Page 7 of Where There's A Will
The rest of the meeting passed without incident and I escaped. Despite my initial thought of wearing the shirt out that night, the collar felt restrictive around my neck after Mitch’s veiled threats. Thankfully, there was time for me to go home and change before meeting up with Roman.
Back at my apartment building, I’d barely hit the button for my floor and the doors had started closing when they suddenly jerked open again.
She walked in.
Time stood still and I swore I held my breath as she looked through me.
The breakup had been good for her. She looked a lot calmer than I’d seen in a long time. See, while she never paid attention to me, all wrapped up in her own world, I’d been admiring her from afar these past few weeks. Not in a crazy-stalker kind of way, although I know that’s how it sounds.
For some reason, today felt different. Maybe it was because I’d planned to go out that evening and my mindset was already in ‘dating’ mode. Or maybe, even though she had no idea who I was, she felt like an old friend to me. One I’d never actually spoken to at length except for that night at the bar. Oh, and the imaginary conversations in my head.
Nope, definitely not a crazy stalker. Honest.
Today, I greeted her as if we spoke every day. “Hullo,” I murmured.
She glanced up at me, confusion giving way to a smile. “Hello,” she replied. Her cheeks flushed and I spotted a spark of recognition sparkling in her blue eyes. She glanced at the buttons and realised we were going to the same floor, her fingers hovering over the button I’d already pressed.
“You live here, don’t you?” she asked, her head tilting and her long, chocolate-coloured hair sliding over her shoulder.
“Yes, we’re neighbours. You never noticed?” I smirked. This was the first time we had ever been alone in an elevator together in the whole time I’d lived there.
Her eyes narrowed, as if trying to place where else she might have seen me. I sort of hoped she remembered me from the restaurant—the guy who had served her free shots when she found out her boyfriend was cheating on her. Actually, scrub that, I didn’t want her memories of me to be associated with him.
For once, I felt like I might actually have an in. She seemed slightly mesmerised and I wasn’t sure why.
Shit.
Maybe she had remembered where else she’d seen me.
Or was the intensity of my interest that obvious in my face?Crazy-stalker alert!
Perhaps she was undressing me with her eyes?Come on, Will, who are you kidding?
I chuckled quietly, and she moved to stand beside me as we both stared at the doors.
“I’m sorry, I never noticed,” she said quietly. “I’ve been busy.”
Hmm, I wasn’t sure what to say in response. If I said too much, she’d figure out where else she’d seen me before and I actually would seem like a stalker. When really, all I’d been doing was my job while her boyfriend was doing the hostess.
The doors slid open and we stepped out into the hallway. I wanted to prolong the conversation, and hovered awkwardly.
“You seem busy,” I said at last, going for the safe option.
And she did. She was always rushing around somewhere.
“Do you ever just sit and relax?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I don’t know why I asked her that, or what I hoped to accomplish.
She shook her head. “Too much to do. Too many goals to attain.”
“Too many hearts to break?” I teased.
Ugh. I wish I hadn’t said anything. This isn’t going well. She’s going to think I’m a total and complete idiot.
She pursed her lips, but didn’t walk away. I took that as a small win.
“In England, I bet they’d say you were cheeky.”
There was a long exhale of breath. “Are you from London?” Her brows peaked.
