One second Sean was giving me the kiss of my life. The next, someone was yelling as Sean pushed me behind him, shielding me.
When I peeked around his body, I saw a woman who matched the sketch the police officer showed us. PSYCHO Amy. In the flesh and wielding a knife.
"Put down the knife," an officer ordered her while aiming his gun at her.
She didn't seem to be hearing them. Her eyes never left Sean's face. "What are you doing with her, Sean? You're supposed to be with me!"
Sean kept a leveled tone when he answered her. "Amy, we had something once. But that ended over two years ago. You need to accept that."
"No!" She screamed as she came closer. "You belong with me!"
"Drop the knife!" The cops yelled at her.
Sean ushered me further back towards the railing. I was so close to him, I felt him take a deep breath before he took a step forward with his hands raised slightly.
"Okay, Amy. Okay. You're right. We belong together."
She smiled and lowered the knife. "Really?" She asked in a whisper.
The cops took advantage and tackled her to the ground. They got the knife from her and handcuffed her. As the cops took her away, she yelled, "This isn't over!"
Sean turned towards me with a concerned expression. He reached his hand out and lightly stroked my cheek. "You okay?" He asked.
Damn those fucking butterflies, I thought. "I'm fine," was my response even though my body was shaking from everything that happened. Needing some space, I turned away and walked into the room as I said, "Seems like Operation: Fake Date was a success."
He turned towards me, shrugging off his jacket, he walked inside and threw it on the bed. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Your stunt on the balcony sure did the trick," I said with an edge in my voice.
He looked up and met my stare. "It wasn't all fake," he said.
"Sean-"
"No, don't do that," he said as he took a few steps closer to me. "Don't run away. Yes, that kiss was meant to lure her in. But, after I started--I couldn't stop. It was real." He was quiet for a moment before adding, "Just like when I kissed you last night."
I felt my eyes widen. "You-- You remember?"
"Yeah, I do. It came back to me when I kissed you on the balcony. What I don't know, is why you didn't tell me."
I didn't know how to answer that. To be honest, I didn't even know why I kept it from him. "I--I was confused. The doctor said you may do things out of character."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew he wouldn't believe it. After all, we had two almost-kisses already. So, it wouldn't entirely be out of character for him.
"That's not it. You called me out when I lied about PSYCHO Amy. I think I deserve the truth."
He did deserve the truth. I knew deep down what the reason was. "I was scared."
"Scared of what?"
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. My heart started racing and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"Lydia," he said in a low voice, "talk to me. You know you can tell me anything."
The last time he said those words to me was when we got lost in the park. I sat on the end of his bed because I felt like I was going to pass out. I felt the bed dip down as he sat next to me.
"I was scared because, obviously, there is something between us. But, we're friends. Good friends. You are probably the only one I have in my life. The only one I trust." I started fidgeting with my hands, as always, before I continued. "I can't lose that friendship. I'm still dealing with stuff and besides-"
When I didn't say more, he asked, "Besides what?"
I kept my gaze straight ahead when I answered. "I've never been kissed. Not like that, anyway. I liked it and it scared me."
He let out a long breath. "It scares me, too."
My head snapped in his direction. Okay, I wasn't expecting that. "Really?"
"You just saw the last thing I dated," he said with a laugh. "I'm not ready to jump into anything, either." Sean paused in thought before he continued, "You're right, there is something between us. In the future, who knows? But the future is just that, the future. Let's worry about right now and both of us getting our lives back on track. Deal?"
I let out of breath I didn't realize I was holding. It was kind of a relief to know that he was in the same place I was, because he's right. We're both trying to figure out our place in this world. We need to take it one day at a time. "Deal," I said.
Saturday July 11th
11:09am Café Du Monde
I let out a long breath as I added more cream to my chicory coffee. Sean told me to wait for him at the Café Du Monde. He was meeting with the police this morning to go over some stuff. It turned out, there were two trackers on his dad's car. That's how PSYCHO Amy had been following us.
Sean insisted we could stay in New Orleans for a few more days. Even though we had good times here; some really good times, I wanted to leave. It felt...weird with PSYCHO Amy in the same city.
After taking a sip of my coffee, I looked up and saw Sean coming towards me. He was passing Jackson Square on St. Ann, about thirty feet away from me. He met my eyes and gave me a smile. That same smile that I tried not to think about on a daily basis.
"Hey, you," he said as he sat down in the chair across from me.
The waiter walked over and asked for his order. "A chicory coffee, please. As hot as you can make it."
The waiter left to get his request and Sean turned back towards me. He looked less stressed than earlier.
"How did it go?" I asked, curious what the police said.
"Well, I went down there, gave my statement, and that's pretty much it. I'm definitely pressing charges and they have enough to keep her there. If they need me to come to court or anything, they'll let me know."
I cupped my coffee in my hands, once again, letting the warmth soothe me. "That's good. That's really good. I'm glad that's over with."
"So, have you decided where you want to head next?" He asked as he took his coffee from the waiter.
"How about San Francisco? There's a lot of stuff to see in California." I sighed as I said, "Including sourdough bread."
He kept his eyes on me as he let out a laugh.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. California sounds good. We will pass through Texas and Arizona. Definitely some sight-seeing we can do."
Excitement filled me at the thought of going to California. We could go to L.A., San Diego, and Orange County. I heard about this amazing beach there and the weather is supposed to be phenomenal.
Growing impatient to continue this adventure, I rose from my chair. "Get that coffee to go. California awaits!"
I hurried to his car which was parked farther down the street. I waited there for five minutes before he joined me with a frown and a coffee cup.
"Chicory coffee is meant to be savored, Lydia. Not taken to go."
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the side of the car. "I think you'll survive." I motioned my head to the trunk, "If I open this, am I going to find all the stuff you were supposed to return?"
He glanced to the trunk then back at me. "No."
"Mhmm, why don't I believe you?"
He tossed me the keys with a smirk. "See for yourself."
I opened the trunk to only find our duffle bags. He actually returned all the stuff he bought. By his expression, I knew shock covered my expression.
"I told you I'm a man of my word. Just for that," he said as he walked to the passenger door. "You're driving."
I shut the trunk before I slid into the driver's seat. "Fine, I'll drive. But you navigate. You know I hate technology."
He set the GPS up and put his phone on the map. Glancing at it I frowned. "I thought we were going to California?"
He smiled a big smile that set those pesky butterflies off in my stomach. "Oh, we are, milady. But, we need to make a stop on the way."
I looked from the GPS back to him. "Tijuana?"
That smile got even bigger. Sexier. "Tijuana."