but I think this distance thing is for the best. I get to know him without being near him. When I’m around him, sex is pretty much all I think about. Him too, judging by the way he looks at me and some of the things he says.”
“Of course, he is thinking about sex with you,” she said. “Have you seen you?”
I smiled. “Thank you. That is very sweet.”
“And very true. Why aren’t you seeing him?”
“He’s in Florida this week,” I answered. “He comes home tomorrow, and we are supposed to try and get together.”
“Oh, a date,” she cooed.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Kind of. He isn’t sure what time he will be back. Nothing is set in stone.”
“How does that make you feel? You are the type of person who needs confirmed plans.”
“Usually, yes, but I’m off tomorrow. I can be a little flexible.”
My phone vibrated again. I couldn’t resist flipping it over and checking the message. I quickly tapped out a reply and put the phone back down. When I looked up, she was watching me. She had a sly smile on her face.
“What?” I asked.
She shook her head. “This seems serious.”
“No,” I immediately answered.
“Yes, it is.”
“He’s just fun to talk to. I’m having fun.”
“Good. I think you should have fun. You are young and this has been a long time coming.”
I took another drink. There was a feeling of contentment I had never experienced before. “It’s weird,” I said. “I keep asking myself why? Why him?”
“Because he piques your curiosity,” she answered. “You know you are like one of those psychics. You can read people. You have this weird empath thing and you know what people are thinking even before they know what they are thinking.”
I smiled. “True.”
“And you can’t read him.”
“Not as well. I get different vibes from him.”
Someone waved a hand to get her attention. She stepped away to quickly fill a beer before handing it off and coming back to me. “I watched a movie once,” she said. “Or maybe it was a television show. Anyway, the vampire could read minds, but when he met his soulmate, he couldn’t read her mind. That’s how he knew she was his soulmate.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Are you calling me a vampire or him? I’m confused.”
“Neither of you are vampires, but in my hypothetical situation, you would be the vampire.”
I grinned. “I think I could be a vampire when it comes to him.”
“Dirty, dirty,” she chided.
“You saw his picture,” I said, feeling a little warm. “It’s hard to resist.”
“I think it’s cute,” she said. “I’m happy for you.”
“Don’t be too happy,” I warned. “I don’t think this is anything to write home about.”
“I don’t know. I’d be willing to place bets on it.”
“Stop,” I said, not wanting to entertain the idea. I needed to keep my expectations in check. If I let myself get caught up in the idea that there was a chance at happiness with him, it would be hard to let it go. I couldn’t even begin to entertain such thoughts.
My phone vibrated again. It was a phone call. My immediate reaction was it had to be him. “Oh, it’s my dad,” I said when I saw his number. I slid off the stool and headed toward the back corner of the bar near the restrooms to hear better.
“Hey, Dad,” I answered.
“Evie? Is that you?”
“Yes, Dad, who else would have my phone?”
“I hear a lot of noise. Are you working?”
I looked around the bar. “No, I’m at the bar.”
“Oh, visiting Nelle,” he surmised. It was only a little embarrassing that my father knew how straitlaced I was and knew I wouldn’t be hanging out at a bar on a Friday night. I never did get that rebellious streak. I sometimes wondered if I missed out on something good.
“Yes, I am visiting Nelle,” I answered. It was sad I wanted to lie and tell him I was there drinking and hanging all over men. I was not normal.
“Do you have anything going on tomorrow night?” he asked.
I bit my lip. I was hoping to spend some time with Xander, but we had made no firm plans. My dad was my number one priority in my life, which meant I needed to be there when he asked me to. “Nope. I have no events tomorrow.”
“Can I take you to dinner?” he asked.
Again, how could I say no to my dad? Xander and I weren’t a thing. We had no official plans. I could always go see