Page 62 of Please Save Me

She hesitated for a beat as she ran her tongue across her lips. “He mentioned something about liking Cameron a while ago, and he’s slept in our bed the past few nights.”

Yeah, but by the way Sebastian reacted when he realized Cam was holding his hand, I didn’t think that was really romantic per se.

“Do you think he’d want to doitwith me?”

An excited spark lit Mason’s eyes. “If he does, can I join?

“Of course!” Somehow, having her join us felt like it improved the chances of him saying yes.

An excited squeal escaped Mason, and she clapped her hand just as the door to the coffee shop came within reach. From the corner of my eye, I noticed the black truck that passed us was sitting in the parking lot. Normally, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to this.

But, for some reason, the lone dark Chevy felt ominous.

I reached out and placed a hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Hey, are you sure you don’t want to stop at the coffee shop closer to home?”

Mason turned back to me with a look of confusion. “Why would we do that? We’re already here.”

I hesitated as I glanced back at the truck. My skin prickled with unease. There was nothing wrong with the vehicle other than the fact it was probably older than Cameron. I was probably just being paranoid or maybe even a bit dramatic.

“No reason,” I relented.

Mason nodded before pulling the door open. A bell chimed above our heads, and the barista waved at us. In front of her was a stout man with mostly silver hair. He didn’t turn to look, and I assumed that was the truck’s owner.

“You’ll love this place,” Mason promised. “I get a smoothie every time Lucian and I come, and it’s the best thing ever.”

I nodded, but the weariness I felt grew into a chill wrapped around my heart. What the heck was going on?

Together, Mason and I got in line, but while she aimlessly chattered at me, I was focused on the short man. There was something about him I couldn’t put my finger on, but something about his presence screamedBad News Bears.

I held Mason’s hand a little tighter, just in case.

The man ordered just a black coffee, and the barista told him his total. The man then patted his pockets before a beat of silence fell in the cafe.

“Well, shoot,” the man drawled. “I just realized I ain’t got my wallet on me. Musta forgot it at home.”

“That’s okay.” Creases formed by the barista’s eyes as they smiled. “I can just cancel it out, and you can come back later.”

The man nodded. “I’ll do just that, sorry for wastin’ your time.”

He finally turned around to reveal a set of almost radioactive green eyes and a smile that looked like it never fell.

“Ladies.” He nodded toward us before making his way past.

I was content to leave it at that, but my girlfriend was too sweet for her own good.

“Wait!” Mason called before flashing the man a warm smile. “We’re getting coffee, too. I don’t mind paying for yours.”

The man stopped mid-step, and his gaze fixed on Mason with an intensity that made me shiver. It was like he was a pirate, and she was a chest of gold doubloons. I draped an arm over her shoulder and held her closer.

Not that I didn’t expect Mason to offer this. She loved to help and had almost zero social awareness.

His smile somehow widened to reveal a set of teeth so yellow that they almost made me gag.

“I don’t want’cha to burden yourself, but I’d sure appreciate it.”

“It’s no burden,” Mason promised before stepping up to the counter.

She added his coffee to her order and went along like nothing had happened, but I couldn’t shake the gut feeling that this man was up to no good.

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