Page 43 of Hello, Listener
“Yeah, I wanted to look good for our date.” My wide smile stays in place while my hands grip tightly around the steering wheel.
“This is a date?” The pitch in her voice goes up at the question. The shocked expression on her face is adorable.
“It’s whatever you want it to be.” I pause, pushing my foot down on the accelerator. “I would gladly go on a date with you.” Another pause, as I let up. “Or, it could be just a night between friends who find each other extremely irresistible.”
“A night between friends sounds good.” I watch her out of the corner of my eye, fidgeting in her seat.
“So, you think I’m irresistible?” I laugh. Her smile is the only confirmation I need.
I come to a stop and park at the curb in front of the diner. She reaches for her door handle, but I put my hand on her thigh, stopping her.
“I’ll get that for you.” My voice is harsher than intended. I peer down at her from behind the lenses of my glasses. She pulls her hand away and places it in her lap.She’s already so obedient.
I get out of the car and quickly move to her side to open her door, watching her slowly climb out. Like clockwork, my eyes move up the curves of her body.Fuck, I could stare at the vision of her forever.
My arms are covered in goosebumps, and my hands start to get clammy.Am I nervous? No. Nervous isn’t what you would call this…I am in disbelief that she’s here with me.Thalia Smith climbed into my car and agreed to come and have coffee with me.It’s as if I’m one of her obsessed followers.Why even hide the truth now?She’s always on my mind. Being near her is a constant desire that I can’t rid myself of.
My attention comes back to me when the impact of the door shutting interrupts the quiet tension between us. She walks close to my side with her hands in the pockets of her jacket. I open one of the double doors and hold it open for both of us. Biting my lower lip, I stare at her ass as she walks in the space between me and the glass door.
“I think this is one of those places where you sit yourself,” she says, breaking the silence. I move my hand forward and motion for her to pick out our seat. It’s a gentlemanly gesture, but I also want to use the small moment of unsupervised freedom to trace over her figure with my wanton eyes.
I watch as she slides into the bright red cushion of the booth, placing her black leather purse next to her. She takes off her leather jacket, exposing her pale, slender arms. After setting my coat next to me, I roll up my white sleeves. She sits with her hands on her lap, anxiously looking around the diner.
“Nervous?” I ask.
“A little,” she admits.Me too.
“With me?”Maybe she should be.“I’m harmless.”Only to you, Listener.She loosens her stiff shoulders and slouches back into the booth.Perfect.“Why don’t we start with ordering something to drink?” She nods as the back of her head touches the booth. I offer my charming grin and a small wave to the waitress at the counter in front of the open kitchen window. She eagerly beams and walks over to us. Her large hips sway from left to right as she holds tightly onto two menus.
“Hello, there!” She starts, seeming too happy to be working at three-thirty in the morning. She must be working hard to earn her tip. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Coffee,” I answer quickly.
“I’ll take the same, please.” Thalia’s quiet voice comes out behind the plastic-covered menus. Her eyes scan the picture on the front page. “Actually, can I order a hamburger and fries as well? Oh, and a chocolate milkshake,” she adds while handing back the menu. My eyebrows raise at her question.
“You know, I think I’ll have the same,” I say, handing over my menu also. The waitress smiles, writes down our orders, and heads towards the back.
“So…” Thalia starts.
“So… it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other,” I add.It’s only been a few days since I saw you with your legs spread on your couch.
“Why did you want to meet for coffee tonight?”
“Why did youagreeto meet me?” She responds to my question with a leer. Smirking at what I'm hoping are lustful thoughts. The waitress sets down the small white cups of coffee in front of us,leaving my question unanswered. “Maybe let’s just start by getting to know each other,” I suggest. I bring the small mug up to my lips.
“Yeah, we could start there.” She fills her coffee with two of the creams the waitress provided in a white ceramic bowl in the middle of our table. She tears open two sugar packets and adds them to the mixture.
“Okay, we’re getting somewhere. Now, I know how you like your coffee.” I keep my eyes on her fingers stirring the metal spoon in the small white mug. “Ask me anything,” I insist.
“Okay…” She pauses to think. “What made you so interested in true crime?” She picks up the white cup by the small handle on the side. She slowly moves it to her lips, blowing on the hot liquid before taking a small sip.
“Good question to start with.” I fold my arms across my chest and lean back in the booth. “Watching that show, Unsolved Mysteries, with my grandmother. The idea that the killer could still be out there was so intriguing to me. I pictured many ways the Feds could have caught them and what they could have done differently. I tried piecing all the small clues and details together to determine who the killer was. It’s the small details that matter. Of course,” I continue with my explanation, “we have more of an advantage these days. Our technology has improved so much over the years. However,” I pause while taking a drink from my cup. “These days, there are still so many cases that go unsolved. You never truly know anyone. The killer could be right in front of you, and you would never know.”Careful, Alan.Her gaze is hypnotizing and intoxicating. The way Thalia hangs on to my every word is like anewdrug that I can’t get enough of.
“Whodo you think it is?” She leans forward. The volume of her voice is in a hushed tone. I can’t help but sneer at the hint of excitement and fear in her eyes.
“Who?” I ask as if I am playing dumb.
“You can’t be serious. Don’t fuck with me, Alan.” The look on her face is almost humorous.
