The Tease (The Darling Killer Trilogy) by Nikki M. Pill Page A

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, and there’s power in it, but it can be kind of funny, and people are on the edge of their seat because they’re dying to know what you do next and you’re making them wait for it but really everyone has it! Like the joke is we all have the power and the hangups and the human body and we’re just putting it out there.”
    “That’s right,” I said, hugging her back with real pride. “That’s exactly right.”
    “I bet burlesque dancers have great sex lives,” she said.
    I was a little relieved when our hour ended. I was exhausted.
    “So I’ll come back next weekend?” she said, scribbling out a check.
    “Sounds good,” I said.
    “I’m having such a good time, I—” She checked her phone. “Good, Dan’s here – he’s so sweet, picking me up – I just hate to drive in heels.” I opened the door for her, and she squeezed me in an eyeball-popping hug. “Thank you again,” she said, backing out the door. “I – oh!”
    She tripped and caught herself on the doorjamb. A bouquet of flowers in front of my door toppled over. Water spilled out of the clear vase over the cellophane.
    “Goodness, I’m so sorry!” she said, righting it.
    “Don’t worry about a thing,” I said. I picked them up. There were at least a dozen roses of different colors.
    “From your boyfriend?” she asked.
    “I don’t have one,” I said, but I smiled a little.
    “Oh, you’re so pretty, that won’t last,” she said. She waved goodbye and stumbled down the hall, her ankles wobbling in the stilettos.
    I brought the flowers into the kitchen. Caprice came in to investigate, and I shooed her away from the plastic wrap. I looked for a note and found a soggy little envelope. There was no message or card, though, just a delicate teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant with a tiny round diamond at the tip and two tiny rectangular diamonds along the edge.
Kevin,
I thought. He brought me here last night.
How sweet.
I blotted it dry with a kitchen towel and brought it over to my window. The stones looked real, which I sort of hoped they weren’t. I didn’t want someone spending that kind of money on me when we’d just started dating. I clasped it around my neck and checked it in the mirror. It sparkled against my pale skin like something out of a magazine.
    I got my phone, took a photo of the flowers, and texted it to Monica with the exclamation
    ZOMG LOOKEE WHAT I GOT!
    Then I stared at my phone and hesitated. Should I call? I was a little too exhausted to actually talk, and those first few phone calls could be so awkward.
    I settled on a text message and stared at the screen for a few minutes.
    Thank you for the beautiful flowers and necklace, I typed. And for a great date last night.
    What did you mean when you said
— Josh’s voice murmured in my ear.
    His eyes were always so earnest. That’s what made it so believable.
When you said that, I felt so pressured; I don’t know what you expect from me—
and then the next day was a colorless slog with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I kept poring over every text and email, hunting for the insinuations and motives he found.
I know I love you, Anna, I just can’t remember why.
    The worst part was when I started to buy it. When I started believing that I really was this horrible, overbearing bully he kept describing.
    No
, I thought.
I left. I left a long time ago. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
I sat down on my soft grey sofa, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly until the panicked feeling went away.
There’s no need to panic about losing him. He lost me. It’s over.
    I hesitated again and deleted most of the message.
    Thank you, I texted Kevin.
    I set the phone down on my desk and headed into my kitchen to make dinner. The phone chimed as I pulled chicken and broccoli out of my fridge. I returned to my phone and saw his response.
    You’re welcome, it said. I had a good time. I’d like to see you again.