Chapter 16

The problem with developing a crush on your boss, besides it being completely unprofessional and just wrong, is that you start to analyze everything they say, and their every move. This leads to a lot of second-guessing an d misinterpretations. Looking for something that just isn't there. Reading too much into every little thing they do.

Grace knew she was already starting to do this. A few times it had felt like Archer was being a bit flirty with her, when it's possible he was just being nice, friendly.

But there's no misinterpreting those texts, is there? she contemplated as she maneuvered through the busy Friday night crowd. He said he was jealous of my "ghoster."

Maybe he's jealous that he can't ghost me like my "ghoster," because he has to work with me? she considered. That seems more likely.

As Grace was lost in her heavy denial, a tall cloaked figure walked into her, their shoulder bumping into Grace's hard enough to make her lose her footing. The contact was unnecessary. The streets were busy, but not so compact that common courtesy couldn't be avoided. She spun around to yell at the person when red eyes met hers from under a heavy, drawn hood. Her breath caught in her throat. When she blinked, they were gone, leaving her standing there wondering if that really just happened.

A few disgruntled murmurs snapped her out of her confusion. She was standi ng in the middle of the sidewalk, interrupting the flow of the crowd.

As she continued her walk, she grabbed her UV flashlight out of her bag. The busier main streets were lit with UV protection at night from streetlights to lamps secured on buildings, but she never considered that creatures could learn to protect themselves. The public has been told that vampires were simply monsters, having lost their humanity when turned, incapable of intelligent thought, driven solely by their thirst for blood. Attacks always seemed random. Victims were at the wrong place at the wrong time. But eyewitnesses have heard them speak, taunting victims before they made their kill. The deceased were often found to have been in a vulnerable situation or without protection.

Grace started to panic a little. Her head became light, and her face started to tingle and go numb.

"You're okay, you're okay," she whispered to herself. "You're almost home."

She dug into her bag and found her restocked holy water spray, arming that in her other hand, along with her house key, so she wouldn't be found vulnerable at her door looking for them.

"Red eyes don't mean vampire," she reminded herself, picking up her pace.

Witches and warlock's eyes have been known to glow different colours depending on heritage.

Could Dimitri's coven be after me?

She would call the cops again Monday morning, demanding to talk to someone to find out everything they had learned about Dimitri.

The reality was, there were numerous, unknown things lurking about, especially at night. She only had two hands and could not arm herself to protect against all possible threats at once.

Grace was able to take her first full, bu t shaky breath after she got home and locked the front door behind her. She then spent the next hour making sure all her windows and doors were locked and all her protections from all things that go bump in the night, and day, were in place and refreshed.

She was looking into her pantry for a little stress snack when her phone vibrated.

Mystery_Man

Grace! I'm the worst. I am so so so so sorry I haven't messaged you. Work has been insane and every time I have a spare moment, it's been too late to text. Please, can you forgive me?

"Oh screw you, Mr. Abs," she barked at her phone.

She placed her phone on the counter, grabbed a bag of popcorn and walked out of the kitchen.

"On second thought," she said, storming back into the kitchen. She picked up her phone and started to type frantically.

Grace

I can't do this tonight. I can't make you feel better about being a shitty person because you just realized you forgot about me and feel bad. I'm not going to be that person who says "Oh it's cool, no worries, I'm an independent woman, blah blah blah" fuck that, Mr. "I have amazing abs so I think I can treat women however I choose"

Life is too short to deal with a guy who's hot and cold. Who won't prioritize me. Like, it's l iterally too short. I think I'm being hunted. How about that?

Grace! Tell me everything. Are you safe? I'll come to you

Don't you dare try playing the hero with me. And don't say life got too busy. My week was busy. I was still able to check my phone. Still able to see that the guy who I thought was into me, decided it wasn't convenient for him these past two days to talk to me. I don't even want to know why, or care

And one last thing. All of you guys bring your phones into the bathroom with you. Don't tell me you couldn't take thirty seconds out of your hour-long shit scrolling, to send a message

I think I just completely fell in love with you

I think you need to lose my contact. I think I need to delete this stupid app

Wait…just give me a second to type something out before you delete me

Please!

PLEASE!

I'm setting a timer for thirty seconds

I'm not joking

Definitely falling in love…

27 seconds

10 seconds

Everything you said was right. I'm a shitty human being, and I do take my phone into the bathroom with me, but it felt icky texting you while I pooped. Anyway. Work was busy, I'm not lying. I'm swamped and have been working from the moment I wake up until too late when I go to bed. I've been thinking about you nonstop, and you're right, I could have sent a message letting you know how busy I am.

I don't deserve you, but please let me make this up to you. Let me prove that this wasn't me ignoring you. Give me one more chance

Please… don't delete me

His thirty seconds were up. She promised him time, but not a response. She selected his profile and hovered her finger over the block button, but decided to leave it for now. She knew making decisions while angry was never a good idea. She didn't know if she would give him a second chance, or if she wanted to, but she thought it could be entertaining to watch him grovel.

Her phone indicated that he had messaged back, but she muted the app and swiped the message away. She would make him wait until Monday.

That night, as tired as she was from her evening excitement, she found herself lying awake, fine-tuned to the night, listening for any noise that shouldn't belong.