He chuckles. “I hear you. When I first moved to Bliss, I couldn’t get over how many businesses had the word bliss wedged into them. Blissful Brews. Breakfast Bliss.”
“Burger Bliss,” I add. “Blissful Sleep Motel.”
Alec shakes his head. “Never stay there. Not that you’d have to, having a house and all. But if anyone is coming to visit… I would tell them to stay someplace else.”
“I wouldn’t. It looks kind of creepy. Like the set of a horror movie, or something.”
He nods. “I can see that.”
A crisp breeze picks up, swirling around my legs and seeping through my jeans. I shiver.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a coat to lend you,” Alec adds. “I think I’m still in thepretending it’s summerstage, rather than accepting it’s actually fall.”
“Me too. That’s why I’m only wearing a sweatshirt instead of something warmer.”
“So your game.” Alec moves to my right side, so he’s between me and the road. A hint of his scent wafts towards me: an earthy blend of cinnamon and sandalwood and amber. “Do you play often? Are you in one of those guilds where you take dozens of people deep into a dungeon to kill a boss NPC?”
I look at him in surprise. “Youdoknow about the games.”
“Gage and Knox play,” he explains. “You’ve met them at the bar. They talk about it sometimes, so I’ve picked up bits and pieces from them.”
“It’s pretty fun. My friend Jess and I are in a guild. But it’s not a hardcore raiding one. Most of the time we just go around exploring zones and questing insmall groups. She just convinced her husband, Kane, to play, too. So sometimes he joins us.”
“That’s nice.” There’s an odd note to his tone. Not dismissive, like some people sound when I talk aboutTenebris Veilto them, but almost… wistful. A moment later, his voice is back to normal again, as he points up ahead and asks, “Is that your car?”
I’m a little surprised he knows which car is mine. But then again, it’s a small town. And it’s not like there are a bunch of other cars to choose from. On the narrow side street running perpendicular to the main street cutting through downtown, my car is one of only three parked on it. The other two are a giant SUV that could easily seat eight people and an enormous pickup I’d need a stepstool to get into. And then, mine, the practical Subaru hatchback I bought when I moved here from Boston.
“Yup, that’s mine.” As we head towards it, a pang of disappointment spears through me. For all my protests, I’ve been enjoying our time together. And now that it’s almost over, a wistful part of me wishes it didn’t have to end.
Alec walks me over to the car and waits while I unlock it. Then he opens the door and stands off to the side while I slide into the driver’s seat. “Thanks for walking with me,” I say. “I’m sorry Frank pushed you into leaving the Stew Fest to do it, though.”
“He didn’t push me. I wanted to.” Alec shifts his giant container of soup to his other hand. “Like Isaid, I only came because my friends were bugging me to go out. I saw them already, so I’m good.”
Before I can reply, Alec asks, “You live outside of town, right? Out towards Morrisville?”
Small towns. People knoweverything.
Even in the dark, I spot a telltale flush spread across Alec’s cheeks. “I’m not stalking you,” he adds quickly. “Nothing like that. Winter mentioned it one time. That’s all.”
Winter is married to Enzo, one of Alec’s good friends and another member of Green Mountain Guardians. I’ve had plenty of conversations with her, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I mentioned where I live at some point.
“It’s fine.” I make a smallit’s nothinggesture. “I do. Just off Northern Valley Road.”
“I’m out that way, too,” he says. “Off Route 5 past the overlook.” After a beat, he adds, “Be careful this weekend. If the snow hits. It gets icy out that way.”
Warmth unfurls inside me, heating my chest.
Yes, I know he’s just being polite. But still, it’s nice.
“I will.” Before I can talk myself out of it, I grasp his forearm and give it a quick squeeze. “You too.”
He smiles at me as I close the door. “Be safe, Hazel. Enjoy your game tonight. Kill a couple of bad guys for me.”
As I head home, our conversation plays on repeatin my head. Though I know I shouldn’t, I keep dissecting it; studying each tiny detail.
His smile when he first saw me.
The way he seemed more interested in talking to me than in the soup.
