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"It's the perfect morning for a walk, isn't it?"
Smiling, I turn around so fast I nearly tumble forward. It isn't Rory who catches me like I hope. No. Someone else is standing in front of me, helping me to regain my balance. The man from the bookstore. His gray-blue eyes blink at me.
"You okay? I didn't mean to startle you."
"I'm fine," I assure him, standing up straighter, realizing how similar our height difference is to mine and Rory’s. The small coincidences continue to catch me off guard as he rubs the side of his forehead the same way Rory does when he's scratching an itch underneath his horn. Except this guy doesn't have horns. No tail or claws. He's like me and everyone else I know. Ordinary and predictable in his basic clothing. He won't cut me or heal my wounds.
Even though he should be, he's not what I want. With Rory, there's a guarantee I won't know what happens next. That no day will be the same as the last. With this guy, all I'll experience is a regular walk on the beach.
Wait. Isn’t this private property? How did he get here? Did he track me down? I rarely ever see anyone out here.
"You sure?" he asks again, resting a hand on my shoulder, and a warm sensation comes over me. It's a strange case of déjà vu, a feeling of me being here with him before. I haven't though. Have I? I stare into his warm, breathtaking eyes again. Surely lots of people have pale grayish-blue eyes. People… Demons.
"I think so. Just a little caught off guard. Where'd you come from?"
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looks around. "A car brought me. You left this behind at the bookstore the other day and I wanted to bring it back to you." He hands me my driver’s license.
"I… How did that fall out of my pocket? I could have sworn I saw it yesterday before bed."
"Kind of impossible if you left it behind." He purses his lips, pushing the wallet into my hand.
"Yeah. I guess so. Thank you." Taking the wallet, I shove it in the side pocket of my basketball shorts. I wasn't planning on going anywhere today so I dressed for comfort. I planned on staying here with Rory, showing him I wasn't scared of him. Letting him know I forgive him. He really didn't mean to hurt me. It was an accident. One I oddly welcomed with a squirting dick.
Wait a minute, how did this guy find where I'm staying? "How'd you know I'd be here?" I blurt out.
"Oh uh, I looked at your license and asked around if they knew of the last name. This house has been around as long as it's been in your family."
My shoulders relax. "Oh. Yeah, it's pretty old." I shuffle where I stand, feeling bad for accusing the nice man who brought me back my wallet of being a stalker. "Thanks again."
"No problem. The car won't be back for me for another hour or so. Would you like to take a walk with me? Can't let a day like this go to waste. The weather is perfect. Not too hot or warm."
"I… I don't know. I'm staying with someone and I should at least let him know I'll be gone first."
"I'm sure a short walk won't be a problem. You can tell him where you went when you get back."
"I'd hate for him to think the worst. I won't take long, I promise."
"Okay. I'll be here waiting when you get back."
I run into the house and search every room again for Rory, coming up empty-handed. Where is he? Will we run into him on our walk? Finding a piece of paper and pen, I jot down a quick note about where I'll be. The bookstore guy is standing right where I left him, looking perfect under the sunlight while running a hand through his hair.
"Ready?"
Glancing back one more time at the house, I nod. "Yeah."Where are you, Rory?Will he be here waiting for me like before? I'm ready to get this walk over with so I can find out. I don't want to leave but I also don't want to keep watching the door, waiting for him to walk through it. I say it's because I'm worried the wrong person will see him or he'll get lost but my heart says otherwise.
"We'll go this way today." He points forward, already walking ahead of me.
Today. He acts like he'll be back tomorrow too. Trying not to put too much thought into his words, I catch up to him and neither of us speak for a long time. He's the first to break the silence, bending down to pick up a black seashell. "This one sure does look out of place, surrounded by all the light-colored ones."
Leaning closer, I stroke the top, smiling down at him. "Yeah. I like when things stand out. Is it okay if I keep this one?"
Smiling wider, he nods. "Of course. It's all yours.” I feel like he's offering me the whole world when he slips the shell in my back pocket.
We walk some more, stopping to collect more shells or stick our feet in the water. A lady passes us, walking a small brown dog on a leash, and Rory immediately drops to the ground, petting and exchanging kisses with the dog. Wait… not Rory. Why did I call him that? What's his name anyway?
My thoughts temporarily slip away when I'm distracted by the goofy, playful man in front of me. Me and the lady laugh as he grabs the dog by her front paws to dance with her. Maybe he surprises me after all. I smile as easily as I do with Rory. I never thought it was possible for my cheeks to ache so much until I met Rory. Now it's happening again, and I don't know whether to be relieved it's with a human or disappointed he's someone else.
When the dog and lady head for the water, we go toward a vendor selling shell necklaces and bracelets. The stranger, whose name I still don't know, swipes his card into a card swiper attached to the vendor's phone before lifting up a leather necklace with a sand dollar in the center. "For you."
