My heart stops beating for a moment. I have difficulties grasping that this is being real, that he is truly here.
He is clad in a stylish long coat, his legs in black jeans, his black hair is gelled back. As usual, he looks like he jumped right out of an ad.
“No way,” I mutter, my heart stopping for a moment. What is he doing here? And why? A whirlwind of emotions catches me, about to pull me completely under. I can feel a piercing sensation in my chest and in my head.
Why… why…
“Wow, who’s that?” Robin asks.
“Michael.” I feel the old dread gripping my heart again, at the same time cursing myself for it. Michael had nothing to do with what happened to me, in fact, he always had my back. It’s because of him that the truth even came to light. I should be thankful, not terrified. “My old boss.”
twenty-six
*SOREN*
Robin and Valentina have their heads together, whispering excitedly while staring at two figures further away. One of them I recognize instantly. It’s Leo. The other is one of the most handsome men I have seen in a long while.
Definitely more handsome than I am!
What’s going on?
“Who’s that?” I ask with a frown.
Aspen looks equally suspicious, so at least I have the excuse of not being unreasonably jealous. “I have no idea, but Leo looks nervous.”
He is right. There is a visible tension in Leo’s shoulder. I make sure to pick up my pace and approach Robin and Valentina.
“You won’t believe it,” Robin whispers before I can even voice my question. “That’s Michael.”
“And who is Michael?” I ask.
“Leo’s former boss.”
Aspen sits down next to Robin, while I take the empty seat next to Valentina. We must look stupid the way we are sitting in a row like sparrows on a power line. But no matter how stupid we look, we all want to watch what’s going on. It’s curiosity on the others’ part, and more like anxiety on mine.
I don’t know much about Leo’s former job, just the way it ended for him and how he was blamed and framed for a crime he didn’t commit. He did mention, though, that his boss supported him.
So, it’s good that he is here, isn’t it?
Why don’t I feel good then?
“I don’t believe I have ever seen anybody as handsome as him,” Valentina mutters.
“Don’t let Hector hear that,” Aspen says.
“Hector would say the same,” she argues.
“Talking about Hector, where is he?” I ask.
“Went on a walk with Barkley.”
“Valentina is right, the man looks like he jumped right out of an ad,” Robin says. “The body is tea, too.”
“You can barely see it,” I argue.
“I see enough,” he says with Valentina nodding her approval.
“Do we know anything about the guy?” I ask Aspen.
