Page 4 of Monsters

“Well,” David beamed. “Speaking of champagne, be sure you’re free on Friday night.”

Anxiety returned. What had he planned? Or more to the point, what was he trying to get me into?

“David, I’m not sure—”

“Relax…” he said, raising his hands in defense. David winked and smiled playfully while walking backward to his own car, “… everyone will be there. Not just me.”

I felt foolish and ashamed I was so quick to judge everything the man did.

“Sure,” I agreed, hoping it would get the conversation back on track without the awkwardness. “I’m free.”

“That’s my girl,” David said, winking once more before he pivoted on his heel, whistling the rest of the journey to his brand-new Mercedes. Sinking into the driver’s seat, I exhaled heavily, exhausted from the hectic day and still just a little shaken from the stairwell encounter.

A fragrance lingered. It was on my clothes. It was on my skin. It was a sweet, spicy scent belonging to the hooded man.

My stomach churned, and my eyes anxiously searched the rear and side mirrors.

I could have been overreacting.

I could have easily mistaken the situation.

I hadn’t smelled that scent in a very long time, over a decade, in fact. It and the memories it incurred were buried in my past, and that’s where I needed them to stay.

So why did I have the feeling my nightmares were returning to haunt me?

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