The man next to me ignored my obvious attempt to put some space between us and moved closer until the side of his leg was touching mine. I don't like feeling trapped, but I really don't like being touched by strangers.

"Can you please move over some? You are kind of smashing me into the window," I quietly asked. He ignored me and grabbed a piece of my hair, twirling it around his fingers.

"Darling, I can show a good smashing if you want," he said, running his hand down my arm.

I shrugged him off and made my voice as harsh as possible, "No. You need to leave now. All three of you. Go."

He laughed at me. They all did. I felt my face heat up with embarrassment and the man reached for my hair again.

"Stop. Please...leave...or I will...."

"You will what?" he mocked.

Cry. "Scream," I replied, trying to sound confident but my voice came out squeaky and quiet.

"You won't do that, darling."

I wouldn't and I hated the fact that he knew that. I could barely make full sentences and my heart was pounding so hard, I was pretty sure they could hear it. I felt a foot run up my leg under the table and I shot a glare at the man across from me. He smirked and I moved my legs to the side, trying to avoid his feet.

"Stop.... please," I pleaded and the man next to me put his arm back around me, pulling me into him.

"Babe!" I hear a voice call, "Are these guys bothering you?"

I looked up to see a brown-haired man, smiling at me but at my nod to his question he sent a glare to the man holding me.

"Respectfully, if you don't get your grubby unwashed greasy hands of my girlfriend this very instant, I will personally rip you out from this booth and respectfully, I will rearrange your ugly face."

He continued to smile but his voice was low and kind of intimidating. He was kind of intimidating, especially with the way he placed his hands on the edge of the table and leaned down toward the man sitting next to me. With a scoff, the man removed his hands from me and begrudgingly got out of the booth. The brown-headed man immediately took his place. He dipped his head next to mine and quietly whispered against my ear, "Just go along with it for now."

He casually slung his arm over my shoulders, and I responded by leaning my head against his shoulder. He rubbed his hand up and down my arm, but I did not feel as uncomfortable as I did when the other man did that same gesture.

"Well gentlemen, as fun as this has been, I would like some time with my girlfriend. Alone."

The men across the table from me frowned but got up anyway. The initial man looked back at me and said, "You are just a slut who is probably bad in bed anyway."

The man holding me let out a small laugh, "I can assure you that she is far from bad. Unfortunately for you, I don't like to share, and she dislikes creeps. So, bye bye now." He waved his free hand in a dismissive manner. The other men scowled, and I wanted the world to just swallow me whole. I could only imagine how red my face was and I took a few slow deep breaths, trying to calm myself down.

"They are gone now, you can stop smelling me," the man said, and I immediately jerked my head up, once again feeling embarrassed.

He slid over some, removing his arm from my shoulders and I sighed for what seemed to be the hundredth time that night.

"Are you okay?" he quietly asked.

Definitely not. "Yeah, thank you."

"Anytime. My name is Elijah, but everyone just calls me Eli," he said, trying to ease the awkwardness between us. Or maybe I was the only one feeling awkward. He seems relaxed and confident; two things I almost never feel.

"This would be the time that you normally would share your name, but I can just keep calling you babe if you want," he teased, and I finally looked up at him. His blue eyes caught me by surprise for a moment because they were stunning. I have blue eyes though so maybe I am biased.

"Right...sorry. My name is Summer. Thank you for helping me out, babe," I teased back, surprising myself and him. But his surprise was momentary because he folded his hands behind his head and leaned against the back of the booth.

"That was just a one-time thing, Summer. I am going to need your number before you call me babe again," he winked, and I blushed.

"I don't give my number out to random men in bars," I replied.

"Worth the try."

I rolled my eyes and turned my head away from him, looking out the window but I could see him in the reflection, studying me.

"You are by yourself," he stated.

"Not tonight," I said, still not facing him, "I came with my friend."

"Sure, or you could just say that you don't want my company and I would believe you."

"I don't care if you believe me or not. I did come with my friend; I just don't know exactly where she is right now."

"What is your favorite color?

"What?" I turned back around to look at him. He smiled at me, his blue eyes shining with amusement.

"I asked you what your favorite color is."

"I heard you the first time. Why do you want to know?"

"Are you normally this stubborn? I am just making casual conversation."

"I am not stubborn."

"That is exactly what a stubborn person would say," he retorted.

"Fine. My favorite color is blue. I like all shades, but teal is probably my favorite."

"See, that wasn't so hard," he said, scooting closer to me before dipping his head down close to mine. I pushed my hand against his chest, intending to move him away but he captured it with his own, "They are still watching, Summer. Waiting on me to leave so they can come back."

My face heated up again, "Oh."

He didn't make any move to put space between us and kept my hand pressed against his chest. His hand was warm and firm against my own and I could feel his heart beating under my hand. I was very aware of how close he was to me, so I drew in a breath and slowly exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. When that didn't work, I focused on the feeling of his heart beating. Thump, thump, thump, thump. Steady. Strong. One...two...three...four...

"Are you seriously counting the beats of my heart right now?" he whispered.

I froze but forced myself to meet his gaze, "Are you seriously going to pretend that your heart didn't speed up when I first touched you?"

He blinked in surprise, and I continued, "If you are going to keep holding my hand over your heart, you can't expect me not to notice. I am kind of trained to notice things like that."

He let go of my hand and I removed it from his chest. He sighed and pushed his hair back from his face.

"Are they gone yet?" I quietly asked.

"You are so funny!" He laughed louder than necessary, tipping his head back to sneak a glance behind him.

"Yes, they are gone now."

"Thank you, Eli."

"Can I ask you a question?" He dropped his voice, and I gave him a confused look but nodded.

"Did my heart really speed up or did you just say that to annoy me?"

I smirked, "You tell me."

He returned my smirk, "Hmm, well, I think your heart was beating faster than mine."

"Of course it was. It always beats harder and faster than it needs to. It's an overachiever like that," I said flippantly, as a joke but there was too much truth in that statement for it to really be a joke.

He was silent for a moment, so I decided to say something else, "You don't have to stay anymore. I am really fine. I appreciate your help with those guys."

"It was my pleasure. Those men were creeps, but they weren't wrong; you are beautiful."

And with that Eli slid out of the seat, placed his hands in his pockets and sauntered out the door into the night.

They weren't wrong; you are beautiful.

His words repeated themselves over and over in my head and I almost instantly regretted not giving him my number. I glanced down at my phone to see that it was almost ten and I was definitely feeling tired. This evening had not gone according to plan at all. I sent Jenny a text telling her I was ordering an Uber and she just texted back with a thumb's up emoji. So much for being my friend.

I took another sip of my water and waited for the Uber confirmation. The notification popped up on screen and it said it would be at least forty-five minutes until it was here. Oh well, I guess I will just wait until then. I am not waiting here though; I need some fresh air. I collected my things and walked out of the bar. The cool air greeted my face with a gentle reminder that winter would soon be making her appearance.

I pulled my jacket tighter around my body, a shiver going through my body; not because I am cold but because I am still feeling anxious. I took a seat at one of the tables outside Crane's and intentionally breathed in the cool air.

"If I were to ask for your number now, would you give it me?" His voice startled me, and I heard him chuckle behind me. He moved from behind me, and I shook my head at him, slightly amused with his persistence.

"Can I at least sit?" He asked and I motioned for him to take a seat.

"Why are you still here?"

"I figured you would be leaving soon, and you said you don't give your number to random men in bars," He smiled, pushing his hair back from his face. His eyes glinted with mischief as he leaned forward and rested his chin on his hand, "But you said nothing about giving your number to random men outside of bars."

"If you are saying that you waited on me to walk out of Crane's just so you could ask me for my number again, then you are the creepy one now," I flatly replied, I just wanted to get home and had hoped to avoid all conversation with other people.

He held a hand up to his chest, in mock hurt, "You wound me, Summer."

I shrugged and shivered again.

"Are you cold?" He asked, starting to take off his jacket but I held a hand up to stop him.

"I am not cold. I don't want your jacket. I am just tired and want to go home."

"So, why are you waiting out here?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. But you looked like you could use some company, even if it is from a creep like me."

"I am really fine. My Uber will be here in....thirty-seven minutes."

"I could drive you?" He offered and I looked at him incredulously.

"Yeah...no. That is how women go missing."

"Fair point," he said, holding his hands up in surrender, "What if I pinkie promise to not abduct you, tie you up in my basement, and keep you hidden from the world for twenty years until you finally make your escape?"

"You have a basement?" I inquired.

"Of that whole sentence, the only part that interests you is the fact that I have a basement?"

"If you have a basement, you have a house. And you look to be around my age, so I am trying to figure out how in the world you were able to afford your own house."

He went silent and his eyes immediately lost their shine. His face fell into an emotionless expression, almost like he pulled a mask down over his face. I have seen that mask before. I have worn that mask on my own face.

"Goodnight, Summer. Maybe I will see you around," he said gruffly, standing up to leave. He turned his back to me, and I said the first thing that popped into my head.

"I'm sorry, Elijah."

He stiffened at my words but did not turn back around. He just gave me a two-finger salute and strode off to the parking lot. Part of me wanted to go after him and apologize for making him uncomfortable but that hardly seems like the right thing to do. I don't know him; he just happened to be the person to help me get rid of those sleazeballs earlier. Still, I can't help but feel bad for him.

I quietly stuck my key into our door, trying to not wake Kay up in case she was already asleep. I shut the door behind me and hung my keys on the hook by the door. Removing my shoes and jacket, I tried my best to be quiet.

"Ahem."

I looked up to see Kay sitting in the living room, arms crossed over her chest, a frown on her face. Her stick straight brown hair cascaded over her shoulders and her brown eyes were staring me down.

"You, missy..." she pointed an accusing finger at me, "are home late. Why did you not text me? I was started to get worried that you needed my help or something."

"I'm sorry. It was a little eventful and I was trying to not have an anxiety attack on the way home."

"Why was it eventful? Did you meet someone?" she asked excitedly, motioning for me to come sit across from her.

"Not exactly."

"What do you mean 'not exactly?' Did your work friend leave you to fend for yourself and then some handsome stranger swooped in to keep you company?"

I blinked in surprise, "Kay...we've talked about your stalking behaviors several times now," I teased.

"I was right!?!"

"Kind of. Yes, Jenny left me to reconnect with some friends or something. Yes, a handsome stranger did swoop in but not to keep me company but rather rescue me from it."

"Girl, spill the tea. Now," she demanded with an excited smile on her face. So, I did. I told her everything that happened and her smile just kept growing; until I told her that I turned him down for a second time. I left out the part about me hurting his feelings though.

"You are an idiot. A pretty idiot but an idiot, nonetheless. He seems like a nice guy; you should have just given him your number!"

"Maybe I should have. It is a little late for that now. I don't know anything about him other than his name is Elijah but prefers to be called Eli," I responded, stifling a yawn with my hand.

"Well, if you ever see him again, I expect an invite to the wedding!" Kay stated, matter-of-factly.

"That is a little fast for a complete stranger. And you know that you would be my Maid of Honor anyway."

"True, true. And he isn't a complete stranger; you know his name."

"I guess."

"Next time though, please text me when you are going to be late. I was starting to get worried, Summer. Other than the eventfulness of this evening, you are feeling okay?"

"Yes, I am tired and more tired, but I am okay. I am sorry for worrying you. I am going to go get ready for bed. Love you."

"Love you too."

I walked back to my bedroom, giving my cat, Daisy, a quick kiss on the top of her head. She stirred in her sleep but didn't get up. She is an older cat now, but she is definitely my cat, and I am her human. She uses Kay as a spare human when I am not home. Kay is almost finished with her teaching degree and mostly takes online classes which allowed her to have the flexibility to work as a teacher's aide.

Kay and I have been best friends since we were toddlers but have only lived together for the past year. She is one of the best people that I know, and I thank God almost every day that He sent her to me. She has faithfully stayed by my side through all of my health challenges, which is part of the reason she worries over me so much. She knows what a bad day can look like for me.

I got ready for bed, changing into a pair of leggings and an oversized shirt to sleep in. I pulled out my pill sorter and dumped the collection for tonight into my hand. Eight pills of various sizes stared up at me, and I threw them all into my mouth and swallowed them with my water.

Eight pills at night. Six in the morning. Fourteen pills every day, just to keep me functioning at a level that lets me be a productive member of society: most of the time, anyway. I crawled into bed, careful to not disturb Daisy and flipped off my lamp. I let my thoughts drift to the events of the night but they seemed to be insistent on focusing on a certain brown-haired blue-eyed stranger.