Mated

Chapter 8

Zoey's POV

I was smiling as I entered the café, unable to calm my racing heart.

Seth's eyes blazed as he watched me, an eyebrow raised in question.

"You seem happy?" he mused as I tied my apron.

Humming a yes, I began cleaning the tables.

"Spill, I know something happened."

Ignoring him I focused on the tables.

"Z..." he whined.

"Please, you have to tell me. Was it Hunter? I have his number, I can call him." He threatened as he reached for his phone.

"Fine."

Cheering Seth sat, his head resting on his hands.

"We ran into him at the park. He explained everything and I agreed to give him one more chance."

"So, you're going on another date?"

"I don't know, I gave him my number." I admitted, sitting down beside him.

For a second Seth sat there silently, his fingers brushing against his chin as he thought.

"So, you trust him now? Even after all the weird crap his family did?"

Did I trust him?

A part of me does, the same part that wants to be near him. But the rest of me is remaining optimistically cautious.

After Sam, I can't risk allowing myself to be controlled or completely dependent on anyone.

"I'm not sure. I want to trust him, and I can't blame him for the things his family said."

Seth nodded as I spoke, listening intently.

"Makes sense, he did seem genuine when he came to look for you."

As a group of students walked in, we both went back to work.

The rest of the day my mind stayed on Hunter, hoping I truly could trust him.

By the end of my shift, I must have checked my phone a hundred times.

He hadn't called or texted me. Nothing all day.

Maybe he wasn't as keen as I had thought he was.

Sighing, I packed my things and closed up the café.

The sun had long gone down, leaving the dim streetlights to aluminate my way home.

As I walked down the narrow high street, I began to quicken my pace.

The back of my neck began to burn, as if someone were staring at me.

My heart began to race as the sound of footsteps echoed in the darkness.

Without hesitating I pushed my legs to go faster.

Running I bounded up the stairs to my apartment, slamming the door behind me.

Panting I hunched over, my hands gripping my knees.

What the hell just happened?

Tentatively I moved the curtains, peeking out the window.

There's nothing there, the street is completely empty.

I must have imagined it.

Shaking my head, I made myself dinner.

Trying to ignore the pit forming in my stomach.

By the time I was getting into bed, the strange events from earlier had faded from my mind.