Dusk Till Dawn

C11

Is she even normal? I think she's left half of her brain in Seattle and only got on the plane with the dense brain.

"Except we aren't a couple, we literally just met." I state clearly, shooting Henry an annoying look. Why is he still standing here?

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, come on don't be daft. Henry, are you free next week?" She asks him.

He smiles and answer with, "Anything for you Nova."

Jerk.

I shake my head. "I'm sorry but I can't next week."

Her face fall. "Why the hell not?"

I roll my eyes as if the reason isn't obvious. "I have a job, remember."

She rolls her eyes like my reason isn't genuine enough. "You are always working, take a vacation."

Right, like it's that easy.

I sigh, knowing she won't let it go. "I will think about it." I whisper and leave her and Henry. I need to find a place to hide and I know just the place. The perks of always coming here with Nova is knowing where all the hideout is.

The indoor pool. It's late, no one would ever find me here, not even Nova. Steve used to be a professional swimmer, actually he is a three times Olympics gold medalist professional swimmer and loves to swim to stay in shape after he retired. They have at least five pools because Jazzy is allergic to chlorine, she has a personal pool, which is where I'm hiding because no one uses it but her.

I stand at the edge, crossing my arms above my chest. I wish I could jump into it and swim my feelings and pain away but I'm a terrible swimmer, in fact I'm not a swimmer. Nova tried teaching me how to swim but she couldn't get me to do it. I'm a lost cause.

What I wouldn't give to listen to Lost Cause by Billie Eilish but I can't because the speaker of old iPhone six is giving me problem besides the music coming from the house is loud enough.

"Hi." The familiar deep voice greet behind me.

I'm not startled this time because even though I didn't want to admit it, I had a feeling he'd show up. I had a feeling someone was watching, I guess I know who it is now because he couldn't have stumbled her, he followed me.

I tighten my grip on my purse and walk two steps backwards before turning around to make my leave. He shouldn't even be here.

Hardin moves in front of me, blocking the exit, the smell of his cologne fills my nose. Oh, that smell.

"Please stay." He whispers.

I shake my head and move to the side to try to walk past him but he moves with me. "I'm sorry but I have things to do."

"You've been avoiding me," he says.

I don't look anyway but his chest and having this weird fascination with his suit button, it's that or staring at him and I have a feeling I might do something I might regret if I stare at his blue eyes.

"I have not," I whisper.

"Yes! You have. You have." He says a little loud this time.

"I'm sorry you see that way," I move to the other side but he's there again. I groan silently. We just saw each other after a whole year yesterday and it wasn't the reunion any of us hoped for or I at least hoped for, but it's what we got. And apart from his morning I haven't seen him until this night.

Does he think I left because of him? I mean it was part of the reason but I don't want him thinking about it like that.

Am I happy to see him? Happy to know he came looking for me? Happy to know he's thinking about me?