Hidden Monster Ruins (Earth's Nexus Book 2) by Eve Langlais

Author:Eve Langlais [Langlais, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-20T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

The hotel was a few blocks from the sinkhole I’d visited. Big enough to handle a few hundred people with a convention center, restaurant, coffee shop, and bar attached.

I could hear the music from outside, booming hard. The thump almost got my hips to shiver and shake. It should be noted I’d never clubbed. The fear of touching the wrong person kept me from those venues. But this was a bar. Bars had stools and tables and usually empty dance floors except for the truly drunk later at night. I could totally do this.

The door opened and offered a peek inside. A glimpse of many people clustered together.

I froze on the sidewalk, gloved fingers clenching and unclenching, knowing my flesh was covered everywhere but my face. Didn’t matter. I couldn’t go in there. Too crowded. Too dangerous. Too…

…much.

Not for the first time, my anxiety turned me away from something I wanted to do. If only I had a way to turn off my ability so I didn’t have to be afraid all the time. It would be nice not to panic in crowds.

I tucked my sweater tight and headed for the coffee shop next door for a hot cocoa with marshmallows. I could console myself sugar while I waited for a taxi to swing by and pick me up. I’d expected to have some drinks and hadn’t driven over. I should have known better. I don’t know why I thought this time would be different.

A bell chimed as I entered the store. Inside, a long counter about boob height offered a display window beneath showcasing treats. Across from it, against the wall, were several bistro tables with only the farthest one occupied, the person sitting with their back to me.

“Welcome to Frothy Licks and Sips. What can I get you?” a handsome guy asked with a wink.

“Hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows. Plus whatever that is.” I pointed to something in the display case that might finally kill me with sugar.

“Nine oh four,” he quoted, ringing it up.

I tapped my card and waited for my order while staring out the shop window. It took a moment to register someone was speaking to me.

“I’m sorry?”

“I said, are you here with the historians?” It was the barista asking.

“No. I live here.”

“Never seen you before,” he remarked, serving me the treat first, a tart with a caramel-looking filling topped with toasted coconut and some kind of drizzle. He slid it toward me on a cardboard plate.

I snared it, replying, “I’m not usually in this part of town.” I’d always avoided the more crowded downtown areas when possible, which made my decision to come tonight even more ironic.

“What brings you slumming?” he said with a grin that showed off slightly crooked teeth. It took a second to realize he was flirting with me.

“I, um, heard you had great cocoa?” It was lame. Like me.

“The best.” He winked as he slid the mug over but didn’t let go. I reached for it, my gloved hand not quite touching his but getting close.

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