Page 22 of Feral Touch
“Ohmigod,” Jen gasped. “Is it him?
My stomach leaped into my throat. I clutched the phone so tight my hand starting shaking. I slowly peeked at the screen.
One new message from an unknown number.
I'd love to get coffee. I've got a few hours free tomorrow afternoon. Does that work? Can't wait to see you again.
“It's him,” I said, breathless. “He wants to meet up.”
Jen fist pumped the air. “I better be the maid of honor at your wedding.”
“Stop it.” Even though I was so nervous I thought I might throw up, I couldn't help but laugh. “It's just coffee.”
“Right. 'Coffee.'” Jen used air quotes. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” She patted me on the shoulder and rose from the bed. “Just let me know if you're not coming home tomorrow night. I won't want to be up worrying.”
“We're not—” I tried to protest again, but gave up as Jen closed my bedroom door behind her. I read the message one more time.
Can't wait to see you again.
We met up at a coffee shop in the west end, close enough that I only needed to take one bus to get there. I assumed Ren just took a taxi or a limousine or whatever it was that rock stars used to get around.
I arrived early and snagged a seat facing the front door so I’d be able to see when he came in. I ordered a coffee, preempting the awkward conversation over whether the guy should pay for the girl not. It was a plain drip coffee, not one of those fancy ones. I refused to pay five dollars for a coffee-flavored liquid dessert with whipped cream and syrup.
My head whipped up with every jingle of the door, but none of the people who entered were Ren. I checked my phone for the thousandth time. He had one more minute before he was officially late.
The door swung open again. A tall man with a knitted beanie on his head and oversized aviator sunglasses walked in. I looked back down at my coffee, disappointed. A few minutes later I looked back up in surprise when someone approached my table only to find that same man with a coffee in his hand taking a seat. I was about to tell him I was waiting for someone when he took off his glasses.
“Ren?” I stared at his outfit in disbelief. “Why are you wearing that ugly hat?” I immediately regretted my words. What if he really liked that beanie?
Ren laughed but kept the hat on. “I don’t want anyone to recognize me.” He turned his head so I could see his long hair tucked up underneath.
“Are you hiding from your fans?”
“It’s just a precaution. I don’t want anyone to interrupt us.” He gave me a soft smile and I couldn’t help but flush. “Oh.” He nodded at my drink, looking discouraged. “I wanted to buy you a coffee.”
My insides went mushy. “You can get the next one.”
There was a moment of silence as we stared at each other, just gazing into each other’s eyes. It was oddly intimate for something happening in such a public place. I struggled to come up with something to say to relieve the tension.
“Do you often go out in public in disguise?”
“Not very often. Then again, I don’t really get out much.”
“Really? You’re not the partying type? I thought you were supposed to be a rock star.”
He laughed. “I’m just too busy. Not a lot of free time to get drunk and smash up hotel rooms.”
At least I didn’t have to worry about that aspect of his life.
“I’m really glad you messaged me.” He was so earnest, so sincere.
“Of course I did. I wanted to see you again.” I didn’t tell him I’d debated the issue for days.
“And I’m really glad you entered that contest.”
“My friends told me about it the day after the concert.”
“That’s the first I’d heard of it, too. Ailey sprung the idea on us without warning.”
