Destined

Thirteen

I didn't want to answer. Was I still mad at him? Not really. I mean, yes, he did act like a complete stalker and a creep sometimes, but if I was being honest, it did kind of make me feel....cared for. And yes, I know that's some crazy weird stupidity right there but that's how I felt. And really, I didn't want to answer him because of what he said to me the previous night. I didn't want to, couldn't, believe him. It just didn't make sense that he'd be attracted to me, that he'd like me. He was....well he was him. Tall, broad shoulders, chiseled nose, smouldering eyes, wavy jet black hair, a smile that could melt your heart, a voice that...

Please talk to me.-V

I sighed and texted back.

No, I'm not mad at you.-K
You looked really pretty today.-V

The words 'really pretty' coming from him felt ....strange. Like they didn't quite belong in his vocabulary. He was a well renowned author with fifteen books and a literary prowess that rivaled the works of Hemingway, in my opinion anyway.

You saw me?-K
Could barely keep my eyes off of you.-V

Now, I'm not the type of girl that fawns over boys. Sure I've dated like two three guys in my life and they were great, in their own way, but I was a kid, and so were they, this was a whole new unchartered territory for me. Vince was a man in every sense of the word. And I was at a complete loss in our sudden predicament. I just didn't know what to do. So I called him.

"Kristina," he answered on the first ring.
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked immediately.
"You're going to have be more specific than that,"
"Am I some sort of joke to you?" I asked.
"You're angry again," he said calmly, his calmness irking me even further.
"Damn right I am, what do you want from me?"
"Funny you should ask, I just finished writing my first draft of Final Attachment, I was hoping you'd proof read it,"

My world froze. If you love books as much as I do, you know it was a real dream to have your favorite author tell you he was giving you a drafted copy of the next installment of one of your favorites series, way before it was due to be published, way before anyone else would read it, hell, way before it was a done deal and was still subject to change.

"Kristina? Are you there?"
"Um, I'm here, did you just...you want me to proof read your book?"
"Yeah, I told you this before,"
"Yeah, but, you were serious?"
"Yes, since you're such a big fan, I thought you would enjoy it, you'd have to sign an NDA first but other than that you..."
"I'd love to read it," I said unable to stop the smile that split my face in two.
"Great. When can we meet, I have the papers ready,"
"I'm at a book store right now, it's going to take me a while to head back to that side of campus,"
"No problem, I'll pick you up. What book store?"

I gave him the address and fifteen minutes later, he was there, still snazzily dressed in his dark suit with black shiny shoes to match.

"You're reading The Grave Digger," he said with a raised brow as he sat down beside me when he saw the book in my hand.
"I've never read this one," I said.
"How do you like it so far?" He asked.
"This guy's a jerk," I deadpanned.
He laughed, "Yes, yes he is. Why didn't you just ask me for a copy?"
"That never occurred to me actually," I said sincerely.
"I wonder why that is," he said.
"So, where's the draft?" I asked, eager to get my hands on the new book.
He laughed, "Not so fast, you've got papers to sign first. And you have to do something for me,"
"I should have known this was a trick,"
"No trick, I just want us to talk,"
"Fine, speak,"
He stood, "Not here, I'm hungry, have lunch with me," he held out his hand.

Honestly, I was a little afraid to take it but I decided there would be no harm. So, mastering up all my courage, I placed my hand in his and stood. He took the book from my other hand and replaced it on the 'free' rack before he led me out of the store. We crossed the street, hand in hand, to a diner. I was glad he didn't choose to take me somewhere fancy because that would have felt too much like a date and I wasn't sure I needed any more confusion where he was concerned.