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“It’s high school. Babylon and Saint Mary’s.”
“High school games are even better. Yes!”
“Okay, I’m going to pick you up like it’s a real date,” he said, getting out his phone. “Because it is a real date. Address?”
She told him, and he winced. She lived in the Execu-Suites, where he had once lived after his divorce from Lisa.
“My apartment turned condo,” she explained, “and I wasn’t ready to buy in the building. Hopefully, I’ll find something else. It’s not easy right now. There are no vacancies anywhere.”
“It’s a good place to be temporarily. I lived there for a short time after a divorce.”
“Okay. Interesting.”
“Do you have family nearby?” he asked.
“Everyone’s in Philly and South Jersey. I’ve been here since college.”
“Are you going home for the holiday?”
“Probably not. What about you?”
“Nah. I’ve got three kids here in Babylon, and it’s easier for me to make my plans around their whereabouts. I don’t like leaving town, anyway.”
“You know, more people are getting like that! I am, too. When I go back to Philly, I can’t wait to get home. Even to my crappy apartment.”
They talked for another ten minutes, and Samantha’s phone beeped.
“Time to get back to work. I should be home in time for the game but will text you if I’m going to be late.”
They exchanged numbers and left the coffee shop together.
Hocus watched Samantha as she stood behind her door, eyes closed as chills ran over her body. Once again, the decision whether to remain quiet about what she’d observed challenged her. There was a limit to her responsibilities, and unless a person specifically asked for a reading, she had to keep her thoughts to herself.
Another observer watched from across the street, arms crossed, seething. Leaning against the cold brick of the building didn’t help. So, the redheaded detective was her replacement. She didn’t care about Dan. That wasn’t the point. The second betrayal in a short time was too much.
At Samantha’s car, Dan stuck out his hand to shake hers. “I enjoyed that a lot, Samantha,” he said sincerely. “I’m determined to change my MO. I keep saying that, and then it doesn’t work.”
“What’s your MO?”
“I jump in too quickly, and the relationship devolves into failure within a month.”
“Okay, we’ll do it differently, then. If this has a chance, I’ll do what I can to facilitate it.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ve heard you have a problem with monogamy.”
Sputtering, Dan laughed and didn’t take offense. “Jeez. People always say that, but I can give you examples of my last few serious relationships, and I wasn’t the one that ended them.”
“That’s not necessary. I hope you aren’t insulted. I shouldn’t have repeated that.”
“It’s okay, Samantha. I think people get it in their heads that I just flit through life without a care, and that’s not true. I was married and had a child, and then Alan and my wife got involved. I know I had a hand in the issue, but I wasn’t the one to leave.”
“I’m sorry you went through that. I’ve never been married or even engaged.”
“Wow, I’ll be careful with you, then.”
“Don’t be careful,” she replied.
