Page 114 of In Somnis

“I’ll let you get to work,” Paul says quietly to me, then leans down to press a kiss to my cheek, his lips lingering near the corner of my mouth. “I’ll be back to drive you home.”

“I can walk,” I protest. Even if I’m unreasonably hurt, I don’t want him to have to come here again in the dark if he’s afraid of it.

“I won’t make you walk home alone in the dark,” he argues back.

“I’ll walk her,” Nevan cuts in, and I shoot him a grateful smile.

When Paul pulls back, his eyes hold mine, and there’s something in them I can’t quite read. Something almost desperate.

I used to be good at reading people. I trusted my readings, but I spent a year and a half being told I was misreading things, overreacting, projecting, being too much, and now I stand in front of a man whose eyes are doing something I recognize and cannot make myself believe what I see.

I don’t know when I got so afraid of being right.

Maybe around the same time I started confusing shrinking with being loved.

Paul is looking at me with pleading eyes.

Strange, mysterious man.

Maybe I retired the serial killer theory too quickly.

“I’d love to see you again,” he says. “Maybe without furniture this time.”

My brain struggles to catch up. “I…uh…”

I fumble for words, and then Nevan clears his throat.

“Restaurant’s closed Mondays,” he offers helpfully. “You two should grab dinner tomorrow night.”

I turn to look at him. What are you doing?

He smiles at me like he’s doing me a favor.

“He didn’t mean a date—” I start, but Paul cuts me off smoothly.

“Tomorrow is perfect. Can I pick you up around three?”

“Three?” Nevan raises an eyebrow. “Bit early for dinner, isn’t it?”

I shoot him another look. Stop helping.

Paul reaches out, his finger lifting my chin to bring my attention back to him. “Three?”

I can’t breathe or think. I can only nod mutely as his thumb glides over my chin before he lets go.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he murmurs, then steps back and heads toward the door.

The second it closes behind him, I let out a breath.

“Did that just happen?” I whisper, turning to Nevan.

He’s watching me with an amused expression. “That definitely just happened.”

“I can’t go on a date with him.”

“Why not?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Because you basically forced him to ask!”