Insatiable (UNDERGOING REWRITES)

Chapter 28 : Caleb Ryan

After Nolan disappeared after his game, I decided a night on the town by myself was desperately needed. I hadn't gotten any alone time recently, so maybe that was just what I needed to get me out of this funk. That, or a good hookup. It was hard to say which one would do the trick the quickest.

And in this silent dilemma I was having, I didn't realize how much of an idiot I was being as I decided to walk to town. Now everything was pretty close to campus, relatively speaking, but to walk around alone, at night, on a Friday night was just asking for something to happen. And it sure didn't help that at first glance I looked like a woman. So to any drunk or high or horny guy, I seemed great bait, straight or not.

So that's how I ended up being followed by a stumbling man through the streets of town. Everything was busy enough that people were also walking down the sidewalks, lingering in front of stores and bars. Lover's Poison was just another three blocks away, so maybe if I kept up a swift pace, I could make it in seven minutes. Maybe less if I picked up the speed.

I used the momentum of moving around a group of drunks girls to look behind me, sneaking a peak at the man under one of the street lights. He was average height, maybe an inch or two taller than me, but all muscle compared to my slim build. I would probably never stand a chance against him if he came after me. But I noticed the way his eyes lingered on those girls, head turning to follow them, and I'd be damned if I let him go after them. So I stopped on the sidewalk, letting out a little yelp before bending over and pretending to tie my shoe. I knew I got the man's attention back when I heard the scuffle of his shoes as he started to trail after me again so I quickly stood and kept walking.

At least I kind of, sort of, maybe knew what I was doing. At least what I was getting into, but if that man went after those girls, they were probably too drunk to register what was happening until he was upon them.

I crossed the street, only two blocks from Poison now. I could see the line of people out the door and the bright neon pink sign hanging off the side of the building. But it wasn't the occasional flash of the red hearts on the sign that drew my attention, but the store across the street. The sex store across the street, and the tall man who was currently walking out of it.

He had a backpack hanging from his shoulders, a black bag in his hands as he kept his head down, making his way down the sidewalk. And surprisingly, a ballcap sitting backwards on his head.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was crossing the street, barely looking out for the two passing cars. I didn't look behind me to see if the stalker was following me, but I had a feeling he was based off the itching on my back.

It had been days since I last talked to Ezra. The night I found him with that woman being the last time I voluntarily looked at him. And after Daphne had consoled me, bringing me down from whatever hysterical place I was descending into. It wasn't like Ezra and I were even together, so I had no right to feel like a kicked puppy since then. But I just couldn't help it. I really liked Ezra, for some odd reason––I had to talk to Nolan about our choices of older guys who were one, out of our leagues, and two, were off limits as they were our teachers.

"Ezra!" I called out when I was a few paces behind the man. He spun around, eyes wide and almost frightened as he took me in. I jogged the last steps forward, looping my arm through his and pulling him to keep walking. He didn't say anything, his eyes still wide and confused, but he let me pull him along, especially since I pinched his arm enough for him to wince.

"I thought you were going to wait for me in the store," I said, making sure my voice was loud enough to hear a few paces behind us. My heart was pounding against my chest before I ran into Ezra, but now it was going five miles a minute, if that was even possible at this point. But I leaned up and kissed Ezra on the cheek, also sneaking a glance behind me to see if the stalker was still following me. He wasn't. I noticed him walking back across the street towards Poison and hoped the bouncers could gage enough not to let him in.