ALONE AT LAST

Chapter 3

The crooked smile that lit up his face had my heart squeezing uncomfortably and I was grateful that I didn't have to think of something to say in response as he winced and slammed his phone back to his ear with a sheepish look on his face.

"Bro, chat later, gotta go." He mumbled into the mouthpiece. Whatever he heard in reply generated an irritated scowl that marred his forehead and he ended the call abruptly.

His attention flicked back towards me, halting my subtle retreat that was mostly driven by my embarrassment at being caught out in my tomfoolery.

"Oh, no no no" He laughed, striding forward to grab the front of my trolley. "You're the one stalking me around the shops, the least you can do is give me a bit of context."

My cheeks regained their blotchy redness and I tried to produce another sparking laugh that I must admit came out more like a choke.

He laughed again. "Oh, come on Ceci, no need to get embarrassed. We're just two old friends bumping into each other."

His teasing eyes were appraising me and I could tell that he knew exactly what he was doing to me and my fragile self esteem following this most recent stalking event.

I straightened my spine, refusing to let one of Declan's obnoxious friends intimidate me in the usual manner. I am a 27 year old adult, a qualified psychologist on the brink of establishing my new practice. I am better than this nervous woman behaving like a little school girl, unable to spit out a sentence.

"You're right," I said after a slight beat, giving him a smooth smile. "And it is really nice to bump into you, Sebastian. It feels like a different lifetime since you all guys were raiding my mom's fridge and putting your feet on the couch." I gave a mischievous wink and noticed as a surprised expression skittered across his face.

"What have you been up to since I left?" I asked with genuine curiosity. I had expected tall, dark and handsome Sebastian to be wildly successful and miles away from this little town by now.

"Oh, you know. I studied Criminology and Sociology at uni, and then came back to town to do my detective training. Been a detective for the past few years now, working with the cyber crimes department when I get the opportunity." I nodded, feeling more than a little intimidated. His upright posture and the air of confidence that he exuded made a little more sense to me now, but this new information cast a rather ironic light on the fact that I had been suspiciously stalking him around the store, expecting him not to notice.

"That's amazing Seb, you've done really well for someone who barely knew how to read at school." I told him seriously.

He erupted with a laugh, clearly surprised that the Ceci he knew as rather tame and more than a little timid could deliver such a sneaky blow.

"Hey!" He laughed, reaching across to ruffle my hair with some enthusiasm. " I did just fine, and you know it!" I tried to school my expression so that my surprise at his familiarity didn't appear on my face. It felt really nice to have this playful energy between us. I blew out with a huff, clearing the hair that had fallen all over my face and scowling at Seb with the best impression of irritation that I could muster. I don't think I was fooling anyone.

"And you Miss Ceci?" He asked with a cheeky smile, "What has been keeping you entertained and so far from town for all these years?"

"Well, it's Dr Ceci to you, actually," I told him with my eyebrows raised in mock seriousness. "I graduated just over a year ago with my Doctorate in Psychology. Since then I've spent some time working in a hospital up North, but I've actually moved back here to open up my own practice. I don't know if you've seen any of the awkward shiny posters that I've put up all over town." I really hoped he hadn't. I was sure that I looked far more formal and matronly than I had any desire to look in Sebastian's eyes.

"Really great, Ceci," he said. "You've done remarkably well for someone who could barely speak above a whisper at school."

"So untrue!" I laughed, appalled at the way he had turned my insult back on me. "I did just fine, I'll have you know! I spoke well above a whisper!"

He raised his eyebrows incredulously.

"Maybe just not to you." I amended with a sheepish grin.

"You're talking just fine now, Ceci." He said, backing away with a cheeky smile. "I hope I'll get to hear it more often now that you're back in town. See you around."

He didn't wait for an answer, winking at me before he disappeared toward the self check-out.