Page 25 of Moonstruck at Midnight
“Can I steal you for brunch?” I asked, spraying a bit of the vanilla-jasmine scent behind my ears and on my wrists. I was all sweaty from the yoga session.
I heard how Caleb took a sharp sniff and looked over his shoulder for a second. “Sorry about that,” I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. The car was now filled with my fragrance. Oops.
CJ agreed to have brunch and immediately suggested a place. I was equally starving and annoyed but hopeful about food being able to restore my mood.
Caleb seemed restless on his seat and cocked his head left and right a few times—looking uncomfortable. “You can open the windows if the scent bothers you.” I apologized again. Aaron replied it wasn’t unpleasant and how the windows should never go down as a safety precaution. True.
The SUV approached the curbside, and Caleb opened the door a wink before the vehicle came to a complete stop and climbed out.
As President of the Caleb Fan Club, I welcomed CJ with open arms after he witnessedThe Move.He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the car with a sigh. So dramatic. I chuckled and shook my head as I followed him, already feeling less ill-humored.
“You smell good,” Caleb whispered in my ear as CJ talked to the hostess.
Oh. My. God. I was paralyzed.
I finally found my voice. “Um, thanks,” I said, looking at him with a twitchy smile, trying to avoid direct eye contact. He clicked his tongue and shot me one of his triumphant grins. The kind he used when he teased me. But he’d never teased me likethis.
“Billie! Table’s ready,” CJ said, gesturing to go with him. I shook my head twice, trying to snap out of whatever that was, and followed him to our table.
We sat on the restaurant terrace, orderedrealcoffee, and an excessive amount of food CJ promised to consume, as expected.
“I’m sorry we had to storm out like that,” I apologized as I bitterly buttered a piece of bread from the basket, “but something about Juan Pablo made me uneasy. He was about to mention my mother. Did Nina tell him anything about what happened to her?” I was still holding on to my anger, but Caleb had distracted me with his I’m-going-to-make-you-nervous-and-I-don’t-give-a-rat’s-ass kind of comment.
“Look, there’s nothing to be sorry about, Juan Pablo’s—intense. I honestly didn’t think he would pull that shit on you, at least not today. And no, he knows nothing. I mean, we didn’t tell him anything about you. Nina asked a few questions yesterday after dinner. She was—curious aboutthem.” He bobbed his head at Aaron and Caleb. “I told her your father’s a diplomat and that something had happened with your mother, but that I’d let you explain the rest of the story. I didn’t think it was my place to talk about it.”
I lifted my gaze behind CJ’s head and caught Caleb glancing my way.Look away! He usually did once I caught him or vice versa. Those were the rules of the game. But he wouldn’t this time. I guess I was also breaking the rules, wasn’t I? Luckily, CJ was preparing his coffee, so he didn’t notice my awkwardly obvious exchange with Caleb seconds before.
“And man, I don’t know how he does it. But he seems to have this—sixth sense or something.” CJ continued and sipped on his coffee. “He does have a bizarre way of communicating such things, as you experienced today. It makes me uncomfortable too, so I get you. Nina’s so proud of—that.I’d say she’s even a little dazzled by it, maybe?”
Dazzled, for sure.
I couldn’t have chosen a more suitable word myself for what he was trying to accomplish. “So, you’re saying hisabilitiesare sincere?” I asked incredulously.
“Well, he has predicted certain—events, and I honestly don’t know how he does it. He claims angels and other beings ‘whisper’ things to him,” he explained, putting his cup down. That wasn’t creepy at all.
True mate to the soul.In title behold, as time has come…
He couldn’t know I was seeing Thomas that night. Was he referring to him?Stature and grace,of confusion,beware. Heistall and handsome. I felt disgusted by my thoughts and considered signing up as a member of Juan Pablo’s following.
For an overthinker like me, it was best to dismiss those ideas and avoid dwelling upon them altogether. I wouldn’t forgive myself for believing something if Juan Pablo turned out to be a fraud.
“Anyway, where’s he from?”
“He’s from Argentina, and apparently, he had a pretty rough childhood,” he explained, buttering a toast. “Juan Pablo comes from a background of poverty and domestic violence, which I guess was what initially made him get into the whole—holistic, healing, yoga scene. But, regarding how he first came to the U.S. or managed to stay here, that I don’t know.”
And now I felt like shit.
I probably did judge him too quickly. It seemed like he was the type of guy trying to get himself out of a sticky situation. Still, I wasn’t going to be okay with him meddling in my business or entertaining himself with his so-calledsensibilities.
My phone buzzed on the table, and the notifications prompted an instant smile on my face.
“Do you mind if I take this really quick?” I asked CJ, whose mouth was full and couldn’t reply. He gestured to go ahead.
Thomas:Can’t wait to see you. Ready for tonight? How does 8 sound?
Thomas:And could you send me your address? I’ll find something near your place for dinner. I’d love to walk with you.
I finished reading his texts and felt my stomach tingle with excitement.
