Page 8 of His Dark Vices

"Uh, no, I was talking to my Companion. Oh, you don't have one, sorry."

I feel stupid for pointing out the obvious and wave my hand in the air as if to erase what I've just said. I don't know what his financial situation is, and I didn't mean to bring attention to him not having a pricey gadget like this.

"Don't be sorry. You just stated a fact."

"Good thing you don't have one," I go on, unable to stop myself. "I hear lots of people get attached to them. They get into your life and make you dependent on them!" I laugh like I'm making a joke, but I'm dead serious.

I'm addicted to my Companion.

"Anyway, did you have a good jog?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"Are you nervous about something?" he asks directly with a grin.

His voice is deep and teasing, and his attention is pinned solely on me. It feels intense just chatting with him, but not scary. He's totally chill and at ease. Maybe I'm not used to this kind of attention. I'm used to watching guys play with their phones or look around when they're with me.

When he tilts his head curiously, I'm pulled back into the present moment. I cover my mouth and laugh, taking several steps back as I wave my hand again, this time trying to erase the image of me just staring at him.

"I'm not nervous! I just need coffee," I explain, still laughing at how stupid I must seem. Damn it, those negative feelings are coming back. How about I dive back into the trail and never come out of the park again?

"That makes two of us."

"I pass by a small restaurant around here, but I've never been. It's close enough to walk to, wanna try there?" I ask.

"Sure, I'm down. I haven't eaten around here much." He gestures for me to lead the way, and I fall into step beside him.

"We're going to the Brunchy Leaf. They apparently have good breakfast."

He makes a face at the name. "The Brunchy?—"

"Like 'crunchy leaf,' but they sell brunch-type food."

"That's bad."

"Yes."

To my relief, it's easy to keep up the small talk with Sam. As long as I'm staring straight ahead, anyway. He turns into just a nice guy to chat with instead of a hunk that I wronged and inconvenienced. And the closer we get to the Brunchy Leaf, the better I feel. My hand is poised to bust out my debit card and pay for his coffee.

Sure enough, the Brunchy Leaf turns out to be a restaurant that only serves breakfast and lunch. It wraps around the first-floor corner of a residential building and invites people in with its bright colors and food decals on the windows. There's pictures of typical lunch sandwiches, cups of soup, eggs and bacon, but then there's also?—

"Crepes!" I yell out excitedly outside the restaurant. I clap my hands together and jump in place. "Have you ever had crepes? They're my favorite breakfast food!"

Sam watches me without saying a word and simply shakes his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. "We're just here for coffee, right?"

"Yeah, well, a girl can look, right?" I grin at him.

Sam reaches for the front door and holds it open for me. I rush in, murmuring my thanks, and take in a deep breath of the breakfast food cooking. Honestly, I'd love to stay, but I do havebreakfast at home, and I don't want to keep him longer than necessary.

Besides, a guy like this just has to have girls flocking around him.

"Good morning!" a smiling waitress greets from our left. She has a couple of menus in hand and hovers near a tall brown stand near the door. "Can I show you to a table or a booth?"

"We'd just like a couple of coffees, if that's okay?" I ask, looking from the waitress to Sam.

"That's fine! You can sit at the counter, then."

She gestures toward a counter ahead of us that's lined with stools. Beyond it, there's a square opening showing the kitchen staff working on orders.

"Thank you," Sam says with a nod, and we both head over to pick out our seats. "So crepes, huh?" he asks once we're settled at the counter.

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