by Scott, Lisa
His eyes widened.
I swallowed a scream. “Blake? Blake!”
“Shh!” hissed a librarian.
The guy’s smile fell. His face paled. “No, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
“It’s you!” The book slipped from my hands and fell on my big toe. I wore open-toed sandals, and Outlander was a big book. It hurt like hell. I stumbled, gripping the table, and the carefully pyramided books crashed to the floor. Then, I lost my grip on the table and fell on my butt.
Lara squatted down and started picking up the books. “That’s him?” she whispered. “The dream guy?”
I nodded, wide-eyed.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
The guy was backing away, but I crawled toward him. “Wait, don’t go!” I reached out one hand like I could grab him.
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got to get back to work.” He dropped his books on the counter without checking them out and ran out the door.
I sat on the floor and exhaled loudly. “That’s not how our first meeting was supposed to go. And how will I find him again?” My heart raced.
“You could stake out the library every day,” Lara suggested, restacking the books for me.
“I have a feeling he won’t come back for a while after that encounter.” I sighed. “I was too eager. I scared him off. But it was so exciting to finally see him for real.”
“He’s not exactly your type,” Lara said.
I stood and smoothed the wrinkles from my dress. “I know! That’s why it’s got to be the real thing. I must love him for a thousand non-physical ways. Not that he’s unattractive. Did you see his eyes? They were bright green.”
“Add that to the red hair, and you’ve got a leprechaun. Magically delicious, no? Just not someone you usually go for.”
“I’ve got to see what the librarian knows about him.” I searched through my purse, looking for just the right excuse to be inquiring about the man who’d fled the facility like it was on fire. My fingers curled around my favorite cinnamon lip balm. For Blake, I’d be willing to sacrifice it.
At the check out desk, I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, the man who just left dropped this over there.” I set the tube on the counter. “Do you know how I can get it back to him?”
She glanced down at it. “Who, Auggie?”
I gulped. “His name’s Auggie?”
She nodded. “Short for Augustus. He’s in here a lot. Big supporter of the library. I highly doubt he’s going to miss this.”
“Oh, but this is a very expensive lip balm. Very rare.” Lie. I bought it in the grocery line checkout. “It’s only for sale during the holidays. I’m certain he’ll be looking for it. So, where can I find him?”
“I’ll be sure to give it to him next time I see him.”
She reached for it, but I folded it in my hand. “No, I don’t mind dropping it off to him. Does he live or work nearby?”
She stared at me. “Most people who come here do.”
I nodded. “Right, of course.”
She shrugged. “He’s a lawyer somewhere around here.”
Not bad, I thought. Sensing she wasn’t going to give me any additional information about Auggie, I pushed the lip balm toward her. “Well, thanks.”
Lara and I checked out our books and walked to a nearby café to grab lunch. “Lara, his name is Auggie. I don’t think I can marry a guy named Auggie.”
“You’ll have to come up with a nickname for him.”
I poked at my salad, unable to eat. “He’s a lawyer. I wonder if he spends long days at the office.” I looked up at her. “Am I going to be raising our kids alone? Oh my God, I don’t even want kids. Not now. What if he does? What if he wants them right away?” I struggled to breathe.
Lara set her hand on mine. “Take a deep breath, Kim. He ran away from you. You might not marry him after all. Maybe you’ll have a different dream tonight now that you’ve seen him. Maybe the universe introduced you and things have changed.”
“Maybe,” I conceded.
***
But nope. That night I had the dream again. And this time, I made it all the way to the end of the aisle, and he kissed me. His goatee tickled my lips, and I had to bite back a laugh. So, that put Lara’s theory about me being a bridesmaid to rest.
When I got to work, I Googled legal offices near the library. There were six within walking distance. I thought about going to the library again, but found myself strolling along the sidewalk in front of Brown, Miller, and Moore at Law, wondering if he was a partner there. When Auggie didn’t come out for lunch, I walked over to another law firm, but after loitering a bit, saw no sign of him.
I ducked into a coffee shop and froze. There was Auggie leaving the counter with a cup and a bakery bag. We blinked at each other, and I held up my hand in a wave. He spun on his heel and rushed out the door on the other side of the shop.
What the hell? I asked myself. What was this guy’s problem? I wasn’t ugly. Had I been that much of an idiot at the library that he would now run for his life every time he saw me? I left and walked back to the flower shop. I had three bouquets to put together for delivery before two. But all I could think about was how I’d clear up things with him.
After work, I headed for the ATM, determined to avoid the law office that was by the coffee shop. I’d go home and read one of my books from the library, stories where people met and fell in love the good old-fashioned way and not in their dreams.
I opened the bank door, and yep, Auggie was leaving the ATM. His eyes bulged.
Before I could argue that I hadn’t been looking for him this time, he stormed off. Why was this going so spectacularly bad?
Lara came over that night so we could read our novel at the same time and gasp together over the shocking parts.
She sucked in a breath as we sat on the couch. “Wait until you get to page seventy.”
I set my book on my lap. “Shouldn’t Auggie be flattered a woman is paying attention to him? Other men have found me attractive.”
“You’re gorgeous. My friend, Bruno, thinks you’re smoking hot, but I don’t want to risk his possible death by introducing you. He lets me use his jet ski whenever I want.”
“Oh, totally understandable. You use it so often.”
“Seriously, hurry up and get to page seventy.”
I opened my book again, but the words swam in front of me. I sighed, dropping back my head. “And why haven’t I ever noticed him before? Why am I running into him all the time now? Did he just move to town?” I nibbled on my lip. “Probably not. It seemed like the library clerk knew him well.”
Lara said nothing, still reading.
“Maybe he once had a girlfriend who looked like me, and he thinks I’m her?”
Lara slammed her book onto her lap. “Can we please stop talking about the magical leprechaun who has turned up in your life? And since you refuse to read, she kisses his father on page seventy.”
I sucked in a breath. “You’ve broken the book buddy code.”
Lara rolled her eyes. “We don’t have a code.”
“We should, to avoid something like this,” I protested.
“Fine, then let’s also add no talking about boyfriends—real, imaginary or otherwise—during book time.”
I tried to read the book again, but closed it and set it on the coffee table. “Now that I know she kisses his father, I’m not interested. Let’s go to the store. I need a good drink. We’ll come back and watch a movie.”
Lara tossed her book aside, and we went to the wine store a few blocks away. I needed something sweet and bright, so I grabbed two bottles of an interesting looking Sauvignon Blanc. Lara had a bottle of red, and we headed for the checkout. I swallowed hard when I saw a redheaded guy in line.
With wide eyes, I turned to Lara. I was about to dash down the domestic beer aisle when Auggie turned around. He closed his eyes and quietly said, “Will you please stop following me?”
I gasped. “Excuse me? I am not following you. What do you think, I put a tracking device on you at the library?”
“Or the coffee shop. Or the ATM.” He blinked at me, and I wondered how I was ever going to marry this jerk.
I noticed he was buying the same wine I was. He spotted the same thing. He narrowed his eyes and appeared to be searching for something to say, but then he just paid for his purchase, turned, and strode to the door in a huff.
“Geez, you’re really going to marry that guy?” Lara asked.
The clerk paused. “You’re engaged to him?” He gestured to Auggie’s posterior dashing through the door.
“Not exactly.” I sighed. It was so much easier when I dreamed about tumbling teachers and fires.
After we bought our wine, we stopped at the grocery store to grab a movie from the Redbox kiosk. “I want to see that new one with Brad Pitt.”
“Sounds good,” Lara said. And of course, when we got there, Auggie was leaving with the very same movie.
He mumbled something under his breath and left the store.
***
I went back to the library the next day, not to look for Auggie, but to find something different to read. I wasn’t in the mood for romance. As I was checking out, the library clerk handed me back my lip balm. “Auggie says this isn’t his.”
I twisted my lips, wondering if I was heading into stalker territory by asking more questions about him. “Is he new to the area?”
“No. He’s been coming here for years.”
“Huh. Weird that I’ve never seen him,” I said.
“It’s a big city,” she said. “Oh, and speak of the devil.”
I spun around, and there was Auggie.
“And why are you talking about me?”
“I…I…just think it’s weird that I’ve never seen you before and now I see you everywhere.”
“Guess we can just chalk it up to bad luck,” he said.
My jaw dropped. “And good day to you, sir,” I said, stalking off. Another reason not to read more historical romances. They tended to slip into my manner of speaking.
***
We didn’t say a word when we saw each other at the coffee shop the next morning. Though I did notice he put a dash of salt in his coffee like I did. Took away any lingering bitterness. Learned that from my grandpa. Maybe if he were still alive, he could tell me what to do about Auggie. I certainly wasn’t going to ask my mother. Back in middle school, I’d assured her I’d never had one of what she called those “fortune telling” dreams again.
I didn’t care if Auggie was the man of my dreams. He was rude, and I wanted nothing to do with him. So that night, I filled out an online dating profile.
Lara stared at me over lunch the next day when I told her I already had a date lined up for Friday. “Isn’t that risky?” she asked. “For your date, I mean?”
“I can’t end up with Auggie. And it has to be a coincidence that bad things have happened to every man I’ve dated in the last year. That wedding dream is bullshit.”
Lara’s eyes widened. Normally, I wasn’t one to swear. “Make sure you know where the closest emergency room is before you meet this guy,” she said.
When we left the restaurant, we saw Auggie walk in with a few buddies. He rolled his eyes.
“I was here first. Now who’s stalking who?” I asked.
“Whom,” he said.
“What?”
“It’s ‘who’s stalking whom.’”
I glared at him. “You would say that.”
Hurrying outside, I turned to Lara. “I just can’t fathom why I’d ever agree to marry someone like him. Do you think someone could possibly end up blackmailing me into it? I’d never say ‘I do’ to a jerk like that, no matter how buff he is.”
“Oh, just noticing that now?” Lara asked.
“I’ve seen him often enough now that I’ve had a good look.” I crossed my arms as we walked down the sidewalk. “That stupid dream has to be wrong. I haven’t had another dream come true since my cousin crashed her car.”
But that night, I dreamed about him again. This time, after we kissed, he took my hand and we turned to the minister, ready to tie the knot. I woke up in a sweat and punched my pillow.
***
Bryce, the guy I was meeting from the online dating site, was waiting for me at the restaurant when I got there. Happily, he was as cute as he’d been in his profile, and he had a bouquet of flowers for me. As a floral designer, it’s a rare treat when someone gives you flowers; everyone assumes it’s the last thing you’d want. And this was a nice bouquet, with pale pink roses and white hydrangeas. He certainly didn’t grab this from the grocery store checkout line.
“So nice to meet you, Kim,” he said with a smile.
“You, too.” It felt good to be dating again. I’d taken a six-month break since David had disappeared. I’d also avoided eating seafood out of respect for him.
After we placed our orders, we chatted about favorite books and TV shows.
“I’ve been reluctant to try online dating,” Bryce said. “But my sister forced me into it. She has some weird super power over me. And I figured, what’s the worst that could happen?”
I almost choked at that bold declaration. “This is a first for me, too.” I took a long swig of my drink to wash down the giddiness that threatened to spill over. Bryce was cute, funny and considerate. I can’t believe I’d put myself out of the dating game for so long because of that stupid dream. If I ever saw Auggie again, I’d walk right by him without saying a word.
When our meals came, Bryce offered me one of his grilled shrimp, and I decided it was time to lift the ban on seafood. The tangy lime flavor exploded in my mouth. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste, savoring everything about this wonderful date.
Then I opened my eyes.
Bryce’s face was red. His eyes bulged and his hands clutched his throat.
I sprang up from my seat. “He’s choking!” I rushed over to him but realized I didn’t know how to do the Heimlich. I slapped his back a few times, but it didn’t help. A man a few tables away rushed over and wrapped his arms around Bryce’s middle and jerked his fists against his abdomen until a shrimp flew from his mouth and hit the back of a little girl’s head.
“Hey!” she cried.
Just then an ambulance pulled up outside. “We called 911,” our waitress explained.
Bryce sat in his seat, staring at the table. “I don’t need to go to the hospital, I just want to go home,” he quietly said.
I bit my lip. “I’m sorry.”
He looked up at me. “It’s not your fault.”
Yes, it is, I thought. I shouldn’t have risked going out with someone again.
An EMT entered the restaurant. “Let us check you out real quick,” he told Bryce.
“Don’t worry about the bill,” the waitress said. “Just take care of yourself.”
Reluctantly, Bryce left, and I followed him—and bumped into Auggie on the way out.
His eyebrows rose when he saw the commotion.
I said nothing to him, but noticed he was with a woman. Good, I thought. Maybe if he finds someone else, I’ll stop having that damn, cursed dream!
Apparently, Bryce had some damage to his throat, so the EMTs wanted him to go to the hospital.
“I’ll pay for a cab to take you home,” he said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll call a friend. I hope you’re feeling better.”
He nodded and climbed into the ambulance. I knew he wouldn’t call me again. Certainly, he was too embarrassed. That would be fine, though, because I didn’t want to put him in danger again. He’d probably die in a crash on the way to our date.
I texted Lara and asked if she could come get me.
She was quiet for a while when she picked me up, but then she finally said, “I wish I could argue that you’re being ridiculous about this dream, but really, it’s bizarre how things like this happen to you. I don’t know what to say.”
&
nbsp; “Let’s go out later. I need a drink—or ten.”
***
I put on jeans and a t-shirt and my favorite wedge sandals. I didn’t care how I looked, I wanted to get lost in a crowd, dance to loud music, and drink until I forgot my problems. Maybe I would just be single the rest of my life. When we arrived at the bar, Lara got us a bucket of beers and we grabbed a table. “If any guys try hitting on us, tell them we’re lesbians.”
“I will,” she said. “Whatever you need. I’ll even kiss you if I have to.”
“Don’t. You might die,” I warned.
I was tipping back my fourth beer when I saw a guy standing at the bar with red hair. I groaned. “He’s here. I’m going to hide outside for a while.”
I slipped through a door at the back of the bar and stumbled outside onto a small, fenced-in patio area lined with tall shrubs that blocked the view of the street. A perfect little hidey-hole. There were a few empty tables, but no one sat at them. I figured it must be an employee break area. So kick me out, I thought, grabbing a seat.
Then I saw something move in the bushes. Auggie stepped out.
I dropped back my head and groaned. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“You saw me come back here, didn’t you?” he asked.
“No. I thought I saw you at the bar, and I ran back here to hide.” I headed for the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
“We’re locked out. You need a key to get back in. Luckily, the manager takes a smoke break every half or so. He’ll be back soon,” Auggie said, sitting at a table. “I’ve been hiding here since I saw you come in.”
“I don’t bite, you know.” I moved to another table, my back to him. No reason for us to talk. No reason for us to even look at each other. But anger boiled up inside of me. He couldn’t really think I was stalking him. Why was he always so disgusted to see me?
Several beers had given me the courage to confront him. I spun around in my seat and narrowed my eyes. “Why are you so…so…repulsed that you run whenever you see me? Yeah, I didn’t make the best first impression at the library, but I’m not stalking you. I thought you were someone I knew. I mean, you’re not even my type.”
He looked up at the sky.
The moon was playing peek-a-boo in the clouds. On another night with a different man, it would have been a romantic moment.