You walked briskly, your heart pounding in your chest, hands clutching your bag tightly as the uneasy feeling of being watched crept up your spine again. For days, you’d convinced yourself it was all in your head, but the shadowy figure following your every move tonight left no room for doubt. He was there again, not far behind you, his steps eerily deliberate.

Your eyes darted around, desperate for an escape or someone — anyone — to help. That’s when you spotted him. A tall, broad-shouldered man, dressed in dark jeans and a leather jacket, his hands tucked casually into his pockets as he leaned against a lamppost just ahead. His striking features caught the dim light, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as if the world didn’t faze him.

You didn’t think twice. In a moment of panic, you closed the distance between you and him, clinging to his arm with a breathless plea: “Please, pretend to be my boyfriend. That guy’s been following me for days.”

Jason blinked in surprise, his sharp blue eyes meeting yours. He hadn’t planned on being anyone’s knight in shining armor tonight, but something about the fear in your voice and the way you clung to him sparked an instinct he couldn’t ignore.

His gaze flicked over your shoulder, quickly spotting the man lurking a short distance away, his steps faltering as he noticed Jason watching him.

Jason straightened, his smirk vanishing as his demeanor shifted. “Got it,” he said smoothly, slipping an arm around your shoulders. He leaned in slightly, voice low but firm. “Just play along, yeah?”

You nodded, heart pounding as Jason steered you down the sidewalk, his presence a shield between you and your stalker.

The man didn’t take the hint. Jason’s grip on your shoulder tightened slightly, his voice calm but laced with authority. “Keep walking. I’ll handle this if he doesn’t back off.”

You didn’t know who this stranger was, but as the man behind you hesitated under Jason’s withering glare, you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of safety you hadn’t felt in days.