2. Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Killian
“S he’s gonna notice you if you keep staring over there like a lovesick puppy,” Axel teases me.
Without looking away from my little firecracker, I respond, “I don’t stare like a lovesick puppy, more like a devoted knight.” We’re seated at Naomi’s favorite brunch spot in the city, close enough to see them, but far enough away that they shouldn’t notice.
“Yeah, a demented one who wants to steal her away in the night . . . if he ever gets up the nerve to do it, ” Axel says before popping a piece of bacon in his mouth.
I finally turn to glare at him. “Shut up. I think it’ll be soon.”
“Maybe tonight?” Axel asks. “You know she’ll be drinking at her best friend's party, and I confirmed that her sister won’t be there. She has a red-eye plane ticket.”
I bite my lip as I nod my head. “That could work. She and Quinnly are usually glued at the hip, unless one’s at work or the other’s out of the country.”
“I mean . . . she has visited her at work too. Remember the time she was waiting for Naomi inside the coroner’s freezer box?”
I laugh out loud. “That was definitely an interesting moment. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it.”
“Heads up, boss man. Looks like they’re going to head out.”
I see the two of them stand up. Naomi looks so good with her hair pulled up in a messy bun. “Looks like it.” They both walk toward the bathroom as they continue chatting, paying no mind to the hustle and bustle of the restaurant around them.
This allows us to wait a few minutes to naturally leave when they do. When they leave the bathroom, they’re snickering together.
We get up a couple of heartbeats later and follow them out. They’re heading down the main road instead of toward their car. Axel and I trail behind them.
“Looks like they’re going to the bookstore,” I note. Naomi loves reading. It wasn’t a big hobby of mine, mostly reading what was necessary for school. But I started diving into dark romance and romantasy, wanting to feel closer to her. Honestly, reading the books makes me feel seen and understood in a way that I can’t fully grasp. Even though the stories are fictional, the characters experience so much shared trauma and healing that it makes it feel possible for me too.
The bell chimes as I head into the huge bookstore, leaving Axel outside to smoke. I know exactly where she went, but don’t want to draw too much attention to myself, which is also why I let Axel stay outside.
“Can I help you with something?” the older clerk asks me from the register.
I smile brightly at her. “No, thank you. I’m just looking.”
“Let me know if you have any questions.” She beams at me.
“Yes, ma’am.” I wink at her, which makes her blush.
Slowly, I head to the back of the store where the romance sections are, but browse as I go.
“I hear this one’s super good!” Quinnly says from one aisle over. I keep my distance to avoid being spotted. Grabbing a random book to look through, I try to make it seem like I’m any other reader looking for my next read.
“ These Crimson Bonds ,” Naomi reads out loud. There’s a few moments of silence, I assume she’s reading the blurb on the back. “Ooo, this does sound good. Vigilante romance? Sign me up.” I hear a book being taken off the shelf. “And there’s a second one?”
“I hear book three will be coming out next year,” Quinnly says.
“Gives me time to catch up on these two then! But I’m in the mood for a stalker romance right now.”
I grin mischievously. If only she knew.
“Yeah, you are,” her sister snickers. I put down the book I’m holding and pick up another one after fake scanning the aisle.
Naomi chuckles. “Shut up. I think it’ll be fun. Especially mixed with some kidnapping. Yummy .” That settles it. I pull out my phone and text Axel that it’ll have to be tonight.
“Sounds like a recipe for chaos,” Quinnly says as I hear her move along the aisle to seemingly continue browsing.
“Well, in chaos we reign, baby!” Naomi says. “At least according to this author.”
“I certainly live by that motto.”
Me too ladies, me too.