17. The Devil You Know

Aella

As I unlock my apartment door and step inside, I can’t help but feel an odd sense of relief mixed with confusion. Tonight was a rollercoaster of emotions—fear, vulnerability, and an unexpected comfort in the form of Jay.

My fingers absentmindedly drift to the place on my arm where he held me, as if I could still feel the warmth there.

“I’ll walk you home from now on,” he’d promised. Something about the way he said it felt almost territorial. As if he was staking his claim, making sure the world knew I was off-limits.

But that couldn’t be right. This was Jay, the guy who always kept a safe emotional distance. Could he be the same person who’d held me tightly last night, his grip almost desperate?

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I need to focus on the more immediate problem: someone’s been following me. Two nights in a row. And though it’s terrifying, the presence of Jay beside me on those nighttime walks makes it more bearable.

Is this how I’m going to live now? L