Chapter 18 – Haley
By the time I rehash everything I’ve been going through with my dad and Erin, I’m so worn out I could collapse.
Mom sits beside me on the sofa and puts her arm across my shoulders. I listen as everyone in the room debates what should be done about me.
“I think Haley should withdraw from school and stay home until this stalker is caught,” my mom says. “Obviously, it’s not safe for her to live on campus at this time.”
“She can stay with us,” my dad says. “Our apartment building has a great security system.”
“Our house has a great security system, too,” Dave says.
“Guys, hold on,” I say as I get my second wind. Hearing my life planned out without my input is enough to do that. “First of all, I’m not withdrawing from school. That’s not an option.”
All four of my parents start talking at once, and I can’t make out anything any of them are saying. I glance across the room at Philip, who’s leaning against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s watching me with a hint of a grin on his face, like he’s saying, You go, girl!
“Haley—” Mom starts to say.
“No! I’m not withdrawing from school. I’m not going to let some deranged criminal derail my educational plans. I’ve worked too hard—”
Mom frowns, frustration written all over her face. “I’m sure you won’t lose your scholarship just because you have to delay a term. We can talk to the university—”
“No, Mom. I started the term, and I’m going to finish it. I won’t let this guy win.”
“Then how do we keep her safe?” Mom asks my dad. Then she looks at Philip.
“I’ll call Shane,” Dad says. He pulls out his phone and makes the call. “Shane, I need your help.”
Dad puts Shane on speaker so everyone can hear his responses as Dad catches him up to speed on what’s been going on. “Philip’s here, too.”
“I’ll call a meeting tomorrow,” Shane says. “Just a minute. Let me grab my calendar.”
“Can we please make it after two?” I ask. “I’ve got classes until then.”
I catch Philip shaking his head, his grin still present.
“How about two-thirty?” Shane asks. “I’ll need everyone present.
In addition to Haley, I’ll need her parents there, plus Jake and his team.
Jake’s people will be in charge of Haley’s protection.
We’ll have a plan in place tomorrow afternoon.
In the meanwhile, Philip will act as her personal protection. ”
Everyone readily agrees.
After ending the call, my dad hugs me again. “Will you be okay staying here for the night?”
“Yes, but just for tonight. I don’t want to risk bringing this creep to Mom and Dave’s house.”
“I love you,” Dad murmurs as he kisses the top of my head. He squeezes me so tightly I can barely breathe. “Be careful, and please call if you need me.”
I hug him back just as tightly. “I will, Dad.”
After Erin and I hug goodbye, they leave to go home.
Mom gets up from the sofa. “You look like you’re about to keel over, sweetheart. You should go to bed. Your room is just the way you left it.”
“I will after I say goodnight to Philip.”
“Mrs. Williams,” Philip says to my mom. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like to stay here tonight, just as a precaution.
I’ll sleep down here on the sofa. And then I’ll take Haley to campus in the morning and stay with her throughout the day.
After her classes are over, I’ll bring her to the McIntyre Security building for the meeting. ”
Mom nods without hesitation. “Thank you, Philip. I’ll get you some bedding. And please call me Chrissy, all right?”
Philip nods. “Chrissy. Thanks.”
Mom and Dave head upstairs, leaving me and Philip alone for the first time since we arrived.
“I’m so sorry,” I say as I slip my arms around his waist. “I really tried not to bother you with this mess.”
“Don’t say that. You should have come to me at the first indication of trouble. Please, don’t ever keep something from me because you’re trying to protect me. It’s my job to protect you—literally, it’s going to be my job.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m going to be assigned as your personal protection until this situation is resolved. I’ll be shadowing you on campus, attending your classes with you. And as for the living arrangements, I’m not exactly sure where we’ll be staying, but I’m sure Shane will come up with something.”
Mom comes back downstairs with an armload of bedding and a pillow for Philip. She pats my shoulder. “Honey, you need to get to bed.”
“I’m going.” I go up on my toes to kiss Philip goodnight. “Thank you for everything. I’ll see you in the morning.”
As I’m heading toward the stairs, I hear Philip tell my mom, “Thanks for the bedding. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to run out to my truck to get my handgun.”
“You keep a gun in your truck?”
“It’s in a lock box. I’d feel better sleeping here tonight if I had a weapon. I’m confident no one followed us here from campus, and I’m sure it’s unnecessary for me to be armed, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“All right,” my mom says, “go ahead. I’m going up to bed now. You’ll lock up, Philip? And set the alarm? The code is 0603.”
Philip chuckles. “Haley’s birthday.”
“Yes, it is.”
After I hear Philip leave the house, I get ready for bed. When I crawl into my childhood bed and snuggle beneath the familiar floral quilt, I relax for the first time all evening. It feels so good to be home. I didn’t realize how much I missed this.
I hear the front door open and close as Philip returns, followed by the beeping of the alarm system as he sets it.
I lie in bed for probably an hour, unable to sleep. My mind keeps racing, reliving all the weird things that have happened. Tonight was the worst, of course. Who in the world gives someone their used condom? That takes a special kind of crazy.
I wonder if Philip is awake. I hate inconveniencing him this way. He should be at home fast asleep in his own bed. Instead, he’s lying on a sofa that’s too short for him, trying to sleep, and keeping watch at the same time. How is that even possible?
When I can’t take it anymore, I sneak downstairs, listening for any sign that he’s awake. If he is asleep, I don’t want to wake him.
By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, I can tell he’s awake. I can see the glow from his phone. “Philip?” I whisper.
“Yeah?” he whispers back, making me smile.
I walk into the family room where I find him lounging on the sofa. He’s half sitting, leaning against one arm of the sofa, with one leg stretched out lengthwise on the cushions, while his other foot is on the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” I say as I kneel on the floor in front of him. “This sofa isn’t long enough for you.”
“It’s fine. I can’t sleep anyway.” He threads the fingers of one hand through my hair. “I guess you can’t sleep either.”
“No. It is nice being home, though. I’d forgotten how comfortable my bed is.” My smile fades quickly. “But I do hate inconveniencing you.”
He leans forward and presses his lips to mine. “No apologizing,” he murmurs against my mouth. He tastes like peppermint. “I mean it. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.”
He scooches over and pulls me up onto the sofa with him. It’s a very tight fit.
When I lean back against him, he slips an arm around my waist, securing me to him so I don’t end up on the floor.
“So, tomorrow,” he says. “Your first class is at nine?”
“Yes. My chemistry lecture.”
“We should leave here around eight-fifteen. That will give us enough time to find parking and get you to your class.” He hugs me tighter and kisses my shoulder. “Now, you should go to bed. You need your sleep, and I don’t want to get chewed out for keeping you up past your bedtime.”
I sigh, knowing he’s right. “I look forward to the day we don’t have to sneak around like this.”
When he tightens his hold on me and places a kiss on the side of my neck, tingles ripple down my spine.
“I can’t wait,” he says.
I feel a lot less anxious after talking to Philip. And frankly, knowing he’s downstairs makes me feel safe. I return to my bed, and reliving the feel of his lips on my neck, I somehow manage to fall asleep.
My alarm goes off at seven, and I hop out of bed and into the shower. After I’m ready for school, I head downstairs to the kitchen.
Mom’s already dressed for work, and she’s pouring coffee into mugs. “Good morning, sweetheart,” she says, smiling when she sees me. “I hope you slept well.”
“I did,” I say, smiling across the room at Philip, who’s sitting on the sofa. His bedding is neatly folded and piled up on one of the cushions. “After having to share a bathroom with twenty other girls, I now appreciate having my own so much more.”
I notice that Philip’s hair is damp, and he’s wearing a different shirt than the one he had on last night. He must have taken a shower. “You changed.”
“I carry an overnight bag with a change of clothes in my truck for these kinds of occasions.”
“You mean when you have to babysit your girlfriend?”
He laughs. “Happens all the time. You’d be surprised.”
“Breakfast is ready, guys,” Mom says. “Come eat.”
I walk up beside her and lean in so our shoulders are touching. “Yes, please. I’m starving.”
She tilts her head to touch mine. “I made you some iced caramel coffee. It’s in the fridge.”
There are scrambled eggs and sausage patties warm on the stove. We help ourselves. I make toast for everyone and put out butter and a jar of strawberry preserves.
The four of us sit at the kitchen table to eat. Philip asks me to run through my class schedule for today. Dave is reading something on a tablet, and I’d bet money it’s The Wall Street Journal. Mom is watching me and Philip with a small smile on her face.
I like us all together like this. I just wish it were under different circumstances. For a moment, I allow myself to picture us like this in the future, maybe on a Christmas morning. Philip and I are married, and we’re visiting—
“Haley?”
I realize my mom is talking to me. “Yes? Sorry.”