Chapter 10 Chapter Ten - Gabriella
I compose myself, make me way back down to the bar, and immediately start helping Cassandra with the drink orders, the whole while my head is spinning. I’ve never had someone look and sound so sincere while telling me something so unbelievable, but at the same time, there is no possible way he could have known I thought they were in a polyamorous relationship, not even in a gay bar. Maybe the God part was a joke, or he’s just got that much of an inflated ego. Common sense tells me he’s talking crap, but there’s that voice in the back of my head that wants to believe him. After all, if it were reversed and I told him, I knew his name because I saw it in a dream because in my dreams I see the future, he’d think I’m as crazy as I think he is. Who am I to judge what’s crazy and what isn’t?
“Ella, are you okay?” Cassandra suddenly asks, making me jump out of my skin. I didn’t even notice her approach me.
“What? Yeah, I’m fine,” I say dismissively. Even in this light, I can see her ebony skin wrinkle in concern.
“I’ve never seen you this jumpy before, are you sure you’re okay?” she presses.
I hand a customer their drink, take their cash and put it in the till before I face her, “Did you give out my name to anyone who asked?”
She frowns in confusion, “No. You know none of us would do that, not after that time Billie’s dad came looking for him,” she says with disgust. Yeah, that was not a good night. “Why, what’s going on?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
“Ella…”
“I mean it Cass. I just bumped into a one-night stand, that’s all,” I say. I figure a half-truth will get her off my back.
“Ugh, I hate when that happens. Like honey, if I wanted your name or number I’d have asked. Take the hint and move on,” she says walking to the other end of the bar, “If he starts getting pushy with you, you come get me and I’ll put these acrylics to work,” she says, flaunting her stiletto nails.
I chuckle but smile at her graciously, “This is why I love you.”
“Girl, who doesn’t?” she says confidently.
With Cassandra now appeased, I get back to work, but the whole time I can’t shake the feeling that Jartre is somewhere around here watching me, but whenever I look around I don’t see him, and he’s not easy to miss, so I guess it’s all just in my head.
It’s 4 am and my shift is finally over, but I can safely say my head has been swimming all night. I tried to be my usual effervescent self, but that interaction with Jartre hasn’t left my mind. I have to admit it’s nice to be able to put a name with the face – or fingers – instead of calling him ‘my mystery man’, which had gotten old real damn fast.
As I’m walking down the street, making my way to my loft, I have my keys in my hand as usual, armed with a spiked ring, a whistle, and pepper spray. Not saying this is a bad neighbourhood, but no woman should take the risk when walking home alone in the middle of the night. I would rather be overly cautious and not need it than need it and not have it.
I take my earbuds out of my bag and plop them in my ears then open up my phone to put on some music. As I stop at the crossing to pick a song, I can hear the sounds of screeching tires and suddenly my field of vision is filled with blinding headlights as a car floors it around the corner way over the speed limit and comes straight towards the curb where I’m standing. It’s coming so fast that I don’t even have time to shut my eyes as it’s just about to hit me when I suddenly feel strong arms wrap themselves protectively around me and a familiar scent surrounds me. I shut my eyes tight bracing for impact that never comes.
I slowly open one eye, still expecting to see bright headlights coming for me, but I don’t see anything. Actually, I see something, but it doesn’t make any sense. I tilt my head back to find bright silver eyes staring down at me as if they saw a ghost. I break my eyes away and look around only to find myself growing increasingly more confused by the second. Jartre’s arms slowly drop as I step back and look around at the inside of my loft.
How the fuck did I get here?
I carefully look around recognising the various knickknacks and photos of me around the room that prove this is undoubtedly my loft. But I don’t understand how the fuck I got here. Did I black out? Even so, how does he know where I live? How did he even get in the building?! I look over at Jartre’s mountain form eclipsing my living room with his size as he stands there patiently watching me.
“There was a car… and then… but how…” I blabber in confusion.
“Now can we talk?”