Page 91 of The Bright Omega

I’m running a little ahead of schedule, which means I have just enough time to make one quick stop. The Nesting Place is only a few storefronts from Tinto’s. I’ve been thinking about that long body pillow for days. It’s the one thing my new nest is still missing.

I sit in my car for a long moment, hands still on the wheel. I know I’m safe. It’s not the building that hurt me. But the irrational part of me, the one that still feels the impact of that car hitting me? She is loud this afternoon.

Maybe the guys were right. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone out alone.

I take a deep breath, grab my bag, and get out of the car. I walk a little too fast toward the doors, heart beating harder than it should. The second I push through the entrance, the soft lighting and spa scent wrap around me, and my omega settles slightly.

I head straight for the pillow section, trying to shake off the lingering nerves. I’m running my hands over a long body pillow, debating between grass green and azalea pink, when—

“Hey.” A voice speaks directly behind me.

I jump violently, nearly knocking over the entire display, and let out a sharp, embarrassing scream.

“Oh my god!” Finn’s student stands there with wide eyes, hands raised. “I’m so sorry! I thought you saw me coming.”

My hand flies to my chest, heart racing. “No, please don’t apologize. I’m—” I trail off. I’m not about to explain to a near-stranger that I’m jumpy because of a stalker. “I’m fine. Really.”

I force a smile and change the subject. “Avery, right?”

She nods, still looking mortified. “Yeah. Hi again.”

I turn back to the pillows, trying to steady myself. “I’m stuck between two colors. I can’t decide if I want the green or the pink.”

Avery tilts her head. “Does your nest have a specific color theme?”

I laugh. “Um…all of them?”

She grins. “Then I think you should go by feel. Which one feels right?”

“Both,” I admit.

“Then get both,” she says conspiratorially. “Professor Gaudreau is about to be crazy rich when his DNA matching service goes public.”

Bless this sweet girl. She has no idea how rich Piers actually is.

I smile at her. “You’re right. Both it is.”

I grab one of each and head to checkout, chatting with Avery for another minute before saying goodbye. As I step out of the store and start walking toward my car, the uneasy feeling returns and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I feel… watched.

I stop, scanning the sidewalk and the parking lot. Nothing looks wrong. No one is obviously staring. Still, the prickling sensation doesn’t fade. I shake it off, gripping the bag a little tighter.

You’re being paranoid, I tell myself. There’s no one here. I run my eyes over the lot to assure myself that my pep talk is true. I’m still the only one here.

I square my shoulders and keep walking toward my parking spot. Fear doesn’t look good on me.

My SUV is sitting in the open with no other cars parked nearby. The lot is mostly empty which offers me some comfort. There’s nowhere, really, for anyone to hide. I walk over quickly, punching a button on my key fob to open the trunk.

When the door is fully lifted, I slide the long body pillows into the trunk and slam it shut with a solid thunk. The hell I’m waiting for that slow door to shut. I pause for a second, key fob in hand, just long enough to remind myself that paranoia doesn’t look good on me, either. Then I practically run to the driver’s side door.

Although I’m already close to Tinto’s I want to move my car. There’s roadside parking around the corner from the bar. Parking in a more populated spot seems like the smart thing to do. Probably the thing I should have done all along.

“I was beginning to think you’d never leave your house alone again.”

I freeze mid-step. Everything in me goes still.

I turn slowly. Shayna Cummins stands only a few feet away, half-hidden by the shadow of the next vehicle. She looks like she hasn’t slept in days. Her hair is pulled back in a messy ponytail, strands sticking to her forehead. Her eyes are too wide, and her pupils are almost nonexistent. Way too small for how little light there is in this lot.