Page 2 of Obsessive Cravings

With Ava’s help, the couch moved enough to free the door.

“I’d offer you a drink but, even if I could get to my fridge, there’s nothing in it yet,” I said, as Ava leaned on the doorframe.

“Nah, I’m on my way to work. Maybe once you get unpacked. If you need anything, just knock. I work nights at the bar around the corner, but I’m usually around most days.”

“Thanks. And thanks for the help with the couch.”

Saying goodbye to Ava, I shut the door and stared at the mess. I was starting my new job in the morning, and I didn’t even know where my clothes were. It was overwhelming, and I had a nagging feeling that I’d made the wrong decision. That running was something I shouldn’t have done. That I should have faced the lies instead of fleeing.

“Too late now, Riley.”

After placing a few items for sale on the local marketplace, I maneuvered what furniture I could and unpacked what I needed for the next day. Too tired to even order dinner, I flopped into the corner I’d cleared on my bed. Thoughts of my past and of home cascaded through my mind and a melancholy crept in before I pushed it aside. The morning would be a start to my new life, a new adventure, and I held onto that thought as my weariness overcame me.

My phone alarm jerked me awake, and I sat up quickly, startled by my unfamiliar surroundings. After struggling to find my phone in the tangle of clothes piled around me, I quickly dressed and ran out the door, realizing I hadn’t taken time to figure out how far the office was from my apartment. In fact, I wasn’t even sure where that office was.

I’d interviewed at a firm on the upper east end of the city, finding an apartment online that stated it was within walking distance. But I’d never been to the office, having taken all my interviews by phone or virtual meetings. Treemont was a two-day ride from Bridgeville and since the company was eager to have me, they had obliged to long distance interviews. It still seemed strange that they’d reached out to me. I had been job hunting, thinking Bridgeville was far enough away and offered me the opportunity to blend in. It was a metropolis compared to tiny Treemont. But I hadn’t considered this firm, thinking the smaller one would be a better place to start as I adjusted to city life.

As I was looking down at the map on my phone, trying to determine where the closest coffee shop was, something yanked my purse from my arm. I looked up, seeing my purse in the hands of a lanky teenager who winked at me and ran.

I opened my mouth to yell when a man stepped around me and grabbed the boy, stopping his getaway with a quick jerk of his large hand.

“I don’t think this belongs to you,” he said, snatching my purse back as the boy stumbled backward, eyes wide before he ran off.

That expression ‘deer in headlights’ was one I always thought was cliché, but that’s exactly how I felt, and when the owner of that deep baritone turned his navy eyes to me, I remained frozen. He was tall and built from what I could see from the fit of his expensive coat. His thick brown hair had flecks of gray just around the temples, giving a mature addition to his rugged features. My jaw was dropping when I stopped it, composing myself as he handed my purse back.

“A little advice from someone who has spent his entire life here. Don’t stand out like a tourist when you walk the streets,” he said, his baritone gripping my insides.

“Thank you,” I said, trying not to stutter like a teenager. “Is it that obvious?”

He smiled, something that only made him more handsome. “Definitely.”

I glanced down at my phone, kicking myself for my bashful reaction to his smile. Looking back up, I said, “Thank you again.”

He gave me a nod and turned.

“Do you know where I can find a coffee shop?” I asked, desperate to have this man in my company for a few more minutes but not understanding why.

He turned back to me, giving me a boyish grin. “You are new, aren’t you?”

“Very. Last night was my first night.”

His eyes studied me, making me feel very seen. “Which way are you headed?”

“Upper east side,” I said. “22nd Street.”

“Come on. You need to go off the beaten path to find the best shops. If you go to the ones on the main streets, you’ll get the tourist coffee. It’s like water with a hint of coffee.”

Smiling, I thanked him again. He made idle chatter until he led me to a small coffee shop two blocks from where I needed to be. There was a strange restraint to him. Not that I knew him, but his conversation seemed restrained, kept to the basics of the city and landmarks. When he left me at the shop, I realized I hadn’t even gotten his name and wished I had, no matter that I didn’t need to involve anyone in my life right now. It was risky…but I’d been lonely for a long time, and I liked having someone come to my rescue like he had.

“There are no knights in shining armor, Riley,” I scolded myself. There were only men who turned on you.

I ordered my coffee and made my way to the firm. Standing before the high rise, I looked around. This couldn’t be it. This was a massive building. I walked around the corner, seeing the firm name on the outside, the offices within. The advisory firm I’d worked for in Treemont had been in a refurbished house. It was small with a hometown feel. Nothing about this firm said hometown, and nerves abounded in me.

New life. New experiences, I told myself.

This was what I’d signed up for. There was no turning back now. I returned to the front of the building and made my way in, trying not to look like the newbie that I felt like. The lobby was enormous. A guard station sat in the middle, elevators to their left, and to their right was a hallway that led to what looked like a private elevator.

“Riley Brinks?” I turned to the sound of my name, seeing a face that seemed familiar.

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