“Sasha!” Jessica calls my name the moment I step out of my boss’s office.
Finally, I feel like I can breathe again. A two-hour meeting with Cheryl was almost more than my poor brain could deal with. I was sure the fact that I’d spent half the weekend with Vincent was stamped all over my face. It took every ounce of my self-control to not just blurt out I’ve been sleeping with Vincent Mazzanti!
“Wait up!” Jessica calls again, even though I haven’t moved.
I smile, as I watch her tiny form speed walk down the hall. Her black bob swaying back and forth with each step she takes.
“Hey, Jess. How was your weekend?”
She grins. “Great! That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. I met this guy. So hot. So flexible.” She fans her face.
I laugh. “Flexible? Do I even want to know?”
She claps as she does a little hop. “He’s a freaking yoga teacher! How sexy is that?”
My face scrunches. “Uh…” I’m picturing a painfully thin man in tight pants leering at a room full of women holding downward dog.
Jessica slaps my arm. “Oh my god, I don’t even want to know what you’re imaging right now.”
“You’re probably right.” I give a fake shiver.
“Whatever. Just say you’ll come with me.”
“Where?”
She rolls her eyes. “To one of his yoga classes. He gave me a pair of free passes.” Jessica puts her hands together as if in prayer. “Please, please, please. Don’t make me go alone. I need moral support.”
I sigh. “When?”
She squeals. “Wednesday afternoon. I already told Cheryl I’d be taking a late lunch that day. It’s just down the street.”
I think it over. “That should work. Send me the address and time. But – fair warning – I suck at yoga.”
“Perfect. I suck, too!” Jessica gives me one of her bouncy hugs before she disappears down the hallway.
Making my way outside, I pause to pull my sunglasses from my bag. Today is one of those beautiful Minnesota summer days that make all of those winter months worth it.
Pulling my bag back up on my shoulder, I feel my phone vibrate.
Vincent: Sweetheart if you’re available, come to my office. I have some free time for the next few hours.
Sweetheart? Ugh, this man. Honestly, I think kind and caring Vincent might be more dangerous than Devil Vincent. But since I know I won’t get any work done until I see him, I tell him I’ll be there soon.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, I realize how glad I am that I ran into Jessica. Her happiness helped to calm me down. I’m fairly confident that Cheryl doesn’t suspect anything between Vincent and I, but that meeting was far more stressful than I expected. I’m not good with secrets, and my stupid guilty conscience was jabbing me in the ribs. And every time she said his name I’d flash to the image of Vincent asleep in my bed. And I’d blush.
Waiting for a crosswalk light to change, I get that strange prickling feeling on the back of my neck again. That sense of being watched. It’s the same feeling I had the morning I shame-walked out of Vincent’s apartment building.
My sunglasses have a solid tint, so I do my best to nonchalantly scan the street in front of me trying to spot a suspicious character. No one stands out. Not that I would know what to look for.
As if on cue, the king of paranoia calls.
“Hey, Special Agent Nerd.” I greet John.
I can hear his eye roll. “Mature as always, Sasha.”
Still looking around, I ask. “How do you pick a bad player out of a crowd?”
“Uh, look for the one with a ski mask and a bazooka.”
“Helpful.” I deadpan. “Like how would you spot a stalker?”
I’m too busy scanning the other pedestrians as I cross the street to notice my mistake, and the change in his tone. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I reply, trying to sound casual. “I just feel like I’m being watched.”
I nearly drop the phone when his voice booms through the speaker. “You have a fucking stalker!?”
“Jesus, chill!” My free hand presses against my chest, trying to keep my heart from bouncing out of my chest. “You scared the shit out of me, you asshat.”
“What. Are. You. Talking. About.” He punctuates each word.
“Nothing. Seriously. Take a breath before you pop a blood vessel. Everything is fine. I just had one of those strange feelings like someone was watching me. But it’s nothing. The sidewalk is crowded. I’m sure I’ve just had too much caffeine.” I leave out the fact that this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way.
“If you think someone is following you, then have your boyfriend hook you up with some security.”
“Uh, hard pass.” I cringe at the thought. Vincent is freaking overprotective enough as it is. “And no one is following me, it was just a feeling.”
John hums. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that you didn’t correct me when I called him your boyfriend.”
“Oh my god.” I groan. “I don’t know what you called for, but I’m hanging up now.”
