Page 101 of Hunters and Prey

The smell of the citrus bathroom soap wafted into her nose as she breathed in. “Dear God, I made a fool of myself. I just stood there!” Cailyn buried her face in her hands, smearing her glasses with oil from the palms of her hands.

Tessa paused the chewing of her croissant. She raised a brow. “What?”

Cailyn took her glasses off and wiped them with her shirt. Her shoulders slumped. She reached for her mocha latte and took a cautious sip.

“Nothing,” she said.

Tessa chuckled. “Okay. Whatever.” She leaned in, her eyes bright. “Did you see the new guitar player? Tattoos, a great voice, and killer hair.”

Nodding, Cailyn took another sip, letting the warm liquid soothe her nerves. She closed her eyes.

Guitar player.

He was a musician. That explained the music notes from the dream.

“And what a face,” Tessa continued.

“Listen to you. You sound like you’re ready to give it up to a stranger.” Cailyn said, forcing a smile even though her heart was racing.

“Everyone can’t get a catch like Asher Fox,” Tessa said. She scrunched up her nose. “And don’t act so high and mighty. You just lost yours this year.”

Cailyn drank more of her coffee.

“Shush, Tessa,” Cailyn kept her voice barely above a whisper. She didn’t need everyone in the coffee shop to know she was once a twenty-one-year-old virgin.

“So, he asked you to stay with him for a few days? Is that the beginning of moving in together? Spill the beans.”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” She didn’t want to reveal that he had asked her to move in yet. Tessa was a good friend, but a jealous one.

Tessa pursed her lips. “Oh. I see. That’s all you’re going to give me?”

“I can’t focus on that right now. There’s too much on my mind. But sure, it sounds nice. It will be a nice change.”

“Well good for you. I’m glad you guys are together. Even if you have less and less time for your best friend.”

Cailyn reached a hand across the table and placed it on Tessa’s. She smiled warmly. “You’re always going to be my best friend. No matter what. We will always be close.”

“Promise?”

Cailyn nodded.

“Good,” Tessa said. “Or else I’d have to move Wendy up to best friend…and she’s nowhere as cute as you are.”

Cailyn laughed. Her smile faded as she sat back in her chair.

She watched the musician leave the short hallway that led to the bathroom and enter the main room. He paused a moment and looked around the room. When he saw her, his eyes brightened, and he started to head their way.

Cailyn sat up straight, praying that she could keep calm and act as though everything was still normal. Tessa saw her expression and glanced over her shoulder.

“He’s coming,” she said.

“I know,” Cailyn said, barely moving her lips.

She watched him come to their table and pull a chair out for himself.

Cailyn’s face flushed as she watched him sit next to her.

Both girls were silent as he sat back and draped an arm around the back of his seat.

---