falter.
“What is this?” she asks in a horrified whisper, holding up the page of her topless drawing.
My blood rushes through my veins, heating my face. There’s no avenue here but the truth. “I can explain.” The quick step back from me when I approach her is a knife in my chest.
“You were following me in the woods. It was you. I thought…” Her chest rises and falls faster. “I wasn’t imagining it.”
“I’m sorry. When I saw you?—”
My explanation is cut short as she rushes out my front door. She’s made it down my steps into the yard when I get to the porch. “Calli! Wait.”
Pausing, she spins around and shakes her head. “Don’t come near me!”
The fear in her voice is tearing me to scraps. “I won’t.” Holding up my palms, I stay on my bottom step. “Please, don’t be afraid of me. I’d never hurt you. Just let me explain.”
Fear battles with rage on her face. “Who was the man yesterday?” she demands. “You sent someone to follow me.”
“No. Listen, please. That had nothing to do with it. I don’t know who that was.”
“You were stalking me!” she shouts, throwing the sketchbook at me. “Why?”
The words spill out without thought. “You shine.”
It’s the truth but not a good explanation. Her frown deepens and she takes another step back. If I don’t tell her everything, I’m going to lose her. She’s going to think I’m some kind of monster who was stalking her through the woods all this time. “I wanted to draw you. I was out in the woods to do some sketches and I stumbled onto you at the creek. Once I saw you, nothing else was worth touching my pencil. You were so happy and all I could think about was capturing that moment. It was wrong. I should’ve left or told you I was there. I’m sorry.”
“You were there more than once.”
“I was. You inspired me.” I drag my hand through my hair, desperate to find the right words. “Fuck, inspired isn’t a strong enough word. Before you came, I hadn’t drawn anything of worth in months. Then I saw you and...you gave me my ability back.”
“So, you followed me to keep drawing me?”
“A few times, yes. I swear, it was never threatening or sexual. You triggered something that freed me from a creative block.”
“You think that’s a justifiable reason to stalk someone? Because you wanted to draw them?”
I’m glad to see her fear fading even as rage replaces it. I deserve her anger. She doesn’t deserve to be afraid because of me. “No, nothing justifies it.” It sounds crazy and I can’t blame her for not understanding. She needs to know what she really did for me. “I need to show you something in the barn. It doesn’t excuse my behavior but…please.”
She blinks at me, indecision written on her face. “My friends will be here any minute to get me.”
I’m not sure if that’s a comment on the time restraint or a warning because she’s afraid to be alone with me now. “It’ll only take a second.”
Finally, she nods, and gestures for me to lead the way. What I’m about to reveal to her, only my family knows about, but the risk is worth it to wipe that terrified look of betrayal from her face.