Page 10 of Midnight Whispers
“There’s a Halloween party at the historical society this upcoming week.”
“You would like to go?”
“Yes.”
“Then we shall go. Now if you’ll excuse me…” I nod. He stands, letting the blanket fall, and leaves me alone in the living room.
I know sooner or later I will have to tell him everything, about how this mortal calls to my soul, but right now isn’t the time. I’ve only left her a short time ago, but even a second feels too long. Against my better judgment, I decide to leave the manor and go back to her cottage.
Even though I want to, I don’t enter her home. I maintain my distance and watch her movements from outside of the walls that keep her safe once she gets inside.
Safe from me and whatever other dangers lurk within the shadows.
The lights turn on and off as she enters and leaves rooms, settling on one of the rooms in the back of the house. She chooses a floor lamp rather than the main light; when I realize she’s reading, I assume it’s for ambiance. My girl wraps herself up in a blanket and gets comfortable on a reading chair.
What I wouldn’t give to be the blanket that keeps her warm tonight.
5
I getto the coffee shop during the lunch time rush. Sophi, one of my employees, usually does a wonderful job at handling everything herself, but even she became quickly overwhelmed by the business in the shop today. Immediately, I get behind the counter and begin taking orders while she makes everyone’s drinks and hands out pastries. There were at least a dozen separate people in line when I got here. Even though we lack the convenience of a drive through, people prefer our coffee over that of our competitor and days like this are proof.
It is over an hour of customers coming in steadily, but eventually the rush dies down and we can finally breathe again. My body decompresses after the last customer is given their iced vanilla latte and banana nut muffin.
“I willnotbe disappointed if I don’t have to serve another latte the rest of the day,” I laugh, resting my lower back against the counter.
“Seriously. Why were wesobusy today?” Sophi laughs. “Thanks for coming in, boss. I know it was your day off. Youreally saved my ass.” She begins to clean the coffee spills off the front counter.
“I really should hire at least one more person to come in on the weekend afternoons. Why don't you go ahead and take a breather, Soph? Make yourself a coffee and have a snack. I know rushes can be so mentally draining. I’ll handle everything for a bit.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” She laughs and heads to the back room.
I restock the pastries and any syrups we are low on to avoid running out in the event we get another rush. As I tidy up, a chill creeps up my spine, settling at the base of my skull. An eerie feeling of being watched washes over me; every nerve in my body goes into high alert almost as if to warn me of some kind of unseen danger.
Shaking my head, I try to brush off this irrational feeling and begin to clean off tables and pick up trash within the dining area. There are currently only three people in the shop; a couple making googly eyes at one another and a man I’ve never seen before sitting in the further corner of the room. His back is facing the register, and I can’t see his face, but I find myself being pulled in his direction.
I go and grab the pot of freshly brewed coffee from behind the counter to refill his mug, hoping to introduce myself. Quickly, I look at myself in the reflection of one of the glass cabinet doors, fixing my hair with no explanation as to why there's suddenly the urge to do so. The bell to the front door dings and breaks my concentration.
“Hey loser,” my best friend says as she comes up to the counter.
“One second, Flo. Let me go and refill this guy's mug,” I reply with wide eyes.
She follows my gaze in his direction and turns back to mewith an exaggeratingly large open mouth. “The back of that man's head ishot.”
I cover my mouth to hide my incoming giggle, but she’s right. His hair is dark, almost black, disheveled and incrediblysexy. How could I be so attracted to someone based on the back of their head?
“I’ll be so quick though,” Flora continues. “There’s a Halloween party tonight.” She looks at me with pleading eyes.
“Okay… and?” My response was quick and slightly irritated.
“Let’s go, bitch! It's at the historical society and adults only! We can drink and get our freak on.” She begins to dance, wiggling her chest in the most dramatic way possible.
“If I say yes, will you get out of the way?” I look over her shoulder.
“Yes.” A devilish smile forms on her face, and she taps the tips of her fingers together in a mischievous manner.
“Fine. We can go.”
As if he was waiting for confirmation about my attendance at the party, as soon as I said I would go, he got up and left. Disappointment fills my chest, followed by confusion as to why I was feeling disappointed.