Showing them Harry’s camouflage, which I saved for last, has them enraptured. I use it to my advantage, feeding off of my audience’s energy. When my timer rings, I inform them that Gemmy will be taking them to the elephants next.
One by one, the room empties, until only two of us remain.
Bash smiles at me, then strolls casually towards me. As the distance diminishes, my nerves get the better of me. I play with my fingers, fidgeting to get the energy out.
Bash gently reaches out and pries my hands apart, holding each in his.
“Come on, angel. There’s no need to be nervous. It’s just me, your secret admirer.” His thumb, running over my palm, fights for my attention, but his words steal my breath.
“Hey, neighbor,” I say softly.
“Hey, Lizzy,” he answers in the same tone.
“What’re you doing here?” Wincing at my abrasiveness, I tack on, “I mean, I’m happy to see you. I’m just surprised.”
“I wanted to bring you lunch. Three days is far too long to go without seeing you.” He throws a hand over his heart to complete his dramatics. I laugh at him and his absurdity.
“Three days is nothing. Also, that’s not true. We ran together yesterday and the day before.”
“Semantics.” He rolls his eyes, then holds out an arm for me. “So, what do you say to lunch together? I said I’d work around your schedule, not that I’d avoid you.”
“Lunch sounds great. What are you in the mood for?” I ask as I take my cue, wrapping my arm around his as he leads me out.
“Whatever you suggest. This is your home turf.”
Somehow, he leads us in the direction of the café, my favorite restaurant at the zoo. I take over directing us, and we wind up in line.
I order my usual, and he does the same, commenting that I must know best, and that he trusts my taste.
Then, to no surprise, he pays for our lunches, then leads us to the swan pond, my favorite spot to eat. He must have incredible intuition, or he’s so similar to me that we have the same preferences.
As we eat, we talk about everything and nothing and all that’s in between. He explains his job at Syndicate Enterprise, helping me understand the depth of his intelligence. This man truly is a genius. It makes his compliments on my intellect even more weighty.
Somehow conversation turns to family, and I explain how I left home at twenty and haven’t looked back since. I keep it brief by diverting the attention to Tom and Betty. I let it slipthat they want to meet him, and he agrees to a Saturday dinner as long as I come to one of his family Sunday dinners.
He then goes into his family. He clearly loves them greatly, especially his nieces. All I can think is, bless his poor sister-in-law because triplets sound impossible.
It’s a perfect lunch date. Nothing could change that.
Until a shadow moves to my peripheral.
All the air leaves my lungs. My lunch churns in my stomach as horror and fear overwhelm me.
Because to our left, standing in the shadow of a tree, is a ghost.
He raises his hand with a smirk and waves at me.
The sound that leaves me is one of terror and disbelief. Chills break out over me even as sweat beads on my forehead.
“Lizzy, what’s wrong?” Bash asks roughly. His hand landing on my shoulder wakes me from my nightmare.
I turn to face him and deliberate what to tell him. It can’t be the truth. I have to take the truth to the grave with me. But I don’t want to lie.
“Lizzy, talk to me,” he begs.
“Sorry. I just… thought I saw someone I used to know.” I stumble over the words, but manage to get them out.
Bash whirls around to stare at the tree, jumping to his feet. But when I turn, no one’s there. Nor near it. I shake my head, sure that I imagined it.
