Page 3 of Moonstruck at Midnight
And what about Aaron and Caleb?
If it were necessary to keep having agents following me around, I’d rather have Aaron and Caleb be the ones to do it.
“Gregory, the DSS director, agrees it’s convenient to keep things going as usual. We are going to ask Aaron and Caleb if they will move to New York.”
Yes!
Suffocated again, but safe.
My father’s overprotective nature seemed to yield a bit when he said, “Let’s feel things out. Once we’re home, we’ll see what changes can be accommodated. I know it’s unconventional for you to go through life, growing up, under these—circumstances.”
Case closed.
My father excused himself to host some dinner event in our Residence, the Hôtel de Pontalba. The place was busier than usual, people coming and going, bringing in beautiful flower arrangements and setting up the dinner tables.
Security was tighter during special events like these since a considerable amount of people were expected to attend. The front gate was bustling with cars and agents.
Talking to my father made me lose track of time. I needed to get ready for dinner.
I jumped in the shower, got ready as fast as I could, and walked out the front door wearing a short black leather skirt with a black, tucked inside long-sleeved blouse. I paired it with nude pumps and a long, dark green trench coat—my favorite. Wearing too much makeup wasn’t my thing, but a slightly tinted lip and peachy rose blush was my usual look.
It was almost 8:00 p.m., and there was a lot of movement in the forward area before the front gate. But Aaron and Caleb weren’t on site. They would usually have the car waiting for me when they knew I had somewhere to go.
Shoot! I forgot to tell them about my dinner plans.
I sent a text to our Blackberry Messenger group chat and made my way to the west side of the front gate, where they often lingered. I sent another text and heard a distantping! Someone had to be nearby.
The sound prompted me to ask one of the security guards to open the gate for me. I called Caleb, and I could hear his cell phone ringing. I turned right—nothing. I turned left toward the Apostrophe Boutique and ended the call abruptly.
I froze.Hell no.
Ping!Ping!
Aaron texted me back, and I uselessly tried to silence the notifications when an incoming call from him startled me. I sent it to voicemail to stop the ringtone from breaking my cover. But it was too late.
Thelovelycouple stopped kissing and stared at me from a distance.
“MISS MURPHY,” CALEB SAID, his hands instantly unlocking from Noelle’s waist. He pressed his lips together and stared in my direction. I bet he wished he had his phone on vibrate mode—a habit he (and I) acquired after that day’s occurrence.
Noelle was an older girl I knew from high school. She studied fashion design at PCA, so I saw her from time to time at the university too.
She greeted me with flushed, peachy cheeks, but I couldn’t tell if it was from all the kissing or because I caught them in their secret rendezvous. Probably both. She looked a bit embarrassed. I greeted her back with a Monet smile, hoping it looked better from afar.
“Caleb, I really need to go. I couldn’t find you guys. Aaron just texted me, and he’s ready to leave too. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
He nodded.
I said goodbye to Noelle and huffed away from the interrupted love scene. But I couldn’t hold in a chuckle when I heard Calebchewingon his French, trying to say goodbye to Noelle.
“Miss Murphy, I’m sorry about the schedule confusion,” Aaron said as he opened the door for me.
“No, please, it’s my fault. I forgot to tell you about my dinner plans,” I replied as Caleb jumped in the front seat, looking agitated. Aaron drove hastily toward the restaurant.
“I can assure you Caleb’s not so sorry about the schedule mix-up situation,” I teased. “So, you’re into blondes, huh?”
Ugh.
Aaron glared at a mortified Caleb, while I secretly enjoyed his embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Red. I didn’t mean for you to see that,” he confessed. I’m sure he didn’t. “I—I don’t know what to say.”
