Chapter 12

"Ugh, why in hell is my head throbbing?"

I say as I groggily rub my eyes and wake up. I look around, only to see a guy behind me. More precisely, a half naked guy. Shirtless.

Are you serious??

I slowly sit up from my position and take a peek at his face.

Damon?

What am I doing here with him?

My head throbs painfully, preventing me from trying to remember memories of last night.

I look around and realize that this isn't even my room. I grab my phone from the side-table and check the time right now.

It's just 6 o clock. I have plenty of time to get out of here and head to work.

I looked down at myself and realised I am fully clothed. And other than the fact that my make-up is horrifyingly smeared all over my face, as I can see from the wardrobe mirror on the left side of the bed where I was lying, and that my dress was crumpled badly, I was absolutely fine.

I glanced at Damon. He was smiling in his sleep. He looked peaceful, almost angelic I could say.

I stand up and head towards the washroom, and I remember memories of my panic attack and Damon calming me slowly. I shake my head and wash my face properly before gathering my purse, phone and shoes and heading towards the door.

I don't know exactly how and why I was in there with Damon, but I will figure it out on my way home.

I try the knob and it opens without the hitch.

I slowly and quietly close the door behind me, as not to wake Damon up and leave Damon alone in his bed, sleeping peacefully.

—•—

I notice hundreds of missed calls and texts on my phone from my friends and I feel guilty for leaving them alone in the club, without giving any explanation.

The kids must be so worried. Shit.

I quickly call up and hope to God that he somehow answers my call so early in the morning.

Fragments of last night are starting to come back to me, and I know it won't be long before I remember everything.

"Hello?" Hunter's panicked voice snaps me out of my memories of last night and I can't help but release a sigh. Both disappointing and relieved.

"Hunt. I am so so so sorry. The kids are okay, right?" I rush out, simultaneously walking out of the building and reaching the exit of the club making sure to leave as unnoticed as possible.

"The kids are fine. Where in hell where you last night?! You could've at-least let me know. Or a text would've worked fine as well, you know?!" If I wasn't so busy trying to calm him down, I would've 'aww-ed' at him for caring for me so much.

He is such a manipulative annoying but caring sweetheart.

"I am sorry. I should've informed you. I fell asleep. Can you pick me up from the cafe across the club we went to last night?" I ask, crossing the road carefully to reach the cafe.

"Okay. But you know that everyone, including me, will kill you, right?" Hunt says and I can hear him rustling around the room getting dressed and prepared.

"Yeah I guessed," I say, letting out a small chuckle.

"We were all so worried, Andy," He sighs and I hum a little as a yes.

He pauses talking for a moment.

"By the way, what in the world do you mean you fell asleep? Where? With whom?!" Hunt sounds like a giddy child.

I had been so busy with the kids for the last 5 years that I never had proper time to think about a partner in my life. Hunter always pushed me to go on dates or to find someone to connect with. I never paid much attention to that. My kids and I were enough for each other, and they didn't need someone else, Hunter did a good job at being a father, friend and family to my kids when I was gone.

There were many people who would care for my kids other than me, so I was not really worried about searching for a partner.

And now, if I decide to tell Damon about his kids, they might have a real father. We could maybe take a chance at being a complete family.

But I know it's only just daydreaming.

"Just pick me up. I'll tell you on the way," I say, groaning.

A guy, waiter, comes towards me to take my order. I hold up my hand and finish talking to Hunt before looking up, only to see Luther.

"Luther?"

"Andy?"

We both say at the same time, and I tuck a few strands of hair behind my ear. Luther chuckles nervously and hands me the menu.

"Regular Latte, with no cream, two extra shots of caffeine and extra sugar. I will put my sugar myself," I say, and offer him a small smile.

"Yeah, I know, I remember," Luther says and heads to the counter before I can say anything else in response.

As I wait for Hunter to come pick me up, I try to force my memories of last night to return. I feel like there is something very important that I should remember, but I just can't. My head starts throbbing painfully again, and I stop myself from pushing my memories.

I look out the glass wall that faces the side of the road on my right side and stare at the people passing by. As much as I try not to think about Damon, my mind seems to be going back to him no matter what.

Luther doesn't come back. Someone else brings me my coffee and I start sipping it in peace. Coffee has such a calming effect on hangovers. I smile gratefully at the waiter and he smiles back, before taking his leave.

Quite suddenly, someone plops down on the empty seat facing me. I jump a little in fright.

I look at the guy that just disturbed my peaceful mood and glare at him.

Marcus Gray.

He has a huge contagious smile on his face and as much as I try to stop my face from lifting up and smile at him, it lifts up anyway.

"I told you. You'll see a lot of me," He smirks, calling on a waiter to place his own order.

"Yes, I remember. Are you stalking me?" I ask, trying to be as blunt as I possibly can be without coming off rude. Hangovers usually make me rude and blunt.

"Ooh somebody seems to be in a bad mood, but no. Quite the opposite actually," he says, leaning back in his chair and wrapping his arms on his chest.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" I ask, rolling my eyes and sipping my coffee.

Even though I met this guy just a day ago, I, for some weird reason feel comfortable with him like I can tell him anything and be myself around him. Like I've known him for years.

"I mean that I had no intention of seeing you until next week or so," He says, looking straight in my eyes.

His eyes are so... I don't know, actually. It's unexplainable. But his eyes have a kind of strange pull that makes me want to drown in his eyes and never resurface.

I blink and snap out of my trance.

"And what exciting do you mean by that Mr. Gray? And if you weren't supposed to meet me till next week, what are you doing at my table today and now?"

The waiter comes and serves him his coffee. He takes a sip from it and stares at me with a small smile.

"I am at your table because I don't see you complaining at the company," he smirks and winks at me. I roll my eyes in response, but my lips still pull up into a smile. "And about the meeting next week, you will understand when I meet with there again," he says, with a mysterious smile.

For some reason I find myself more than eager to solve the mystery that is presenting himself in front of me as Marcus Brown.

"Alright. But let me assure you, I will figure it out before then. Don't you worry," I smirk.

"Is that a challenge, Ms. Harper?" He asks, his eyes holding a strange glint, as though he is both curious and interested in my participation.

"If that's what you would call it," I say, lowering my voice a little to indicate that I am in.

"If you're in, I am in too," He smiles and stands up.

As he walks out the door, with his finished coffee cup empty at my table, my eyes keep following him. And just before he opens the door and gets out, he looks back at me, throws me a flirty smile accompanied with a wink.

The moment he is gone out the door, my face widens into a huge happy smile. The kind of smile that probably hasn't crossed my face in forever.

His antiques, his behaviour, his mystery, everything feels familiar, but also unfamiliar. There is something about him that I can't quite put my finger on.

Hunter comes and picks me up, but even as we drive home, my mind stays stuck on Marcus Gray.