Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 138

No answer. A chill crept down my spine.

But now wasn't the time to chicken out. I forced myself to sound braver than I felt. "Who the hell are you?"

""It's me, Pete!"

Footsteps followed, and then he added, "Your date from the café earlier."

Wait, what?

Of all people, Pete? After just one coffee date, he was out here creeping on me? That made this whole thing even creepier.

The hallway was pitch black because the lights were out. I could barely see a thing, just some vague shapes barely lit by the moonlight sneaking in through the window.

He wasn't close enough for me to see his face yet.

I gripped my key tight, ready to defend myself if I had to. "Why are you following me?"

"Don't freak out, okay? I'm not here to hurt you. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. It's late, and it's not exactly safe for a girl to walk alone at this hour," he said as he finally stepped into view. I almost laughed at that.

in the dark was supposed to

each other, and I hadn't agreed to anything with him. Now he was acting like my personal bodyguard? Yeah,

going to help. So, I swallowed my frustration and tried

spoke, Pete stepped out from behind the stairwell. I'm

clear. I tightened my grip on the key and

about dating me, so what's the big deal about a glass

as he edged nearer. "Don't come

What's the harm?" His smile

was ready. If he took one more step, I'd drive

Pete reached my floor, I lunged with the key. But before I could strike, a blast of icy air whipped past my face. With a thunderous crash, Pete was hurled backward, like he'd been hit by some invisible force straight out of a Marvel flick. He slammed into the wall, bounced off, and then tumbled down the stairs, landing with

T

Chapter 138

+25 BONUS

thing happened so fast-crash, bounce, splat-it looked brutal even

all too familiar, whispered in

It was Hayden.

still lying there like a heap on

twitched at Hayden's words, clearly trying to move, but he was too messed up to do more than flop around. After a few painful seconds, he finally

in blood, and I couldn't even tell where the injury was. He glanced at me, his

blocking my view as he glared at Pete. "You want to lose your