Page 84 of Shadowed Whispers

“Caught on to that.” I cross my arms. “You can’t be back here.”

“I can.”

Andy walks through the door, looking at me then Matteo.

I speak before she can kick him out. “Andy, I’m sorry, but he?—”

“Is your new bodyguard,” she finishes.

“I’m sorry, I’m going to need you to repeat that.” I’m not sure I can hide the shock on my face, even if I wanted to.

“No more incidents,” Andy glares at me. “My sister had to write me up for your shenanigans.”

“You support my shenanigans,” I reply, perhaps whining a little.

“And I will always support your shenanigans. That is why Matteo here will carry anyone being a dick out to the road where you can complete your shenanigans without me getting a violation.”

Tori’s laughter cuts through my surprise, bringing me back to the present moment. Her cheeks are flushed from the alcohol, but her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Hey, speaking of shenanigans, are you coming to the lunar eclipse party here on the winter solstice?” she asks, waving her now empty glass in the air as if to emphasize the occasion.

“The lunar eclipse party?” I repeat, the notion temporarily pushing the absurdity of having a bodyguard to the back of my mind.

“Yeah, it’s going to be epic,” Tori slurs, her enthusiasm undamped by her tipsiness. “Everyone’s coming. Well, everyone except Chloe and Amanda,” she adds, her tone dipping into seriousness for just a moment before she brightens again. “It’s the perfect time to let loose, and with Matteo here, no one’s going to mess with you.”

I glance at Matteo, who offers a smile, his presence oddly reassuring despite the bizarre circumstances. “Sounds like it could be fun,” I concede, trying to match Tori’s enthusiasm.

“Great! It’s a date then. Not like a date date, but you know what I mean.” Tori winks, her earlier reservations seemingly washed away by the promise of future fun.

As the night progresses, the bar begins to empty, leaving me to close up with Matteo silently shadowing my movements. He moves with a quiet efficiency, watching over me with a keen eye. Every now and then, his gaze meets mine, and each time, I’m struck by the intensity there. It’s as if he sees right through the facade I put up for the rest of the world.

“So a bodyguard, huh?” I venture, breaking the silence between us as I wipe down the counter for the last time. Tori left with her mom not too long ago.

“Looks like it,” Matteo responds, his voice low and smooth, a hint of amusement lacing his words.

“And you’re okay with that?” I ask, genuinely curious about how one ends up in such a role.

Matteo shrugs, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “It isn’t just about guarding your body,” he says, stepping closer. “It’s about ensuring you’re safe, and that’s something I’m very good at.”

The air between us crackles with unspoken tension as he leans in, his face inches from mine. “Besides, watching you isn’t exactly a hardship.”

I blush, his forwardness both alarming and appealing. “Well, I guess it’s good to have someone watching my back,” I reply, boldly meeting his gaze.

“That’s the idea,” he confirms, straightening up as he glances around the now quiet bar. “And I’ll be at the eclipse party too. You know, just to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“That’s reassuring,” I reply, the idea of the upcoming party suddenly seeming a lot more exciting with the promise of Matteo’s presence. His protective demeanor and unexpected charm adds an intriguing layer to the evening’s prospects.

“Now, let’s get back to the dorms,” he says, his voice dropping a notch, hinting at something more—an unspoken invitation or perhaps a warning? It’s hard to tell, but it makes my heart skip a beat.

“How exactly did you get here?” I cross my arms and cock out a hip.

“Got a ride,” he replies casually, standing close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. I’m surprised to discover that his size doesn’t bother me at all. Instead, it feels... reassuring, like having a personal fortress against the world.

“Oh, you two!” Andy calls from the front, her voice slicing through the thick tension around us. “I’ll lock up behind you.”

Matteo smirks, a playful yet mischievous expression that seems to light up his eyes. He leans down to whisper in my ear, his breath warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. “I’m looking forward to the eclipse party,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. “It’ll be interesting to see you outside of this... bar environment.”

His words linger in the air, thick with implication. As we step outside, the cool night air provides a stark contrast to the warmth of his proximity. The street is dimly lit, the lampposts casting shadows on the pavement.

We walk in silence for a few moments, the only sounds the rhythmic tapping of our shoes against the sidewalk. The night feels alive, charged with an electric tension that seems to pull tighter with each step we take.

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