Since Mom died, I developed a sixth sense for this kind of thing. Her death was tragic, and it reminded me that there are bad people out here, only waiting for the right opportunity to do something evil. When you’re related to a man like my father with dangerous friends and business partners, you can’t afford to walk through life assuming that you’re safe.
Mom’s tragic death proved that point perfectly.
I quicken my steps and I’m almost at my car when I feel something. The hair on my arms stands up, my skin prickling with awareness.
There’s a shift in the air. A change in frequency.
Shit!
I whip around, and carefully scan my surroundings. The shadows between parked cars seem darker, creating perfect hiding spots. Still empty. Except I know it’s not.
You are not alone.
My pulse spikes. The distance to my car suddenly feels endless, each step echoing louder than it should in the empty lot. Could it be Nikolai again, stalking me like before? A part of me wishes that to be the case. But it could also be somebody else.
Nikolai looked tense a few weeks ago before we took off one another’s clothes, like something was bothering him. Something more pressing than me snooping around. I don’t think he was intruding on my personal space with intentions of having sex with me. Something else is going on, I fear. Something that will lead to more questions, like Nikolai said.
I jump in my car, slam the door and lock myself inside, just in case. Slamming my foot on the gas, I drive away, glimpsing in the rearview mirror to check the area one final time.
Wide shadows elongate on the pavement, turning more of the parking lot into shade. I might not be able to see anyone, but that doesn’t mean nobody is there.
I drive away, but the unease continues to linger in my heart.
***
Knock, knock!
Even though I know it’s just Sophia, my stomach twists. The anxiety from earlier hasn’t completely worn off.
I walk over to the door and let her in, finding myself taking a sharp inhale of breath for some reason.
“Lau! Oh my God, girl!” Sophia flings her arms around me. “I’ve missed you, babe!” She removes her arms and stares atme. Normally she invites herself in, but today she stands in the doorway. “You’re tense. Everything okay?”
I close the door and pull her into the living room. “Come, take a seat. You don’t want to be standing for this.”
“Oh?” A shadow crosses her face. She sits down. “What happened?”
I exhale. Short and direct.
“I slept with Nikolai.”
Her eyes widen. The surprised expression from earlier is instantly replaced by a knowing grin. “I knew it.”
What the hell?
Was it that obvious?
I open my hands in question. “Why are you smiling? You’re not supposed to be smiling. This is a serious situation. Very serious. I don’t think you know just how—”
“Relax, it’s okay.” There’s something soothing about Sophia’s voice. She could enact world peace with that voice if she wanted. “I knew it was only going to be a matter of time.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Lauren.It was so obvious. The way he looked at you at the wedding. The way you looked at him.”
She thinks it’s the start of some cringy love story.
Time to drop the bomb.
