Page 19 of Capturing Ava
“A job like this?”
“He prefers tracking people. I can’t believe you’d do this, Ava. He came a long way just to help you and—.”
“Well, he wouldn’t take the mask off.” I repeat. She shakes her head at me. “We don’t need him, anyway.” I sigh.
“Oh?” She gives me that sly smirk. “What about your stalker?”
“Well—.” I’m stumped. She was right. What about my stalker? I had just sent away the only person who didn’t question my sanity with the shadowy figure who wouldn’t leave me alone. And why? Because he had worn a mask. Stupid, stupid Ava.
“Ava, I can call him—.” She looks at me with pity, and that’s a look I don’t want to see. After all the experiences I had encountered in my life, I had never received that expression from Audrey, and I wasn’t beginning to receive it now.
“No,” I hold my hands up. “I will not let some creep rule my life. I also don’t need a creepy dude in a mask watching me.”
“Ava—.”
“What time are we going out?” I ask her because I’ve had enough of her pitiful looks.
“You still want to go out?” Her mouth gapes open and she looks at me like I’m the one who’s lost the plot.
“Why wouldn’t I,” I smirk. Once again, I’m pitied. “We are going. We are going to have a damn good time, so stop looking at me like I’m made of glass and could break at any moment.”
“Okay, we will go out.” She smiles like I’ve convinced her.
Upon enteringTHE BOOK CLUB, the atmosphere appeared spacious. This was my favourite hangout spot to wind down. There was no chance of bumping into anyone you knew at the book club, making it a secluded spot. It was a hidden gem. Where else could you chat, dance, and read books on a night out? It was my favourite place in New York. I only came here when I came to the city.
The dim lighting set a romantic and ambient atmosphere. The bars were stretched out into the far corners, winding around the room, but it was what was upstairs when you walked up the midnight winding staircase that was the true treasure. Rows upon rows of books filled this little hideaway in oak bookshelves with little twinkling lights leading the way.
Step by step, I make my way up the winding staircase, finally finding relaxation. Everyone should have a place where they have a sense of security. It used to be my home, but now, that is not my safety net. That place became the breeding ground for nightmares. I wondered who I had pissed off to warrant such an invasion of privacy. I must display the annoyance on my face as I reach the hidden book nook.
“It’s not that bad.” The stranger smiles. Studying the enigmatic man, he positions himself in one of the leather-bound chairs, with one leg crossed over the other and a book grasped in his hand.
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t look happy. It can’t be that bad. Books take you to another world.” He smiles.
“Yes, yes, they do.” I smile back, walking towards the bookshelf and skimming my fingers across the vast amount of books before carefully pulling out my secret vice—a romance because that’s what my life severely lacked.
I often enjoyed reading about the story unfolding, and how we perceived love to be because on the surface I had never experienced love—or something similar. So, I liked to escape from time to time and get lost in the fantasy that one day love would come, even though I knew that couldn’t happen.
I didn’t even notice he had edged closer until I heard the shuffling of the seat beside me. Perhaps if I disregarded him, he would leave, but I sensed his gaze fixated on me, his intense stare piercing through my already anxious body.
“Romance?” He quizzes me. “Now, why would someone like you need to read about romance?”
“Someone like me?” I finally gasped, taking my nose from my book and doing what Audrey said I should do more and socialise.
“Well—.” He pushes his finger across his chin and I finally take him in. He’s not bad-looking, with dark hair, big chestnut eyes and a smile that could melt the ice caps. “I wouldn’t think you would be short on romance.” He winks.
“Are you flirting with me?” I smirk.
“I was trying to—evidently, I seem to have failed.”
A small smile appears on my lips. “You are doing just fine. I guess I’m just not used to it.”
“How is that possible?”
It could be the case that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
“Maybe I shouldn’t, but people still do.” He smiles. “I can leave you to your book if you like. I’m Mike, by the way.” He holds his hand out, and that’s when I realise that I’m not going to get the peace I was searching for, not here, not with him anyway.
