Page 96 of Encounter

Playing with the keyin my hand as I laid on the couch with Kitty next to me, I couldn’t help but think about how strange it was I had it. Isn’t that something you do when you get serious with someone? Giving them keys to your place?

Meowing at me when I stopped petting her, Kitty was as bossy as always.

I smiled at her, putting the key on the coffee table and turning to her to give her all of my attention. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I murmured with an apologetic grimace and rubbed her favorite spot under her chin.

I wasn’t sure if I should even come after Chast texted me in the middle of the day about a last-minute job he had to take. I was already anxious enough—today was the day I was going to make my move. Today was the day that was going to decide if this could be something more. But Chast said he shouldn’t be too long, so I agreed and used the key he gave me last time to get in. I should’ve thought more about how sitting in this apartment alone was going to make me overthink and regret my every decision.

Glancing at the clock, it was almost eight at night and I still hadn’t heard from him.

“How do you do this, huh?” I asked Kitty, who purred with thestrength of some industrial machinery. “Do you ever worry he won’t come back?”

You’re asking thecatfor advice now?

Was I really ready? Sighing, I hung my head back over the couch and closed my eyes, fighting to keep my negative thoughts at bay. After the night at the club, and how surprisingly normal it all was with Kevin and the others afterward, I was filled with this daring, hopeful energy, but the longer I sat here, the more the thought of this all failing weighed on me.

If Chast really said no—if he for some reason, any of the dozens I came up with, didn’t want to make love to me, let this go further—would I be able to get over it?

Would I be able to keep doing this like nothing happened? Wouldhe?

What was I even doing, risking this solace, this thing that brought me happiness for the first time since I could remember for... What? Getting laid?! “Crap,” I groaned, rubbing my face. My body was starting to tense up, regrets and fears slowly, sneakily overtaking it. Chast hadn’t started meeting with me because he wanted a relationship.

Am I naive to eventhinkit could be a possibility?

He’s twenty years older than me, a hired gun, someone who would rather go to have sex with a prostitute because there are no strings attached, and you think he would want to have something serious withyou?

Before having the chance to spiral even further, I heard commotion behind the door. Shooting out of the seat, I straightened my back and blinked several times, trying to hide the stupid tears that pushed their way out.

I prepared myself by clenching my fists and holding my breath while I listened to Chast unlocking the door. The beats of my heart took over my hearing as I stood there, wonderingwhyI was suddenly so damn nervous. I came into the apartment excited and hopeful, so how did I spiral into this place again and why?

The door finally opened, and Chast stumbled in.

I met his gaze right away, but... something was wrong. Instead of the usual expression I expected, he was hunched over, and his eyes seemed heavy. “Hey,” he mumbled, letting out a deep sigh, and closed the door behind him, leaning on it. He sounded out of breath.

“Chast, what—!” Widening my eyes, I noticed the bruises on his face and small cuts on his arms.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” he said, lifting his hand as I made a sharp step toward him. “This stupid job,” he murmured, taking his jacket off and throwing it next to the rack. His skin wasn’t the right color, and his entire face was covered in droplets of sweat. “Got a little out of hand. S-sorry I’m late.”He groaned and stumbled as he made a step toward me, so I jumped in to help him keep balance.

The moment I touched his skin, I startled at how cold it felt, and as I helped him step away from the door, I saw the bloody imprint on it. “Chast!”

Frowning, he turned around, and to my shock it looked like he wasn’t even aware he was bleeding—a lot! Whatever stupid worries I had beforehand were now completely gone.

“Jesus Christ, what— What happened?!” I blurted, eyes wide in panic.

Confused, he reached toward his back but flinched in pain. “Shit.” Quickly helping him into the kitchen, I sat him on the chair before he passed out, with Kitty circling us, probably as concerned as I was. “Fuck... Felt just like a poke,” Chast murmured, groaning in pain and annoyed.

A poke?! You got stabbed!

When he lifted the black shirt clinging to his torso, I stepped behind him to try and see where the injury was. “Oh, god.” I gagged. The smell of blood and terrifying gruesomeness of it all was starting to get to me. Was he going to bleed out? Was Chast going to bleed out in front of me? I couldn’t lose him!

---