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I keep my smile in place. “Oh. No, thank you. I’m good. Thanks, though.”
His jaw tics, but I turn back to my drink, opting for a sip of water this time. Coming here alone on a Saturday night wasn’t a good idea.
“You just not feeling it tonight, then?” Clearly he doesn’t like getting turned down.
I let out a breath and look at him again. “I’m sorry. You seem nice, but I’m not interested.” There, I’m kind but firm.
He scoffs at that. “How would you know I seem nice? You haven’t even given me a chance.”
Ugh, this guy needs to back off.“I have a boyfriend.”
A slow grin spreads across his face, and I fight back a shiver. “But do you?
I straighten on the stool. “I’m not interested.” My voice is firm and a bit louder this time. There is no room for misinterpretation here.
He starts to reply, but Todd is standing there. “Hey, the lady said no. You need to back off.”
The man shoots a glare at him and pushes out of his seat. Remaining still, I look straight ahead. I’m not engaging this man any further.
“I see this isn’t going to be easy,” he mutters and slides out dangerously close to me as he steps away. Todd stands there, but another customer down the way yells for him, so his attention is no longer on my unwanted bar buddy.
He walks past me, the heat of his body incredibly to close. He stops, leans in near my ear, and says, “I bet you look good in purple, Bernie.”
I gasp, and in an instant, he’s gone.
Oh my God. What was that?
He knew my name.
I’ve never met that man in my life. I’m shaking, too scared to leave, but freaking the hell out sitting here by myself. I look down. I’m wearing black joggers and a light gray shirt. I’m not wearing purple.
What the hell?
I let out a strangled yelp and clap my hand over my mouth as I remember my earlier search.
“Hey, girly. Found you.” Ruby’s chipper voice barely penetrates my thoughts.
“Bernie, what’s wrong?” Ruby slides into the seat opposite the one just vacated. She touches my shoulder.
“Someone was giving her trouble,” I hear Todd tell her. “Couldn’t take a hint. I told him to get lost.”
“Bernie?” Ruby’s voice is laced with concern.
“Bern, talk to us.” Link comes and stands on other side of me.
I move my hand away and tell them, “He knew my name.” Unsteady tears nearly choke me.
“Okay… that’s not super creepy, but borderline. We come here a lot. He could follow you on Twitch,” Ruby offers.
“And he told me he bets I look good in purple.” My voice breaks.
“I don’t understand. That makes no sense,” she stutters.
“Earlier tonight, in my apartment, something felt off, wrong. I kept freaking myself out thinking I heard something while I was in the shower. But I couldn’t find one of my favorite pair of pj’s, which are purple. I decided I couldn’t stand to be in my apartment any longer, so I came here. Then he showed up.”
“What the fuck?” Link bellows. Ruby makes a noise.
“Bernie…”
