Page 58 of Domino
I laugh ruefully. “Well, that’s a cheery thought. I doubt we have to worry about suicide bombers in the zoo, though.”
“Here’s hoping.”
As he pays for the tickets, though, it’s me who gets a chill running down my spine. I feel the hair on the back of my neck standing on end as a wave of goosebumps washes over me. I turn and look out at the crowd, certain that somebody’s watching me. But there are simply too many people milling about, and I don’t see any faces I recognize.
“You okay?” Max asks.
I give him a gentle smile. “Yeah, I guess your paranoia’s rubbing off on me.”
“It happens.”
Max flashes me the tickets and I push the buggy along as Cole squeals with delight. We enter the park and are instantly inundated by a myriad of sights and sounds. It seems like a million people are in the park, the buzz of conversation and the high-pitched squeal of children laughing and playing so loud, it’s almost deafening. But it’s the sound of people enjoying themselves and having fun.
Ordinarily, it would buoy my spirits and I’d be laughing along with them straight away. But that feeling of being watched persists. It’s oppressive and heavy, and it’s sapping the enjoyment out of a bright, sunny, warm, and otherwise beautiful day. I turn again, positive I’m going to see somebody right behind me, but there’s nobody there. And yet, I still somehow feel creeped out.
“What’s wrong?” Max asks.
“Nothing. I don’t know. It just feels like somebody’s watching me.”
He smirks at me. “Wow. I guess my paranoia really is rubbing off on you.”
My laugh is forced and weak, so Max grabs hold of my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. I look into his eyes and see the concern in them.
“I know it’ll sound absolutely crazy, but I can’t get it out of my head that it’s Ryan. That he’s found us somehow and is watching me.”
A sympathetic look gleams in his eyes as he looks at me. “It doesn’t sound crazy. After hearing what you went through, I’d be surprised if you didn’t jump at shadows or have some lingering trauma from all of it. But he’s a thousand miles away, and like you said, he’s got no way of knowing where you are. It’s just nerves. I mean, things between us are moving kind of quick, and I’m sure it’s stirring up all of that shit inside of you. I think it’s probably natural to be freaking out a bit.”
“Wow. Now, who’s sounding like the shrink?”
He shrugs. “Maybe you’re rubbing off on me, too.”
“I hope not. I don’t think I could stand being analyzed and dissected a hundred different ways,” I say with a laugh.
“Welcome to my world,” he replies with a goofy grin on his face. “More than likely, it’s probably some guy who thinks you’re hot and can’t tear his eyes off you. I mean, I can totally relate.”
I laugh and slap him playfully on the shoulder. “Stop.”
He shrugs. “It’s true, though.”
“Spoken like a man who’s hoping to get lucky later.”
“This is one of those situations where both things can be true.”
I laugh and take his hand, raising it to my lips, and place a gentle kiss on it. He gives me a smile.
“Play your cards right and we’ll see how you do with the latter,” I purr.
Max slips his arm around my waist and pulls me to him. Cole is bouncing up and down in the buggy, laughing and telling us he wants to go see the ele-funs.
Max gives me a wink. “I think I like my chances.”
“I think I do, too.”
“Well, then, let’s go see some ele-funs.”
We laugh together as we head out on our trek through the park, but not before I glance over my shoulder one more time, that feeling of being watched dimming, but not entirely gone.
Chapter Twenty-Two
