Page 9 of Presence

“Clearly,” I joke, setting everything on the table and reaching for tissues to clean up the mess. But he’s quicker. Just as I lean toward the tissue holder, he’s already got three tissues in hand, standing up and coming over to help me.

I’m perched on a cushioned bench with plenty of space on either side of me. He takes up most of it to my right, his thigh brushing against mine as he comes close. Then, he begins dabbing at the stains still on my jeans.

Immediately, I’m overwhelmed by his scent—aged wood, black pepper, and the faintest trace of a winter night. It’s alluring and familiar in ways that make no sense. I lean in without really meaning to, just to take him in deeper.

I get lost in him for a moment, feeling like a ball of useless emotion that got thrown up into the sky. What am I even doing?

“So tell me, Claire,” he says, still rubbing at the spots. He does it slowly—slower than someone who wants this over quickly and it becomes clear that he’s prolonging the moment on purpose. My pulse quickens. “Are you always this charming on first dates?”

“Well, let me tell you...” I pause. What is his name?

“Echo,” he supplies, his eyes glinting as they never leave mine. Wow, that deep blue color in them is borderline metallic, like fine silver glinting in a cobalt flame.

“Echo, sorry,” I mumble, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. Here I am, being cleaned up by a man whose name I just learned, in a café I don’t remember coming to. And weirdly enough, I don’t mind it one bit. “If by ‘charming’ you mean shooting coffee out of my nose, then no, I’m not always like this.”

“Well,” he chuckles, “not only are you memorable, but you also smell really, really good now. Maybe not quite as good as you do naturally, but still really good. I’d say I lucked out.”

I can’t help but smile back, despite the strangeness of the situation. There’s something incredibly disarming about this guy, and he definitely knows it.

My whole body is tense, but in a way I like. It’s different from the nervousness that keeps me up at night, feeling watched and scared. This is a nervousness I didn’t think I’d feel again anytime soon. Attraction. I sit up straighter, a chill running through me, my nipples hardening under my clothes.

I lick my lips. “Hold off on those bold statements until you know me better,” I say, shaking my head slightly. Just then, he finishes cleaning up, his hands leaving a lingering warmth on my thighs. His leg stays pressed against mine. “Much as I like you, I’ve got to be honest.” Time to address the elephant in the room. I can’t believe I’m on a date with such a hot guy and about to say this... “I don’t even know how I ended up here.”

He raises an eyebrow, giving me a look that suggests he thinks I’m joking. The way he cocks his eyebrow at me... There’s a confident air about him that stirs something primal within me, and suddenly, I need to shift in my seat.

“Good that I know it just fine,” he purrs. “Who knows? I might just want to share all that knowledge with you.”

My eyes go wide. Who is this guy? He’s open-minded, hot, looks wealthy, and can keep up a conversation even when I’m being a total weirdo? I just can’t believe it.

“Alright,” I say, laughing a bit. Normally, I’d push him away and bolt, and honestly, I did try to warn him that I’m not exactly dating material. But it’s not my fault he talked me into staying. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”

He leans against the bench and puts a hand on the backrest. I can feel his heat radiating over me, and his scent... oh, damn. The longer I breathe it in, the better it smells.

“How about another round of coffee before I give out all the secrets, then?” he asks. “You did promise me one, and now that you’ve spilled it all...” He looks to the side and shakes his head for a moment. When his gaze meets mine again, I see more of that confident amusement in his deep blue eyes. “I’ve got to say, I feel slightly tricked here.”

“Oh, really?” I reply, cocking a brow. My breath flutters at the way he nods, slow and regal, like some very handsome monarch. It makes me smile.

I run my hand through my hair again. To my surprise, it’s not greasy or messy. It’s neatly tied back in a ponytail. If only I could think straight, I’d have noticed sooner.

It’s more than that, though. I’m wearing makeup, and I’m dressed nicely, too. Looks like I actually put effort into this date.

Shit. This might be serious.

Have I thought about other ways to deal with insomnia besides medication and Cam’s so-called witchcraft after she left? I might have decided to try something different, involving another person and, let’s just say, a lot less clothing than I’m wearing right now.

My body starts buzzing with excitement. Nervousness lingers, but it fades into the background with each passing moment.

“Okay,” I say, clapping my hands. They’re a bit sticky from dried coffee, but I suddenly couldn’t care less. “Let me go place an order. You don’t need anything, right?”

I glance at the half-full cup in front of him. With a wink, he downs it in one gulp. I just raise an eyebrow and smile. This is a sign he wants to spend more time with me, right?

“Actually, let’s both get new ones. To go?” He stands up with me.

“To go sounds great,” I agree, feeling a rush of warmth spread through my body. There’s something thrilling about this, about him—Echo. He’s a mystery, but an alluring one, and since I trust myself, I decide to go with it.

Actually... maybe I shouldn’t trust myself. After all, I’m not just sick but also capable of hallucinations. Maybe the trust thing is just an excuse I’m giving myself to finally live a little, even if it might not last. Regardless, if he’s a serial killer, then... too bad. I’m going with him anyway.

Besides, if I hadn’t wanted to be here, I sure wouldn’t have put in this much effort. Showered, groomed, styled—the whole deal. And let’s not forget the dark red manicure I’m rocking, which I definitely wouldn’t bother with if I wasn’t into this.

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