Page 51 of Lost Track

So she could see it was indeed, a bunch of serial killers. Five of them.

Dave braced his hand across the door jam, blocking entry to the loft.

“Freddy, Jason, Hannibal… is that Stuntman Mike I see back there? Michael.” He nodded at the very drunk men. “I believe you have the wrong apartment, sirs.”

Sabine poked her head out from under his arm.

“It’s not 3B?” Michael asked, taking off his mask and squinting at the numbers above Sabine’s doorbell.

“Nope. You’re at 4D,” Dave explained slowly, pointing at the number. “You need to go one floor down and across the hall.”

Freddie pushed forward and got very close to the number. He studied it for several seconds before shrugging and waving at the guys to follow him.

The serial killers scratched their heads and their junk, and got back into the elevator.

Dave waited until they were gone before turning to Sabine.

“I saved you,” he said, amused at her theatrics.

She pressed her lips together and went back into the loft. He followed, locking the door again.

In the kitchen, she retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator and put it on the counter.

“You must think I’m ridiculous.”

He held up his thumb and forefinger pinched close. “Just a little.”

She sighed, her eyes drifted over his shoulder to the movie still playing, then back to him. “You don’t have to stay. You can go if you want.”

That is not what he wanted. Nor what he expected her to say.

“What about praying for dawn?”

She smirked. “C’mon. You don’t want to be here babysitting me on the biggest party night of the year.”

He frowned. “Yes, I do. This is exactly where I want to be.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You must be confused,” he went on seriously. “Let me remind you of what’s happening here. We have Star Wars playing nonstop on a truly gigantic television screen.” He swept an arm out to indicate the movie. “Drinks, snacks, lightsaber duels, moments of panic, followed by moments of absurd bravery. Whydoyou have a cricket bat, by the way? And did you bruise your entire body when you came over the back of the sofa?”

Her cheeks bloomed a wonderful hot pink but she was smiling again.

He really liked it when she smiled. The dimple showed up and did that static electricity thing to his sternum.

“But you’re like —” she waved a hand indicating what he assumed was his whole being. “—a really cool, chill person. And I am…” She made a face that could only be described as intense self-reproach.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses. Who told you I was the cool one?” He held a hand to his chest. “Or that I was chill? What gave you that impression?”

She licked her lips and opened her mouth to reply but he wasn’t going to let her argue her way out of this. One thing he absolutely hated was when someone amazing didn’t realize that about themselves.

“I have had the best time with you tonight. You have made me laugh so hard. And not once have you made me feel like I wasn’t welcome to be myself.” He shrugged and tried not to let his emotions show too strong like they sometimes did. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

She ducked her chin and lifted her eyes. “Even though I’m one door knock away from overreacting.”

“You remember Max, yeah?”

She nodded.

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