Chapter 2 - What I Like About You

Cara awoke and glanced over at the clock. Two in the afternoon.

“Well, can’t be that surprised.  I did pull an all nighter.”

Her arms stretched over her head as she yawned and blinked rapidly to clear her eyes. She stumbled into her study where she kept the coffee maker.

As she plopped her favourite flavoured cup into the machine she glanced over at the toy monkey on her desk.

“Some good luck charm you are Mr. Monkey. Couldn’t even last a day?!”

She flicked the monkey’s forehead with her finger and the head bobbled but he didn’t fall over. Its little hand still clutched a red talisman, holding it up as if showing it to her but she turned away to get ready for the rest of her day.

After her hit of coffee and hot shower she tied her still damp hair up into a messy ponytail and grabbed her phone. She quickly texted a friend and was happy to hear she was working a shift.

She finished getting dressed in a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. A comfortable and well worn pair of sneakers finished the outfit. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone anyway.

She dashed out the door towards the bookstore down the street where her friend Emily worked. She often stopped by to chat or eat one of the delicious pastries that they sold in the attached cafe.

It was the same place she had met Alex.

The sad thought hit harder than she expected and her hurried steps slowed.

“Whatever! Who needs him! I’m hungry and I need to vent!”

She shook her head and resumed her walk.

Soon the building appeared. Three stories tall, bright blue with an even brighter red door. She found this place when she was a student and always loved how full it was of books of every variety, new and used. The hours she spent scanning the shelves made her into the author she was today and it was always her favourite place to hold book signings or events.

Like the one where she met Alex.

“Stop it Cara!”

Her sudden utterance surprised the old man passing her on the sidewalk outside the store and with a red face she barrelled inside out of embarrassment as the man and his little dog moved aside.

She scanned the first floor and found Emily alone behind the cash register.

“Perfect!” She ran over to her. “Emily! You have to hear all about my best worst date last night!”

Emily tucked a strand of loose blond hair behind her ear as she looked at Cara confused.

“You had a date last night?”

“Yeah! With this great guy I met here at my last book signing. Well, I thought he was a great guy.”

“But last night…”

Before Emily could finish Cara continued. “Yeah, he took me to this great place, well except for the weird waiter, and I really thought we had a connection. I even gave him a kiss goodnight at the end…”  Instead of finishing her thought she simply tilted her head back with a blissful look.

“He even asked me for a second date, but now he’s ghosting me!”

“I don’t understand.”

“Me neither?!  Like, why ask for another date if you don’t want one?”

“No Cara, what I don’t understand when you went on the date. Didn’t you and I go to dinner last night?”

“What? No, I had a date. With Alex.”

“Did you hit your head? You were with me until midnight then you said you were going home to research for your next story. Don’t you remember? We tried a new place with some great food except the waiter, this short black girl with a killer fashion sense, made some weird kinda racist Indian accent when she gave us some kind of toy to take home.”

“Black girl? No, it was a white kid. And I was with…” She looked around confused. “You sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. Didn’t you bring the little monkey home? The one with the blue bandana or something on its head. Should be all the proof you need.” Emily looked exasperated. “You must have gotten too into your research again. Have you even eaten anything today?” A more caring smile crossed her lips.

“Um, no. I guess not.”

“Here, start with mine for now.” Emily pushed a white chocolate raspberry scone towards Cara. Emily’s favourite.

She must really be worried if she’s sharing this.

“Thanks.”

“Excuse me.”

Both women turned to see a handsome man in his mid twenties standing behind Cara, book in hand. A customer.

“Oh, sorry.” Cara stepped out of his way and started taking a big bite of the scone to try and calm her mind.

“Will that be all sir?” Emily immediately switched to a more professional tone as she scanned his order. “Ooo, good choice! Pompeii Passion. Have you read any other books by this author.”

Emily winked at Cara, but Cara was too distracted by her own confusion and the tasty scone to notice.

“Absolutely! She’s one of my favourite authors.” The man scratched the back of his head, fingers lost in his mid length black hair as he awkwardly answered. “I was really hoping to meet her at her last signing but I had to work overtime.”

“That’s terrible. You know, I might be able to arrange an introduction if you want mr…what’s your name by the way?”

“Oh, Alex. Alex McLeod. But really, you could introduce me?!” His face beamed as his fingers tightly gripped the book he just bought.

Cara heard his name and immediately choked on her too big bite of scone. Chunks flew out of her mouth and landed on the stranger’s shoes. She waves towards Emily, desperately hoping she’d pass her a nearby water bottle.

Tears rimmed the edges of her eyes as Cara threw back her head to drink deeply. Meanwhile she desperately stared at the man in front of her. He was handsome, like the Alex she had met the night before, but he looked completely different. Different hair colour. Even the shape of his face. And this man’s build was much more broad, less cubicle warrior and more fitness freak.

“You always do make a great entrance Cara.” Emily laughed.

“Wait, are you the author?!” Alex couldn’t hide his surprise.

Another gulp of water and Cara could at least get out a simple “uh huh.”

“Oh my God! This is awesome! I wish I had more time to stay but I have to get back to work. I just stopped by to get your latest book so I could read it while I hitched a ride to the next construction site.”

“Did you say your name was Alex?” Cara ignored his enthusiasm and fixated on the one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Yeah. I am. Alex McLeod. Named after my ancestor I think. He’s a family hero of some kind after he was charged with assault but got away with it after torching some British ship.”

“What? What did you say?”

“I know, right. Funny story. I wish I could talk more! I’d love to hear all about your writing process.” He scratched his chin sheepishly. “Do you think I could have your number so we can meet up to talk? I promise I’ll buy you dinner or something as thanks! I’m just such a fan!”

“Go for it Cara! Didn’t you just say you needed a date?”

Cara snapped her heads towards Emily. “I said I had one. Were you even listening?” She turned back to Alex, realizing she had too many questions to let him go without getting his number. “Yeah, I’d like that.” She finally managed.

They exchanged numbers quickly.

Cara’s phone buzzed almost immediately as he sent an introductory text. “I’m so glad I stopped by the store today!” Some cheering emojis followed. Cara thought it was cute.

Alex waved goodbye and reluctantly left so he wouldn’t be late for work.

Emily turned to Cara. “Look at you, Casanova.”

“Wasn’t Casanova a dude?”

“You’re missing the point.”

Cara looked anxious. “Sorry Emily, gotta go. Thanks for the scone!” She bolted from the store, letting the door slam behind her, unaware of Emily’s perplexed look.

She raced home, slightly out of breath the whole way.

“Where did I put it again?” She entered her study and looked around. “There!”

She ran over to the little toy Monkey sitting near her VR helmet on a nearby circuit board.

“I was right. Not blue. Red.” She stared at the talisman. “What does this mean?”

She pulled out her phone.

“Maybe if I talk to this other Alex I can figure something out.”

She texted the man she met in the bookstore and got an almost immediately reply. Dinner. Tomorrow.

Cara breathed a sigh of relief that she had a plan to get some answers. She slumped into her chair.

“Maybe I’ll do a bit more research then head to bed early tonight…”

She picked up the headset and put it over her eyes, turning it on.

Once again she missed the red glow that the talisman gave off as it touched the circuits.