Page 13 of Chasing Amanda

“You need to get escorts so you’re not on the street alone. I bet campus security would walk with you if you asked.”

“What would I tell them?”

“That some guy followed you the other night, and you’re scared.”

“I guess I could.”

He pulled the knife out of his pocket and set it on the table between them.

Her gaze rested on it. “What am I supposed to do with that?”

“If he comes after you, you’re supposed to use it.”

She paled again. “I don’t think I can.”

He blew out a breath. She needed a plan to protect herself so he could move on.

“Are you busy tomorrow?” The words popped out before he realized what he was saying.

She tilted her head to the side. Her hair swept across her shoulder and rested against her forearm, and he had the strongest urge to brush it back.

He clasped his hands together.

“Why?”

“I’m having dinner tonight with a friend, but I thought maybe we could have lunch tomorrow.”

She nodded slowly. “I don’t even know your name. Shall I just call you Superman?”

He felt a grin spreading and figured he looked like an idiot. “Mark Johnson.”

She held out her hand, which he shook. Small, warm, and soft. It fit against his palm as if it belonged there.

Sheesh, he was losing it.

“Nice to meet you, Mark. I’m Amanda Prince.”

Prince. Princess. It fit.

He pulled his hand away and crossed his arms.

“Lunch sounds great.” She dug in her backpack, grabbed a notebook and a pen, and wrote down her phone number.

He slipped the paper into his pocket. “I’ll walk you home.”

She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

“Amanda?”

Two people approached their table, a guy and a girl, both about her age. The guy had called her name.

“And who’s this?” The girl asked, addressing Amanda but looking at Mark, eyebrows raised, a slight smile on her round face.

“Mark Johnson,” she said. “Superhero.”

Mark did his best to look annoyed. “Just Mark.”

“Superhero?” the guy said, needing no help in looking annoyed.