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I chuckled, sitting down across from her. "I didn't even realize that you were an author. I knew you were in the arts, but I had no idea you wrote."
She nodded, setting her laptop down. "Yep. Moody, coffee-drinking author who is absolutely killing her agent by not being further along on my next series."
Glancing down at the notes on the table, noticing the more gruesome notes that were scribbled about. "I'm assuming it's a recipe book for the hunter in us all, or you're writing another murder series."
She chuckled nervously, pulling her notes together into a messy pile. "Yeah, it's my genre, apparently. This one is going to be pretty gruesome. That one you bought, it's a bit more on the thriller side. This one definitely has some gross stuff in it.”
"Sounds like a book I might not read," I chuckled. "I seem to be currently living in a murder/mystery."
She wrinkled her nose and leaned forward. "How's all that going?"
I shrugged, sighing. "It's still really at a standstill. I mean, we have yet to really find anyone that fits the bill. I don't know. Whoever is doing this is really good at leaving no evidence."
"Sounds like a character from one of my books," she said. "That stinks. But one thing I've learned doing all this research is every single one in history eventually makes a mistake. They eventually become bigger than themselves. So whether they're pissed because they aren't getting the notoriety they want, or there's some sort of emotion involved, they always make some stupid mistake."
"Good," I stated. "I just hope it's before they can hurt anyone else."
"Me too," she said, her eyes shifting toward the window. "It's the haunting season right now, too. So, it probably doesn't make anything more tolerable."
I shook my head, glancing over at the Halloween display. "That it doesn't."
After several moments of silence, Ariel closed her laptop. "So, what brings you over here? I thought your office was like five or six blocks down."
Nodding, I remembered why I was there in the first place. "Yeah, I was going to pick up some sushi takeout, go home, make a fire in the fireplace, and relax. I didn't feel like cooking today.”
"I love sushi," she said, putting her papers in her bag. "I didn't even realize it was getting so late."
The next question came out of my mouth without even a thought. But once it was out there, I couldn't really take it back. "Why don't I grab sushi for two, and you can come chill at my house, enjoy the fire, and tell me all about your new killer?"
She pursed her lips for a moment, looking down at her watch and then back at me. Then, after several uneasy seconds, she finally shrugged. "Sure. Why not? I have no plans tonight. And I'm starving, so that would be perfect."
"Perfect," I said with a smile. "Write down what sushi you like, I'll pick it up, and you can meet me at my place."
"Actually, why don't we just go to my apartment? If you're okay with that? I mean, it's closer, and we won't risk salmonella or whatever you can get from sushi. We can call Uber Eats and have the food delivered to my door.”
The idea of going to my place was actually nerve-racking, considering I hadn't cleaned or picked up laundry in a week. So, I was happy to only have to go a few blocks anyway. "That would actually be way easier if you don't mind."
She shook her head, standing up. "Not at all. I ended up splurging on this amazing apartment and realized I didn't really have anyone to show it to. So, you can be my second guest.”
I stood, walking toward the door with her. "Second?"
We glanced at each other and, in unison, said, "Meagan."
Ariel giggled, and the sound was almost enchanting. She was such an interesting woman, and I felt like I had known her forever but was just learning who she was. Maybe dinner at her apartment was a bit intimate for two people who definitely weren't supposed to be hanging out alone…or at least my sister said so…but once I was near her, I couldn't turn back.
What could one little dinner harm, anyway?
Chapter Four
I was in awe. I didn't think it was possible. Was this really happening right now? Did I just discover secret abilities that I didn't know I possessed? While creating a new character based on Guy, I was thinking about him and how amazing he was, and he walked into the coffee shop — in person! He was the spitting image of what I had been picturing my character to be. His dirty blond hair was styled just right, his eyes were a deep green, and his jawline was sharp and chiseled. He had on a pair of dark slacks that fit snug in all the right places and a button-up shirt complete with a loose tie. I felt like I was dreaming.
And then he asked me to dinner.
Dinner? Just the two of us? That sounded way more intimate than I was comfortable with, considering we barely knew each other. But then again, it wasn't like we were complete strangers either. And admittedly, I wasn't exactly opposed to the idea of spending more time with him.
"That would actually be way easier if you don't mind." He said, interrupting my thoughts.
And just like that, it was settled. We were going to my place for dinner. Just the two of us. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I couldn't deny that I was excited to find out.
