I Thought My Boyfriend Was the Killer, But I Was the Murderer

As soon as I had the prescription in hand, I went to pick up the medicine. Before I even left the hospital, I followed the doctor’s instructions and swallowed a pill.

My head hurt so damn much.

A faint sweetness spread across the tip of my tongue. I hadn’t expected the pill to be sweet, like candy.

After I took it, the pain eased a little, but I could still feel someone watching me.

Maybe the medicine just hadn’t fully kicked in yet, I told myself.

“Nora Trent, over here!” My best friend, Yara Flynn, spotted me from a distance and waved me over.

It was the weekend. My plan was to see the doctor first and then go out with Yara. She knew what I’d been going through lately and had been especially worried.

“So, what did the doctor say?” she asked as she handed me an ice cream. “Just bought it for you—strawberry, your favorite.”

I told her about all my previous diagnoses. When I finished, she finally let out a breath. “As long as you’re okay.”

“Yeah. Let’s get out of here and walk around for a bit.”

“By the way, where’s Harvey? I haven’t seen him in days.”

Harvey West is my boyfriend. He runs his own company, and it’s been on the rise lately.

“Him? He’s probably buried in work. We haven’t really talked much.”

“Why do you two sound like you barely know each other? Did you fight?” Yara’s gossip radar instantly lit up.

“No. It’s just that he barely has time to worry about me when he’s so busy worrying about his career.”

“So you’re lonely and bored, is what you’re saying.” Yara teased, her tone playful. “I’m telling you, you’re so on edge lately, it’s got to have something to do with him.”

“Let’s not talk about him today. Total mood killer.”

“Fine, fine. As long as you’re okay. Come on, let’s go catch a movie. I heard there’s a new one out that’s supposed to be really good.”

“Anything’s fine.” I scraped the last streak of strawberry sauce from the cup with my spoon and put it in my mouth.

“You’re eating way too fast, Nora,” Yara frowned. “Your stomach’s going to hurt later.”

“No way.” I said, and gave the spoon another slow lick, still wanting more.

I met him for the first time in the middle of a rainstorm.

That day, I’d had a huge fight with my ex-boyfriend and stormed out of the house.

I’d left in such a rush that I didn’t bring an umbrella. Hurt and furious, I ran alone through the streets, crying as I went.

I had no idea how long I ran before I finally collapsed onto a bench at a bus stop.

“Miss, in rain like this, why are you running around without an umbrella?”

A dark umbrella appeared over my head, along with a gentle, cultured voice.

I looked up toward the sound.

The heavy rain blurred my vision, but I could just make out a man in his late twenties or early thirties.

He was wearing a suit, and barely a drop of rain had touched him.

I didn’t want to talk. I just hugged my knees and curled up on the bench.

He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “I don’t know what’s going on with you,” he said softly, “but whatever it is, it’s not worth wrecking your health over. There’s a café nearby. How about we go sit down for a bit?”

His jacket was still warm from his body, and a faint trace of cologne slipped into my nose. Almost against my will, I nodded and followed him into the café.

He led the way, clearly familiar with the place, and brought me into a private booth. He ordered a coffee for me. “I figured a lady like you would enjoy this.”

“You guessed right,” I said, surprised. “What do you do for a living?”

“Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself.” He smiled. “I’m Harvey West, founder of MindMatch Inc. This is my card.”

With that, he handed me his business card.