“Sam?” Natalie was trying to make four cones at once.
“Sorry.”
I’d started helping when she nudged me. “Not giving up on him, huh?”
I peeked at him again. His sole focus was on the chocolatey goodness. “Nah, not my style.”
She snorted, and we fixed cones until our fingers ached. It was a perfect Hallows Eve, and at one point I looked at Lukas. His cup was empty and he was staring out the window, not rushing off like he usually did after he finished eating.
Yeah, I wasn’t giving up on the moody man.
I had every intention of going over to him and talking some more, but it was such a busy night that I never got the opportunity. When there was a lull, I noticed he was gone. I didn’t let it get me down. I cleaned everything up and helped Natalie close the store.
That night as I lay in bed, I thought about the man with purple eyes. I’d researched and found it was extremely rare; less than one percent of people had violet-colored eyes. So it made sense that Lukas would. He was unique, and it suited him.
I chuckled to myself, thinking about how he always showed up in a suit—or like tonight, in a red sweater, black slacks, and a dark button-down under the sweater. He was fancy and proper and while completely out of my league, a guy could dream.
I wasn’t sure if he was gay, bi, straight, pan. Honestly, with his hatred for people, maybe he was averse to any sort of orientation. He could be ace or aro, but he didn’t really even like talking to anyone. He was a gorgeous enigma.
Bubbles jumped on the bed and snuggled close to me. “Do you think I’m crazy, wanting to connect with this guy?”
She simply blinked at me, yawned, and closed her eyes.
“Ben thinks it’s because he’s new to town, and eventually I’ll get over it. And sure, he is new, and we haven’t had anyone new move here in like five years, but I never felt the need to know everything about any of the other people like this, ya know?”
Bubbles didn’t say anything. She didn’t react at all, actually, so I just gently caressed her head and spine, listening to her purrs.
“There’s something about him, Bubbles. Trust me, if you saw him, you’d climb him like a cat tree and knead him like you’ve never kneaded in your furry life.”
She huffed, and I snickered. “He’s a mystery and an adventure, Bubs. Two things on my bucket list. Hell, maybe even a whirlwind romance; that’s on my list too.”
I rolled my eyes at my own words. He didn’t want to be my friend, let alone go out with me. He had a story, I knew it, and I was absolutely going to figure it out. I was almost too giddy to fall asleep with the thought running in my head but eventually I must have, because suddenly the sun was creeping through my window and kissing my face.
I blinked and practically jumped out of bed. Determination was on my side, and I had to think up something amazing beforeLukas came back to shore. Something that would get him to want to actually hang out with me.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror in my bathroom. “You can do this, Sammy boy.” My dad had always said that to me. In my toughest times, when I’d been so sick I wanted to give up, his words had given me strength. I could practically hear his voice.
“Damn right, I got this!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lukas
From the windowin my grand room, I’d watched all the activity across the water on Halloween. Children bouncing about dressed as bees, cats, and whatever new character was trending. Laughter rang in the air, more Happy Halloweens than my dead heart could handle. I’d grunted and shut the curtains.
For two weeks I’d remained ensconced in my home, and while I longed for ice cream, it was something else that had me boating to shore the second week of November. Winston couldn’t even do it for me, unfortunately. I had to attend some asinine event in New York next month and because idiots were in charge of my luggage, the garment bag that had the three tuxedos I owned was missing.
While my sizes never altered, I was incapable of not looking at the fabric, feeling it, making sure it didn’t irritate. So, I made an appointment at a suit shop that doubled as a tailor…the only one in this town. A little old Italian couple owned it and was thrilled to have me come by, and that also meant the gossip trainhad reached every station, and everyone knew I was going to be there.
Aldo and Vittoria Abbadelli’s shop was about ten minutes from shore. I had time, so I chose to walk. Of course I could’ve simply used my super speed to get there, but with so many eyes on me, it would be hard to explain how I was there one minute and gone the next.
“Lukas!”
Fuck my existence. If I didn’t turn around, I could pretend I didn’t hear him.
“Lukas, hey.”
I should have used my vampire speed.
