Chapter 16

Bratt

I was relieved Marley had agreed to spend the night at my house. If she’d refused, I would have just patrolled her house—or wherever she’d intended to stay—all night. I could protect her better at my place, and I would feel like a creepy stalker prowling around outside her home. And since Noah was at my parents’ house until morning, there wouldn’t be any awkward questions about why his teacher was sleeping over.

Marley’s brightness had left her when I’d told her about the intruder. All the color had drained from her face, and fear shone from her exhausted eyes. Just how badly had her ex treated her for her to be so terrified that he might have followed her to New Middle Bluff?

Then again, I could only speculate as to how complicated my feelings would be if Olivia broke into my house and made herself comfortable. How unnerving it would be if she pointedly avoided doing anything that could get her in any real legal trouble. It was absolutely ludicrous that Marley’s stalker coul