Page 31 of Midnight Kiss
He’d wanted more.
“Em? Are you listening to me?”
I sucked in a breath and looked up to find Jen at my desk. “Oh, Jen.” I laughed. “Sorry. I was somewhere else completely.”
“Are you still feeling sick? I was so bummed that you weren’t here yesterday.” My friend leaned on my desk with one palm, the other hand resting against her cheek as she considered me.
“I’m actually feeling a lot better today,” I said. “Maybe it was a one day bug.” I’d returned to my apartment after being with Alex and felt a thousand times better. Even the book hadn’t seemed as appealing to me as it had before I’d left. And my dreams had been filled with him instead of strange “clips” of other people’s lives.
It was silly to think of them like that, but that was what they seemed to be.
Jen reached over and touched the back of her hand to my forehead. “I hope so,” she said, “because the last thing I need is to take home the flu. Deshawn has just recovered.”
“Hey,” I said, “maybe that’s where I got it from.” I pointed a finger at her, narrowing one eye. “You infected me.”
Jen laughed. “I mean, maybe. I hope not. But I’d have it too, right?”
“Fair point.” I sighed.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I said. “Just I’m totally obsessed with a guy who—” The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I turned my head. Yet another weird thing that had been happening lately—I kept feeling like someone was watching me, even when I was literally with other people.
“What?” Jen turned as well, her dark forehead furrowing. “What is it?”
“Nothing. Just me being paranoid after the whole … getting mugged thing.”
“I can imagine that would set you on edge,” Jen said. “And that’s exactly why you can’t stay late at work. Not in this city. But come on, tell me about this dude.” She perched on my desk. “I have to live vicariously.”
I laughed. “He is … Well, he’s unreal.” And then I told her about Alex, how mysterious he was, how he had saved me, and most importantly, the kiss. I left out the parts about his past and how he’d finally opened up to me.
“Wow,” Jen murmured. “That sounds like something out of a movie. But he warned you off? That’s kind of a red flag, don’t you think?”
“I know,” I said.
But I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“The whole thing is a red flag. I can’t stop thinking about him, he can’t stop thinking about me, and when we’re together, I feel breathless. Like I’m always waiting for something to happen. It’s not like I’m waiting for something good either.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nervous anticipation. Like, ugh, like I don’t know if it’s good or bad.”
“Dangerous,” Jen said, tapping her finger on the desk. “But you only live once, Em. If you like the guy, go for it. Just don’t fall for a serial killer.”
I laughed again. “I’m not that crazy.”
“You’re not crazy at all,” she said. “You’re an angel. And you deserve someone who treats you like gold.”
“Aww.” I got up and gave her a hug. “You’re the sweetest.”
“I know.” Jen tipped one shoulder forward and gave me a million-watt smile. “But listen, work ends in like ten minutes, and I came over here to instruct you not to stay behind after hours. It’s not safe.”
Again, that prickle of awareness brushed down my spine, and I swore something moved behind me. “Right,” I said, trying not to react. “That’s probably a good idea. Going home, I mean.”
“Hell yeah,” Jen said. “It’s a Friday. By the way, call me if you want to hang out sometime this weekend. Deshawn has a slumber party, and I am all for some girl time if you’re into it.”
“Sounds like fun. I’ll text you!”