Page 83 of Mine To Hunt

"Try me."

I smile for real this time. "See you soon, Mads."

"See you, Ree."

Twenty minutes later, I spot Maddie waiting outside the café, shifting her weight from foot to foot like she’s been scanning the street for me.

The moment her eyes land on me, her face softens with relief. She rushes forward and pulls me into a tight hug. "Ree… you look exhausted."

Her voice is gentle, but there’s worry tucked beneath it. I sink into her arms before I can stop myself, breathing in her familiar vanilla perfume. Some of the tension in my shoulders loosens.

"That obvious?" I murmur.

"Very." She pulls back just enough to look at me properly, her brows knitting. "Come on. Sit. I already ordered your drink."

I blink. "You didn’t."

"Hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows." She gives a small smile. "Obviously."

Warmth flickers faintly in my chest. "You’re actually my favorite person."

"I know." She says lightly, bumping her shoulder into mine. "Now tell me what’s going on. Your voice earlier sounded like you hadn’t slept in a year."

Inside, we take a table by the window. The café smells like cinnamon and roasted coffee beans, soft music drifting through the air. It should feel comforting. Safe. Normal. It doesn’t.

I wrap both hands around the mug when it arrives, soaking in its warmth like I can absorb calm through my skin.

"The office has been… bad."

Maddie’s posture straightens instantly. "Because of the email?"

I nod, staring into the chocolate instead of at her. "Police everywhere. People whispering again. It’s worse than before."

Her voice lowers. "Worse how?"

I swallow. "Like I can’t escape it. Not there. Not anywhere."

She leans forward, elbows on the table, eyes fixed on me with quiet urgency. "Ree… how are you actually holding up?"

The question presses against something fragile inside my chest.

"I’m trying." I admit softly. "But it’s a lot. The rumors coming back. The video. The stalker…"

Her fingers slide across the table and curl around mine, grounding, steady. "God." She whispers.

I tighten my grip on the mug. "The police asked if I knew anything about Mike’s past."

"Did you?"

"No. But…" My throat dries. "That iris flower in the email."

Her eyes sharpen.

"It’s the same one from the alley." The memory makes my stomach twist. "What if it’s the same person, Mads? What if the stalker is behind all of it?"

A beat of silence stretches between us.

My voice drops before I can stop it. "What if he’s watching me right now?"