Page 17 of Perfect
“That’s better?”
“Depends on who you ask.”
“I’m asking you.” I’m pretty sure we’re flirting.
“Mmm, I think it’s better, but they’re both fuckingterrible,” he says, rolling his eyes and chuckling.
“Then why are you drinking it?”
He shrugs. “I’m thirsty, and I think it legally counts as water.” I laugh and look away as the game comes back on. When I finish my beer, I order a vodka soda, and he orders another shot and a beer, and we chat a little bit, mainly about the game. I try not to make eye contact or look at him too directly out of habit, but I want to.
When the game is over, I throw cash down on the bar and walk away to use the bathroom before I head home. The flirting was exciting, but that’s enough for me tonight. I probably don’t need to think about men right now, anyway. The guy leaves at the same time I do, holding the door open for me when he notices I’m right behind him.
“I’m Theo,” he says, sticking his hand out as we leave the bar. His hand is large and callused and warm around mine.
“Alex,” I say. I start walking up the street and he keeps step with me.
“So, what part of Maine are you from?”
“Bangor.”
“Is Stephen King required reading in schools there?”
“Oh,totally. I did my fourth-grade book report onThe Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.” That’s not even a lie.
He whistles softly. “Deep cut. You do a lot of hiking since fourth grade?” I giggle, glancing up at him.
“I haven’t hiked alone since.” He laughs, shooting me an amused look in return.
“Makes sense, if that’s your frame of reference. How long have you been out here?” How many questions he’s asking me is making me nervous, so I focus on turning them back on him.
“Oh, um, I moved here for a job a few months ago. Are you from here?”
He nods. “Mostly, yeah. Do you like it out here so far?”
I hum in agreement, shielding my eyes against the headlights of an oncoming car by looking up at him. “It’s great, actually. So, what do you do?”
He shrugs. “Nothing interesting. You?”
“I’m a receptionist, so I mostly just drink coffee and do crosswords.”
“That sounds like a perfect day, although I’d prefer to do those things in bed.”
“Even the billing emails?”
“Oh, especially those,” he says, shooting me a sly smile. I blush, looking away from him quickly. I have no idea what to say to that, so I just hum a little and nod. We’re approaching the street I need to turn down, and my heart starts racing as he slows down when we approach the intersection. Is he following me home? We’re probably just walking in the same direction. Bailey loves true crime and keeps telling me horror stories because she’s worried about the fact that I live alone, and it’s making me anxious. Theo slows to a halt, jerking his chin up the street.
“I turn here. Do you want me to walk you home? It’s pretty late.”
“Oh, um, no thanks. I’m right there.” I give him a tight smile as I hook my thumb over my shoulder, indicating the big apartment complex a few blocks down. I’m being paranoid, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. His face is blank for a moment before he smiles.
“Cool. Get home safe, okay?”
“Yeah, you too.” He looks me up and down with interest, and my stomach flips at the slight smirk he gives me before he turns away.
“See you around,” he calls, waving as he walks up the street. I turn and keep walking towards the apartments in the distance, sighing in relief when I look back and he’s nowhere to be seen. I shake my head at myself and turn up the next street, doubling back towards my apartment. I wasabsolutelybeing paranoid. He was just being friendly, and possibly trying to get laid based on the look he gave me.
I sit on the couch and put on a movie at random, but I barely pay attention to it.
