Panic Attack

“Change, put on makeup,” he said. “You didn’t have to change just for me.”

Now she felt embarrassed, on the spot, and she said, “Actually I was in the middle of getting dressed when you rang and-”

“I’m just saying,” Xan said. “You’re the type of woman who doesn’t have to do anything. You look beautiful no matter what.”

She was aware that he was being inappropriately flirty, but in the state she was in- on the verge of divorce, with her self- esteem in the toilet- it was hard not to feel flattered.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” he asked.

Had he taken a step or two closer to her without her realizing? It seemed like he had.

“Um, sure,” she said.

“Are you attracted to me?”

“Excuse me?” She had an edge in her voice, wanting to let him know he’d crossed a very thick line.

“I’m not trying to offend you,” he said. “I’m just making an observation. I’m just an artist, that’s what I do- observe. I see the way you look at me, the way you were looking at me the other night, and the way you’re looking at me right now. I know what’s going on in your head.”

She was extremely uncomfortable and more than a little scared. This was not the same charming Xan from the other night. There was something creepy, even menacing, about him.

“I think you should wait for Marissa in the living room,” she said.

“I’m not trying to offend you, Dana.” He took another step toward her, but he was still a few feet away. He said, “I just think it’s, I don’t know, exciting.”

“I want you to wait in the living room,” Dana said firmly.

“Why’re you so nervous?” he asked.

“I’m not nervous,” she said, but she was trembling.

He took another step toward her and said, “Relax.”

She noticed that she couldn’t see one of his hands. It was behind his back; was he holding something?

An instant later he was grabbing her hard, turning her around, pushing her back facing the sink. She couldn’t believe this was actually happening to her. She felt his hands grabbing her ponytail, pulling on it hard. She might’ve said, Stop it; she wasn’t sure. She was dazed, shocked, too panicked to actually think the word “rape,” but she knew that was what was happening, was about to happen. She was expecting him to take down her jeans when he grunted loudly and she felt an enormous stu

nineteen

This had to be some kind of high point of Joh

Everything had been going perfectly, even better than Joh

Marissa left his place at around eleven thirty on Sunday morning. After two straight nights together, they were pla

About twenty minutes after Marissa left, Joh

The Blooms’ Merc and SUV weren’t in the driveway- a good sign. Joh

It was a good thing Joh

Shit, now what? The backyard had tall picket fences on all sides with no real place to hide, and Bloom’s car was going to turn into the driveway in maybe five seconds.

As a kid, Joh

His ass and lower back killed, but he was fine. More important, he’d managed to make it over the fence just in time, without Bloom seeing him.

What did see him was a German shepherd in the house next door to the Blooms. The stupid mutt was on its hind legs, clawing at the window, trying to break through the glass. Joh

Joh

Then Joh

Joh

“What? Where? I don’t see anything,” the woman said, but the dog was still barking insanely. Then the woman said, “Come on, just stop it… I said stop it right now.”