I’m about to ask her if we’ve crossed paths before when my phone rings, the display announcing that it’s Aly. “I’m really sorry,” I say, grabbing my phone. “But it’s my best friend, and she’s pregnant.”

“Oh, no worries.” The stir stick has left a chocolate mark on her lip, which for some reason bothers me more than it should, but since the call has just connected, I don’t mention that she needs to wipe it off.

“Hey,” I say. “Listen, I’ve got someone in the office with me. I just answered to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m totally fine. But I have a doctor’s appointment later today and Ben can’t drive me. Do you think you can?”

I glance toward Joanna, wondering how long she’s going to stay. And then realize it doesn’t matter. I can’t drive her without a car. More than that, I wouldn’t drive Aly even if my car wasn’t in the shop. What if my stalker decided to upshift the action? No way am I putting Aly and the baby in the stalker’s line of fire.

I’m about to tell her as much and suggest she call someone else, when the words catch in my throat as I notice her mole and realize where I’ve seen Joanna before—She’s the guest of the gray-haired man.

And while that might be a completely freakish coincidence, as far as I’m concerned, that means that she’s my stalker.

A woman. Why the hell had we never thought that the stalker was a woman?

I shove the question aside. Right now, that’s really not important. The bigger questions are what does she want right now? How am I going to get out of here? And how the hell do I get in touch with Riley?

For the last, at least, I have an idea.

“That’s so scary,” I tell Aly, who makes a confused sound on the other end of the line as I barrel on. “You need to call them right now and tell them to send you the right blade. Honestly, someone could get hurt.”

“What the hell?”

“I mean it,” I say in a no-nonsense voice. “Call and chew those bastards out right now. Make them send you a new blade immediately because that old one is just going to hurt someone.”

“I—Oh, shit. Right.” She hangs up, and I continue talking.

“Good, you do that. And yeah, I can come over later. We can have virgin piña coladas and watch bad movies. See you later. Okay. Bye.”

I hang up, certain that Joanna saw right through my ruse. But she’s just sipping her coffee and appearing completely bored.

What if I’m wrong?

What if I’ve got this all wrong and Aly’s calling Riley?