Page 16 of Those That Don't Exist
I enter the bookstore, namedChapter 54, and scan the area I can see. It’s quite a large space, but once you get past the display tables you can’t see far into the rear of the store because of the high shelves of books.
I don’t spot him in the front section so head down the middle aisle whipping my head left and right checking each aisle. I reach the back wall to no avail so turn on my heels to walk back up the rows.
Maybe this is stupid. No doubt I’ll get tongue tied as soon as I see him, let alone trying to have a conversation. We’ve not even gotten up close on campus, would it be weird for me to feign recognising him?
I return to the front of the store, huffing a breath out my nose and frowning. Whilst nervous I truly did want to talk to him. Inmy head, he’s intellectual and interesting, not at all arrogant or over confident like my last dates had been.
I spot the stairs just as I’m about to give up and remember the second floor of the store. How had I forgotten that?
I reach the top and quickly check both passage ways, the second floor is once more filled with tall bookcases so I don’t have a clear view. I head straight along the wall of the store which runs perpendicular to the rows, looking down each one as I go. I’m nearing the end and nearly march straight past one where a woman is browsing but something snags my focus, halting me mid-step. He’s there, almost at the opposite end, heading away from me.
I change course, walking as quickly as I can whilst trying to keep my steps light, not wanting to draw attention to myself. The woman, as I reach her, squats to look at the bottom shelf so I have to slow down to pass. The guy has already disappeared around the corner but I hear footsteps to my right so I swing that way as I get to the end of the shelves.
This is ridiculous, I’m practically chasing the guy for god's sake. But I’m not one to give up. I inhale and the faintest scent of a cologne hits my nostrils, it’s like cinnamon and woodland. Is that his scent? Something inside me heats as I lock onto it.
I turn down another stack just in time to catch the swish of the guy’s coat tails crossing the aisle ahead. I speed up again.
A tiny thought sweeps through my mind, maybe he’s noticed this crazy chick chasing him and is running scared. I ignore it.
I turn again at the end, quickly realising we’ve made it back to the stairs.Shit. I should just give up. Deflated, I head back down to the main floor. This is madness. I’m stopping now.
But as my eyes find him outside, passing the large glass window I know I’m not giving up. The sun shines on his profile. He’s got a smile on his face, a dimple appearing on his stubbled cheek. His beauty is like a zap of electricity straight through mybody, so much so I stumble the last step on the stairs.Real fucking graceful Rory.
Despite myself I head straight to the door and turn to follow him once more. It’s like an instinctual pull, I need to meet him. I get as far as the entrance to the alley next to the bookstore when I hear my name.
“Rory? Where are you headed now?” It’s Claire. Her and Bree are heading across the walkway with more bags in hand, meaning they both ended up buying shoes.
“I was just…” My mind blanks out.
“Did you get the book?” Bree asks.
“Oh, Um…” I stumble. “No, they didn’t have it either. Shall we go get a drink?” I move the topic on quickly as I go to take my bags and coat from them.
“Yes, I’m starving. Let’s hit up that new southern place on the corner and get lunch,” Bree suggests.
Claire looks at me with raised eyebrows, she knows me well enough I fear she picks up that I just lied to her. I just smile back, hopefully reassuring her.
“Sure, let’s go. You can show me the shoes you bought,” I add, linking my arm through hers and tugging her along to catch up to Bree, who’s already a few steps ahead. As we move away from the shadow clad alley I swear the sound of a smooth chuckle fills my ears.
I don’t consider telling Bree and Claire the truth. I wasn’t sure why. We would normally chat about this stuff, about attractive people we saw, who we dated, wanted to date. They were my best friends and knew way too many intimate details about my sex life, as I did theirs. For some reason I just wanted to keep this guy to myself. He was mine.
I snort at the thought, but quickly cover it with a cough. This guy wasn’t anything to me, nor me to him. We’ve never spoken. I wasn’t even sure he’d noticed me. Not like I’d been noticing himanyway, or cataloguing every occurrence like some stalker. The most interaction we’ve had is one brief moment of eye contact at the gym.
Maybe I should just let it go. If we ran into each other great, if not I was still trying to catch up on work and you know… generally not fall apart. I was fully aware I still had issues from the accident. The slice across my chest as I thought of my dad was a very real reminder. I shouldn’t be looking to involve a guy in my messed-up life right now.
I lock all thoughts of tanned skin and piercing blue eyes away and enjoy the rest of my day with my two best friends.
CHAPTER 9
TY
“She’s got hunting instincts, and I’m fairly sure she felt the pull to me, to our kind.” The words feel like gravel in my mouth as they leave my tongue.
“Explain.”
Annoyance spreads over my body like goosebumps at Adicious’s curt response.
Gods damn him for grilling me on every little thing. If this was to be his future mate he should be the one putting in the damn work. Although the thought of him watching her like I do makes me want to growl. I have to try very hard to not huff as I offer up more information.
