“Maybe,” I agree, but not one person comes to mind. It feels morbid to share those details with people who knew Corey and Emma. As I’m thinking about it, another idea comes to me. “Maybe I’ll go grab something to eat,” I say with a little more excitement.
“Oh, that’s a good idea! You haven’t been out of the house much.” Mom sounds way too thrilled about me going out on a Saturday evening.
I grab my keys off the counter while I’m still on the phone. “Yeah, I’m going to grab some Chick-fil-A.”
“That’s all the way… Never mind, just be safe.”
“I will.” I lock up the house then glance down the street toward Kate’s place, thinking about inviting her, but I decide not to bother. Her house is lit up like usual, but the front door is closed, as are all the curtains.
“I’ll text you,” I promise my mom, because I’m not planning on coming home until I know they are already here.
“Okay, I’ll let you know when Dad lands. See you soon. Be safe.”
“You already said that.” I smile as I close the door to my car and lock it.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s my job, I’m your mom.”
“Bye, Mom.” I exaggerate the words then hang up the phone. When I look back up at the house, I notice a shadow in my bedroom window. As I continue to stare at it, more details emerge. It’s not just a shadow, it’s the silhouette of a person. My mind is telling me it’s the same shape I’d seen at Corey’s house, but I fight against the thought, because that’s impossible. I was in the house alone.
I don’t know for certain, but something tells me it knows I’m looking at it, and it’s looking right back. I avert my eyes for just a minute, because my shaky hand can’t get the key in the ignition, and when I look back up, the outline is gone. I slam the car into reverse and back down the driveway faster than I should. A car driving down the street blares their horn, but I don’t slow down.
* * *
The restaurant is bright,a stark contrast to the night pressing against the windows. I check my phone again. I haven’t heard back from Mom, and this place closes in about half an hour.
My food is long gone, and the little I ate feels heavy in my stomach. My eyes lift to the door when a bell chimes. Not many people have been coming in, but the drive-through seems busy enough to keep all the workers distracted.
I avert my gaze from the guy that enters as soon as his eyes make a lap around the dining room. The glance I gave him was enough to know he’s stare worthy, with dark hair, a jaw that says he’s probably a few years older than me, and a black, long-sleeved shirt that’s fitted enough to show off his large solid frame.
I peek up when I see him mosey over to the counter and stare up at the menu board. There’s a swirl of black tattoo ink teasing the skin at the nape of his neck. Now that I’m free to look at him without him knowing, I notice his sleeves are pushed up his arms, showing off even more tattoos.
He twists to look over his shoulder, and his pale eyes land right on mine as if he could feel me looking at him. I drop my face, but not before my cheeks blaze with heat at getting caught.
I reach for my bag on the seat next to me, resigned to just driving around until my mom calls if it means I can avoid the certain embarrassment I just gawked my way into. He’s probably wondering why I’m sitting here all alone like a loser. Who the hell am I kidding? He’s not wondering about me at all.
“Mind if I sit with you?” His voice floats over me, and my hand freezes on my bag. I’m torn. Do I look up and acknowledge him? What if he’s talking to someone else? But there isn’t anyone else… Or do I admit I was just leaving?
I slowly turn my head and peer up at him, still undecided until I get a good look at his face. Good lord, he’s gorgeous, even more so up close. “Sure, I think they close soon,” I manage to mutter softly.
He places a little triangle with the number sixty-nine on the table and slides smoothly into the seat across from me. I watch his hands, noticing even more ink there, instead of staring at his face. There’s a beautiful moth on the back of his hand. I never thought a moth tattoo could be masculine, but this one sure is.
“Why is a creature as lovely as you sitting here all alone?” he muses.
I feel my eyes widen at what I think is a compliment, but I try to play it cool. “Just grabbing dinner.” I don’t want to tell him I’m hiding from the boogeyman.
He makes it a point to look at the empty table, then raises his brows at me. It’s hard to look directly at him. His icy blue eyes are so light they almost look white—he must be wearing contacts—but I don’t want to seem rude either, so I force myself to meet his stare. “I just got done.” The lie slips off my lips, and I swear his eyes narrow as if he knows I’m not telling the truth.
“Here you are.” An older woman sets a red tray on the table and gives us both a wide smile. “I’m glad he finally made it. I was worried about you sitting here alone. Be more punctual next time, young man.” She takes turns speaking to each of us. My mouth opens, but I don’t know how to tell her I wasn’t waiting for him. It seems dismissive and rude, but maybe pretending I was and letting him get in trouble for being late is worse.
“How about I promise not to let her out of my sight again?” he offers with a smirk that makes me feel all kinds of ways.
“As you should. Young ladies need an escort, this world is a crazy place.” She shakes her head in a sad, motherly way.
“I’ll be her shadow,” he agrees. His words stir something inside me, and a slight shiver of fear resonates through me, but I shove it down. It’s just a phrase, and he’s indulging this woman so she’ll leave him alone.
“That’s nice.” She smiles softly at him. “Now eat up, because we close soon, and Brenda wants to get home to her family.” She makes her words seem kind and like a lecture at the same time.
“You heard her,” he says and shoves a drink cup at me. When I look at the tray, I notice there’s another cup there. Normally I wouldn’t accept a drink from someone I don’t know, but it came directly from the staff, so I take it from him. It’s not like he could have put something in it, but it leaves me wondering why he bought two in the first place.
