Page 60 of Jacob

You look so pretty today.

I am obsessed with your work.

I am your biggest fan!

I naturally assumed Jules was a woman. Then I invited him for coffee.

What a fool you are, Skye.

My only saving grace is that we are in a public place and he seems okay. Nervous. But okay.

Placing my phone back on the table, I try to shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me.

“I got you a bun,” Jules says as he reappears and lifts the plated sweet treat off the tray and passes me it, then places his hot tea and cake down.

“I am starving.” I lick my lips. “Thank you so much.”

He waddles over to the service area, disposes of the tray, and sits himself back down at our table.

“So…” I wait a couple of seconds, not really knowing what to say.

I tug my skirt down, suddenly aware I’m sitting opposite a strange man. “So you would like me to talk at your creative arts group? Can you tell me more about it?” I start.

Jules dives straight into enthusiastic mode when he explains more.

He seems nice enough, although, on closer inspection, he could do with scrubbing under his filthy fingernails. Clearly, he’s been painting today. His crumpled shirt is missing a couple of buttons, too.

Jules is a little eccentric, to say the least, with his clashing-colored clothing, paisley patterned bow tie, and unbrushed nest of hair.

He looks like a typical fine artist, choosing to buy tubes of paint over clothes. I know what one of them looks like; I spent enough time with them at art college.

Alerting me to a notification, my smart watch vibrates on my wrist.

Jacob

Who’s the dude?

Subtly twisting my head to the side, there he is, five tables over, watching me like a hungry lion waiting to pounce on his prey.

I lift my phone from the table, nodding and smiling at Jules as he continues to chatter away.

He pauses for a moment, watching me as I look at my phone. “I’m just going to check my schedule to see when I’m available for the group,” I lie, pulling up my text message app instead.

Me

It’s Jules.

He takes no time to reply. Three texts fly in back to back.

Jacob

I thought he was a she????!!!!! WTF, Skye?

Jacob

Do you feel safe?

I almost burst out laughing at his texting meltdown.

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