Page 11 of Restless Obsession

“Cool.” She nodded, her head tilted. “Have we met before?” she asked, and I cleared my throat.

She knew me.

She might not have seen me before, but she knew me better than almost anyone in my family. And that included my brothers.

“I—“

“I’m sorry. I probably sound like a weirdo,” she cut me off.

“If you’re a weirdo, you’re a cute one.” The words slipped past my lips way too easily and quickly to stop them. Thankfully, they didn’t make me sound like a creep. Or I assumed I didn’t since she blushed adorably.

“It’s just… you just sound so familiar.”

“Weird.” I shrugged, then a poster on the building community board caught my attention “You doing that?” I asked, pointing towards the flyer.

She turned, and with her attention on the flyer, I took advantage and took in the sight of her. She was wearing black knitted tights with a short brown corduroy skirt and an olive-green top with an almost rust-orange scarf around her neck. I wasn’t sure where she was going, but she looked like she was pumpkin patch ready.

“Trick or treating? Of course! You?”

“Maybe,” I muttered.

“You should,” she coaxed. “We get quite a few kids. And there’s a door decorating contest management hosts. It’s fun.”

“I’ll think about it,” I murmured then stared at her. “You look nice. Off to anywhere fun?” I asked, probably prying a little too much.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened, and then I lost sight of them as she looked down at herself before lifting her gaze to me. “Thanks. I’m just headed to the bookstore. I think I’ve seen you there, too.”

“It’s a great place. Mind some company?” I asked, because I was obviously a goddamn masochist when it came to Lucy.

“You wanna go to the bookstore with me?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah. It’s a nice rainy day. A good book feels…” Fuck, I was at a loss for words.

“Right?” she asked, and I just nodded. Lucy rewarded me with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“I just have to change. I mean, if you don’t mind waiting for me? Ten minutes tops. I’ll treat you to coffee or an apple cider if you wait for me.”

“Really?” She smiled, tilting her head slightly, making her strawberry-blonde waves shift.

“If you don’t mind the company.” I shrugged.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

I was the man she spoke to online, over the phone. Not the one she knew in the real world. This was outside my plan for Halloween, and I was probably fucking everything up, but there was something about the way she watched me. The way her blue eyes lit up and sparkled with excitement that made it too fucking impossible to take back the offer.

“Sure.” She grinned. “I’d love that. I’ll go get a sweater while you get ready. I didn’t realize how chilly it was.”

“Sweet. Come on.” I had no idea what came over me, but my hand found hers, and I led her to the elevator. If she minded holding my hand or being near my somewhat sweat-dampened body, she didn’t say a peep.

We made small talk about the weather and jogging on the way up to our floor. She talked about Halloween and how it was one of her favorite holidays. I acted like it was all news to me, like I didn’t know everything there was to know about her. I walked her to her apartment, and I hurried like hell to shower and get dressed.

I found myself wearing an olive-green and cream plaid flannel I paired with an old pair of deep brown canvas pants. Last minute, I added a denim jacket lined with sherpa in case she got cold later. The outfit I’d picked for our impromptu bookstore date would make it look like we were matching. Like a real-life couple out in the world. And I loved it.

She would look like she belonged to me and I to her.

Just like it should be.

I was back at her place in eight minutes, hair still damp and messy, but I didn’t care. I was too excited to overthink. She opened the door, and I immediately noticed she’d added a cream-colored knitted cardigan, and the smile she gave me almost knocked me on my ass.