CHAPTER SIX

I put in extra effort to avoid Ethan over the next few days because, honestly, I'd like to live a little longer, and the smartest thing right now is to keep my distance, you know what I mean?

Friday night comes along, and it's the usual end of the workday routine. I'm still responsible for training Ethan, but starting from Monday, he'll be working independently. I can't wait!

After finishing our usual cleanup and making sure everything is in order, I'm more than ready to head out. Just as I'm about to leave, I see Ethan gesturing for me to wait.

“Hey Tigress, do I need to submit an application just to see you these days?” I know he's joking, but I can't muster a smile.

He notices my expression, and his features soften. “Hey, did I do something wrong? Why have you been avoiding me?”

I might as well tell him now. “You know where I live.”

He chuckles, “Of course I do, I walked you home on Monday.”

I shake my head. “No, you don't get it. I didn't give you my address, but you walked me to the front of my apartment. How did you get my address?”

“Oh, I probably saw it when I was going through the employee data log. I found it in Mr. Nicholas's office on Monday. Subconsciously, I thought you told me.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better. I'm not sure I can trust you. I know I was being followed that day, and I was scared. Then suddenly, I see you, even though you don't live around that area. Coincidence? I think not.”

“I swear to you, Lucia, I wasn't following you that day. I only went to see my sister and my nephew. They live in the building complex close to the alleyway. Why would you think that of me?” With that, he walks away, leaving me feeling a bit sorry for accusing him.

Valid question, Lucia. Why do you assume the worst of Ethan? He has been nothing but kind to you since you met him. You've let your paranoia get the best of you. Way to go, Lucia.

“Oh well, another one bites the dust.”

I wake up the next day feeling worse. I need to apologize to Ethan, and I need to do it quickly. He doesn’t deserve all this suspicion. Since I'm already dressed, I decide to go for an early morning run to improve my mood. I plug in my headphones and put on my running shoes.

Just one breath of the morning fresh air, and I'm already feeling better. I'm about to start my run when someone pushes me.

“What the hell? Watch where you're going,” I say to the person's back. Not that I can complain too much; he's got a fine ass.

“You shouldn’t be standing on a walkway then, smartass,” he responds without even sparing me a glance. How rude!

“I was going to run before you pushed me,” I yell back.

“Alright then, you've got the push you needed, literally. Now move, or someone else might come along and push you again.”

I'm so not in the mood for this right now. I turn the other way and start my run, raining profanities at him.

“Look who decided to run. What a beautiful time to be alive.” Ugh, it's him again.

“Are you stalking me? Is this your way of flirting? If it is, then let me be the first to tell you that you're doing it all wrong.”

“Unfortunately, I'm not trying to flirt with you. You're not my type.” He berates me.

Ouch. “Thank goodness I'm not your type. I don’t want to have to go through the awkward phase of rejecting you because you're also not my type.” Okay, that's a lie. He's precisely my type. Have you seen that smile? The height? The body? The natural tan? Lord, have mercy.

“Interesting. So what is your type?” He asks, intrigued, slowing his pace so we can run together.

“I can’t lie, anyone who's not you.”

“So short, ugly, and fat? Damn, mama, you've got horrible taste.”

“No, well-mannered guys who don't push girls and blame them for standing in the walkway, and apologize if they accidentally do.”

“Fair enough. You shouldn't be with a guy like that either.”

“Yeah, now give me some space to run.”

“Hey mama, you don't own this road, so you can't tell me where and where not to run.” He runs backward and winks. “A little show for the road.” Then he turns and runs off in another direction.

Is this some kind of cosmic payback for hurting Ethan? I'm sorry, please, never bring that guy my way again.