Page 5 of Stella’s Manster

“No!” I scream as I stand up and take a step toward them.

“Ma’am, you need to stay back,” the officer scolds me.

With tears welling in my eyes I, for the second time in my life, watch the police officers haul my brother away.

My heart sinks. I want to believe that Darren’s innocent. I don’t want to believe that he sold drugs. He’s been turning his life around. But at the moment, I can’t do anything about the situation. All I’m good for is sitting here in my soaked dress and crying in a room full of strangers that won’t stop staring at me.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” a deep soothing voice says as I simultaneously feel a hand on my shoulder.

Turning around, I see a man dressed in a Batman costume with a towel in hand. A mask covers his eyes and nose. A black cape flows behind him, and a yellow utility belt sits secured around his waist. I’m not usually one to give into this type of pickup line, but I need to get out of here. So I let Batman guide me into the bathroom as tears continue to roll down my face.

I sit on the edge of the tub as he shuts the door and hands me the towel. I dab my dress as he wets a small rag and gently wipes my flushed cheeks.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he says gently, placing his hand on my knee.

My eyes meet his piercing blue eyes through his mask. Feeling drawn in for a moment, his voice is comforting as he offers me a gentle smile.

“I’m just in shock,” I explain to this charming, sweet stranger that came out of nowhere.

“I see that. I’m sorry this happened to you,” he pauses a moment as he gazes down at me. “Was that your boyfriend?” he asks me with a slight hesitation in his tone.

I shake my head. “No, my brother,” I reply and I hear Batman let out a subtle sigh of relief as I continue. “Darren just got out of prison and rehab. I know he didn’t do what they’re accusing him of,” I fret.

The man rubs my knee in a comforting manner. “The truth always comes out. If he didn’t do it, they’ll see that,” he tells me. “It’s unfortunate that this is how the process works sometimes but the good guys always pull through.”

I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth a few times, feeling the heat and light sensation in my head gradually fade away.

Batman’s right. My brother will be proven innocent one way or another. This is just a stupid mix-up.

Glancing up into Batman’s eyes, I say with sincerity, “Thank you.”

The man smiles back at me, gliding the wet rag along the frame of my face. “Of course, Catwoman,” he smirks. “Everything is going to be okay.”

I begin to take in reality, feeling his hand on my knee. My skin starts to tingle as I drink him in. He’sincrediblyhot with his sexy stubbled strong jaw. He’s sweet and patient.

Did I really just find my Batman? Is this the man of my dreams? The man I imagined on my girls’ weekend?

“Do you know the host of the party?” I ask him, prying a little. I already know that the host is an old friend of mine from college, but I’ve never seen this man before and need to know if I have access to more information about him.

“I’m a friend of her husband,” he says. “I usually don’t go to parties alone, but I’ve been working so much lately and figured I could give myself a night out.”

“You’re choosing to spend your one night off with a wanna-be Catwoman who’s crying in a bathroom and covered in alcoholic punch?” I reply with a pitiful laugh, looking down at my stained dress.

“Well, even with the punch, you make a tempting Catwoman,” he tells me, his thumb subtly rubbing circles against my knee.

A shudder threatens to pass through me, heat starts building in my body. His touches are subtle, but they still strike me to my core. This man has me captivated.

“I guess you’re my Batman to the rescue,” I say, admiring his costume.

My hero.

I can tell he’s muscular under the black ensemble, and I can’t help but wonder how good he looks under his clothes. Shaking the thought away, I set my new feeling aside. I can’t be here flirting with a random guy I just met. I have to go to the police station and help Darren.

I hand him the towel. “Sorry, I should go. Thank you again.”

The man watches me stand, but he takes my hand, stopping me for a moment. “I hope everything goes well with your brother,” he tells me.

I meet his eyes with mine, feeling my heart skip a beat. Batman seems so genuine, and I’d ask for his name and number if we met under different circumstances. But now is not the time to get attached to someone.

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