Rosalie walked out of the classroom, her nerves buzzing with irritation over Mr. Sullivan's behavior.
Why did he have to make such a big deal about me bumping into him?
Her thoughts spiraled as she replayed the events. She couldn't shake the way he'd looked at her when she first bumped into him, how his gaze had pierced through her when he walked into class, and the mocking tone when he'd commented on her nervousness.
Did he really have to make fun of me shuddering? Was there nothing better for him to do? Asshole.
Her heart raced, frustration seeping through her. She tried to calm herself, but her thoughts were scattered. It was the first time in a while she felt so furious.
Okay. Deep breath. He's probably just having a bad day. Yeah, maybe I just happened to be the one who got caught in the crossfire.
"Rosie, let's go," Tess's voice pulled her back from her thoughts. Tess gave her a playful nudge.
Rosalie forced a smile, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, yeah. Coming."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. By the time Rosalie said goodbye to Tess, she was already thinking of the birthday surprise she'd made for her mom.
As she walked towards the parking lot, she heard a voice call out to her.
"Miss Cassidy. Have a nice evening." It was Mr. Sullivan, again. He was standing by his car, parked just behind her bike. "You too, sir," she answered, turning her head to face him, her anxiety bubbling again. "And I'm really sorry about this morning..."
"Don't worry about it, Miss Cassidy," he said, a slight smile on his lips. His voice was smooth, but she couldn't shake the feeling he was looking at her like he was savoring her discomfort. "I should be the one apologizing. I wasn't watching where I was going."
Rosalie smiled weakly, trying to shake off the odd tension that lingered between them. "Great then... I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Mr. Sullivan."
Jack didn't move until Rosalie's figure vanished around the corner. His lips curled into a smirk as he slid into his car, his cock already half-hard from the sight of her. The way her dress had ridden up as she biked, flashing a glimpse of pale thigh, had nearly undone him. "First things first, baby girl," he murmured, starting the engine. "Let's see where you live."
He stayed far enough behind her, keeping a careful distance so she wouldn't notice. It wasn't until she stopped in front of a house that he allowed himself to breathe a little easier. This must be it.
He parked his car a couple houses down and pulled out his phone. He'd been watching her, studying every little movement she made, but now he needed to know everything.
Taking note of the address on his GPS, he quickly jotted it down in his notebook. As he scanned the area one last time, his gaze landed on the large sign hanging by the house across the street. His grin stretched across his face.
God, it's like everything leads me closer to you, love.
The sign read "FOR SALE" in bold red letters. Still grinning, Jack quickly typed in the number and prepared to make a call.
Inside, Rosalie kicked off her converse, the hardwood floor cool against her bare feet. Diego, bounded toward her, meowing with impatient affection. She crouched to scratch his ears, a genuine smile breaking through her tension. "Mom?" she called.
"In my room, honey!" Evelyn's voice was warm, tired. Rosalie climbed the stairs, her dress swishing against her legs, and gave her mom a quick hug. After changing into a loose tank top and soft cotton shorts-her bra discarded for comfort-she joined Evelyn for lunch. The rice-stuffed bell peppers were comforting, but the meal was quiet. Rosalie didn't mention Mr. Sullivan, and Evelyn had little to say about her hospital shift. The silence was heavy, but familiar.
After lunch, Rosalie washed the dishes while her mom got ready for her second shift at work. "Hey, mom, what time will you be home tonight?" Rosalie asked, wanting to know exactly when to have the surprise ready.
"About 12:30 a.m., sweetie. But don't wait up for me, okay? You have school tomorrow. I know you always stay up to wish me a happy birthday, but don't wear yourself out. We'll celebrate tomorrow since I have the day off."
Rosalie smiled, nodding. The thought of not staying up didn't even cross her mind. This year, she was baking the birthday cake for her mom, and she wanted it to be perfect.
With music blasting, Rosalie lost herself in baking. Her tank top clung to her skin as she moved, flour dusting her arms. By 9 p.m., the cake was chilling in the fridge, the kitchen spotless. She showered, the hot water soothing her aching muscles, then slipped into a fresh camisole and panties, the silk cool against her skin. Settling on the couch with Diego purring in her lap, she typed up recipe ideas for her blog, fighting the exhaustion tugging at her eyelids.
A creak from the fence gate jolted her upright. Heart racing, she grabbed the cake, lit the candles, and doused the lights, assuming it was Evelyn. She crouched in the dark, the flickering glow illuminating her face. When Evelyn walked in, her eyes softened. "Aww, baby, you didn't have to..."
"Surprise!" Rosalie grinned, standing to reveal the cake. Evelyn's hug was warm, her laughter filling the room. "It's your favorite-strawberry and vanilla.".
"Aww, you're too sweet, honey," Evelyn said, her eyes welling up a little as she embraced her daughter. "Thank you."
They spent the next few hours eating cake and laughing, reminiscing about their funniest memories. Rosalie told her mom about the blog and the places she dreamed of visiting. Evelyn, as always, supported her daughter's ambitions. For a moment, the world felt safe, warm, untouched by the darkness lurking not so far away.
Outside, Jack watched from the shadows, his breath ragged. He'd slipped closer, hidden by the overgrown shrubs, his eyes fixed on Rosalie through the window. The way her camisole hugged her curves, the way her thighs pressed together as she laughed-it was too much. His hand slipped into his pants, stroking his throbbing cock, pre-cum slicking his fingers. "Fuck, baby girl," he hissed, imagining her sprawled on that couch, her wrists bound, her panties torn away to reveal her tight, dripping pussy. He'd fuck her slow at first, savoring her whimpers, then hard, until her cries echoed through the house.
As Rosalie and Evelyn headed to bed, Jack lingered, his mind racing. She was so close, so vulnerable. The house across the street would be his soon-he'd make sure of it. Then he'd have her, whenever he wanted, however he wanted.
Rosalie collapsed into bed, her body heavy with exhaustion. She set her alarm, dreading the scant hours of sleep ahead.
Sleep tight, my little rose.
He returned to his apartment already counting down the minutes until he sees her again.