Chapter 75


    I returned his smile, the corners of my lips curling up in response. “Just heading home,” I said. I


    suppose I should’ve recognized his car fromst time, but that was also when he’d been stabbed by


    Bruce, so my senses weren’t exactly attentive.


    Timothy frowned. “Walking alone in the city at this hour isn’t the safest option, you know. Hop in, I’ll


    give you a ride.”


    His offer took me by surprise, but I couldn’t escape the previous unease that I’d felt. With a nod, I


    opened the passenger door and slid into the seat beside him. I reach for the seatbelt and start to


    pull it over my chest before it stops abruptly midway.


    “What-“The belt shortened with each jerk as I attempted to pull it from the retractor. Eventually, I


    gave up and let it slide back into ce, deciding that I’d embarrassed myself enough.


    Suddenly, a long arm was reaching around me. Timothy grabbed the seatbelt above my head and


    began to tug at it. He was close enough that his breath fanned over my cheek, making the hairs on


    my skin grow erect with each warm exhale.


    “These seats can be pretty tricky,” he said softly, not meeting my eyes as he pulled. the seatbelt


    over my chest. Pulling downward, his knuckles grazed the skin just above my breasts, a movement


    that seemed far too slow to be idental.


    For the briefest of moments, his eyes locked with mine and something curious lingered behind


    them. Before I could rationalize what, he was already moving away and cing his hands back on


    the wheel.


    “All set?” he asked, his tone irritatingly casual.


    I tugged a loose hair behind my ear, feeling the sweat start to coat the back of my neck at the


    thought of his painfully long touch. “Y–Yes,” I stuttered.


    As the car merged back into the flow of traffic, afortable silence settled between us. The scent


    of iron had gone, reced with the smell of pine needles and Lysol. It must have been a rigorous


    job, cleaning up all the blood he’d spilt in there. I could still picture his body, pale and slick with


    sweat, lying stiffly against the leather seats.


    I shook my head, turning my attention to the cityscape as it passed by. The


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    buildings and lights created a tapestry of urban life.


    I kept my eyes on thendscape as I spoke, “Thanks for this, by the way.”


    Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the side of his mouth quirking upward. “No problem at all,


    Evie. Safety first, right?”


    I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. There was afortable silence at first, and I


    reveled in it for as long as I could. Until, of course, Timothy opened his


    mouth.


    “So, why weren’t you answering my texts?” he asked, keeping his eyes averted from mine.


    Unfortunately, he had gained my full attention, and I turned to face him ordingly.


    “Sorry, about that,” I began, my voice hesitant. “I was going to respond, but I got a bit busy with


    work.”


    His brows furrowed slightly, his gaze flicking toward me before returning to the road. “No worries,”


    he replied. “Just wanted to check in.


    Relief flooded through me at his rxed response, and I quickly changed the subject. “How about I


    make it up to you? Are you busy tomorrow?”


    Timothy shook his head. “Don’t think so. Why?”


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    A spark of excitement ignited within me as I leaned forward, my heart racing with anticipation. “Well,


    my friend Aria was curious about you, and I thought it would be great if you could join us for an


    outing.”


    Timothy’s expression shifted from curiosity to genuine interest, a smile ying at the corners


    of his lips. “Aria? She wanted to hang out?”


    I nodded, my enthusiasm growing. “Yes, she really wants to get to know you better. I think you two


    would get along really well.”


    His smile widened. “I’d love to meet her, Evie. It sounds like fun.”


    “It does?” I blinked at him, slightly surprised.


    “Of course.” His eyes twinkled with delight. “Speaking honestly, I thought she was


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    some sort of crazed fan before, but with all you told me about her, I’m actually pretty interested in


    meeting her.”


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    I nodded, content with that information. Aria certainly wasn’t on Linda’s level of obsession, although


    she led quite a few fan sites of her own. She was way more than an obsessed fan, and I would help


    Timothy see that.


    Finally, Timothy cleared his throat, his voice breaking through the stillness. “So, how was work


    today? Assuming that’s why you’re dressed so formally.”


    I shifted in my seat, my heart rate quickening as I turned to face him. “Oh, you know, the usual,” I


    replied with a carefully subtle smile, my attempt at nonchnce. “Jasper was being a jealous prick


    as always.”


    Timothy’s lips quirked into a wry smile, a hint of amusement glinting in his eyes. “Yet you told me not


    to get him fired.”


    The simplicity of his response eased some of the tension that had been building within me, and a


    smallugh escaped my lips. “I did. I might be regretting it too.”


    Heughed gently, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel to the beat of the music. As


    we neared my apartment building, I felt a pang of disappointment that our time together wasing


    to an end. I had been so caught up in our conversation that I hadn’t realized how quickly the journey


    had passed.


    Timothy pulled up to the curb, the car idling as he nced at me. “Well, here we


    are.”


    I nodded, my heart suddenly heavy with a mixture of reluctance and gratitude. “Thank you for the


    ride, Timothy. It was nice to catch up.”


    He offered a warm smile, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. “Anytime,


    Evie. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.”


    I mustered a genuine smile. “I will.”


    As we approached a parking spot near the apartment building, the car came to a gentle stop. The


    engine’s soft purr was the only sound that filled the space between us, and I found myself reluctant


    to leave the cocoon of this fleeting moment.


    “Well, here we are,” Timothy said, breaking the silence.


    I nodded, though my heart felt heavier than I had anticipated. “Thank you for the


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    ride, Timothy.”


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    “Of course,” he said, helping me out of the car. We stood face to face for a while, as if we had both


    forgotten how to function.


    “Well, goodnight, Evie, Timothy said, breaking the silence.


    “Goodnight, Timothy,” I said quietly.


    He lifted his arms, his hands bracing my elbows as he pulled me forward. I had almost forgotten the


    ritual of our usual partings before he pulled me into atforting embrace. I looped my arms


    around hisrge frame, inhaling his enchanting scent that seemed to intoxicate me upon breathing it


    in.


    Eventually, we separated, though his hands still lingered on my waist for the briefest of moments


    before dropping to his sides.


    We exchanged a final smile before parting ways, each of us disappearing into our respective


    apartments. As I closed the door behind me, the quiet of the space settled around me. There may


    have been one battle that I didn’t mind losing after


    all…


    Excitement bubbled within me as I entered our apartment, the door clicking shut behind me. I had


    barely taken a step when a rush of words tumbled from my lips. “Aria, you won’t believe what


    happened!”


    The living room greeted me with its warm glow, every light left on as if the space. were still basking


    in the sunshine of a perfect day. My eyes scanned the room for Aria’s familiar form, but the space


    was empty. Oddly, a sense of unease began to gnaw at my excitement.


    ventured further into the living room, my gaze sweeping across the space. The TV was on, casting


    a flickering glow across the room, and a half–empty cup of tea sat on the coffee table. Had Aria just


    left for her date?


    The tension propelled me toward Aria’s room, my footsteps light against the wooden floor.


    Frowning, I paused in my tracks. Aria had always been conscientious about turning off lights when


    she wasn’t in a room, an eco–friendly habit she had picked up from her college days. Finally, I


    reached my room, the door slightly ajar. I pushed it open gently, my eyes scanning the room for any


    sign of her. My bed was neatly made, the pillows still fluffed from when I had arranged them.


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    A flicker of movement caught my attention, and I turned my head to see something glinting on the


    floor near my dresser. My heart skipped a beat as I approached, my fingers trembling as I picked up


    the small velvet box that held Timothy’s precious gift. My breath hitched in my throat as I opened it,


    only to find it empty.


    The sculpture was gone.


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