The Stran

e as I walked to the kitchen. Asher's w

're in dang

I hadn't let one into my bed in years. Nevertheless, he w

night that brought me here-the night

od, I had spent a weekend in the city with some friends. It had just required a d

d, and he hadn't

ess choice. But no matter how hard I tried, it had rem

had grown i

re sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the

very presence posed a risk. He had no place in the s

allow him

ontacts till I came across Anna's number. An

hen she replied, "Oliv

to tal

when she sat up, I could hear the c

There's a man in town." "He..

What does "knows about the k

r and muttered, "That's the thin

y and damning as they

h a sharper tone

, but the triplets' father... It lasted just one night.

on of alarm and worry. "You mean that

a chair. At the park, he was. He was seen by th

did he

danger,

This is serious, Olivia. Yo

uired. "That a guy I had sex with eight years ago emerged out of

you going

e, I closed my eyes. "I will ensure that he n

bvious doubt,

know yet." "But I

minutes, and then I hung up and s

was silent. However, I couldn't get rid o

f my head. He had been staring at me wit

o

d arose, my resolve har

next morning. I made sure the vehicle doors wer

job when I got home, but my

when he stated I was in

tense as the ques

I needed answers by the ti

ht with my phone in hand as t

my hand before he left last night

e," he

tear the page to pieces and ac

eep down that I c

ly before dial

nswered, it

ivi

just listenin

talk," I s

said. "Wher

o meet him, but I couldn't

e was a restaurant on Mai

be t

phone when he hung up with

next day. I ordered a coffee I didn't plan to dr

stiffened as the door

me charging over, his prese

eat opposite from me

red, attempting

er for a minute, our tensi

n't have time for games." "

aned forward. "You're not

rned over. "G

ng flash in his eyes for the

red softly. Olivia, they'

s struck

discussing?" I raised

the restaurant. You've never been able to forget me

y?" With my pulse

but it was not visible.

ered before I could answer,

wed as he tensed.

" With a shaky v

his stance rigid. "There is no time