Chapter 8 - Eleanor - Purge With My Demons

I had no idea who these people were or why they were being so nice to me. But I was still so freaked out, I didn’t care.

As my eyes adjusted and took in the three people in front of me, I started to relax a bit more. Not only was their presence a comfort, but they were three of the most perfect looking individuals I had ever seen. Holy shit.

Get a fucking grip, Eleanor.

Cora, the gorgeous dark-haired woman, spoke up. Her voice was rich and slightly rough around the edges. “Can I get you a coffee or anything else to drink?”

“Please, here.” I tried to hand her my debit card, but she waved me off.

“I got it. What do you like?”

She’s beautiful and buying me coffee? “Oh, thank you. Just a hot coffee with caramel, please.”

She passed a glance to the two men. “Owen? Finn?”

The taller of the two, Owen, spoke up, “just get us our usuals.” Then he returned his attention to me, and I averted my gaze to my hand to see if there were any burn marks where we touched. It felt like there should be, but my skin was clear.

His eyes on me were more intense than that heat from when he grabbed my hand. Green with flecks of brown throughout. It was nearly impossible to look away.

My phone vibrated, and I jumped, dropping my phone on the table. I was so petrified to pick it up. Would it be the unknown number again or Giordana? I never did respond to her earlier. Owen handed it to me.

“Here you go.” He gave me a questioning look.

I rubbed my eyes, trying my best to ease the incoming migraine. Stress and anxiety that snuck up out of nowhere had always been a trigger for me. “Thank you.” It was a message from Giordana. The tightness in my chest immediately eased. “I got some texts earlier, and that shook me up. It was right after that accident. So, with everything going on out there, I was a bit all over the place.”

Walking back with the coffees, Cora sat them down on the table. The smooth liquid warmed me all the way to my bones.

Her voice broke me out of my trance. “Finn, Ashton called while I was getting the drinks. They need help getting ready for tonight.”

In response, he said, “Ready for what?” He took a sip of his iced drink. I couldn’t help but watch his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. Finn was shorter than Owen, but not by much. His messy, pitch-black hair and piercing blue eyes were a stark contrast to one another. The perfect complement to his boyish face.

“I should be heading back home anyway. I didn’t mean to keep you guys. You’ve been so nice to me already.”

Owen chimes in then, “It’s okay. I don’t have to be anywhere, feel free to finish your coffee and relax for a minute.”

“Alright.” Sitting here with this perfect specimen a little longer couldn’t hurt.

He turned his attention to Finn and Cora. “I’ll catch up with you guys later, just let me know if anything comes up.”

Finn replied, “Wait, we're leaving?” He scrunched his eyebrows together and looked at Cora.

“Yes, Finny boy. Let’s go.” She picked up his drink and started walking out of the café, Finn not far behind her.

“You don’t need to stay with me. I’m okay.”

“I don’t have to be anywhere, Eleanor. I’m happy to stay.”

Why was he being so nice to a woman he just met? I couldn’t be so lucky. This shit didn’t happen to me. It had to be a trick.

“Okay, well, thank you,” I said with a small smile. “I’m going to call my friend quickly, if you don’t mind.”

Owen nodded his head and pulled his phone out to occupy himself. I dialed Giordana, and she picked up on the second ring.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “What do you think? Want me to just stay over tonight?”

“Hey, G.” I had no enthusiasm in my greeting. She picked up on it immediately.

“Oh my god, babe, what’s wrong?”

“I, uh…” I lowered my voice a bit. “I almost had a panic attack outside the grocery store.”

Her voice dropped, becoming more serious in tone. “Are you okay now? That must have been terrifying. I’m sorry you were by yourself. Do you need me to come meet you? Where are you?” Her questions were coming rapid fire.

“No. No. I’m okay now. Some nice people stopped and helped me. I’m at the cafe next door with one of the guys, Owen.” I talked her through the details of the car accident. Everything that led me to be here at the café. I leave the detail of the texts from the unknown number out though.

“Nor, I’m so glad you’re feeling okay now, and you aren’t alone. Do you need anything? I can swing by on my way into work.”

“No, I’m alright. I’m going to head home shortly.”

“Wait, I have questions.” I waited patiently, knowing I was going to have to spill about the texts after all. “Why did you almost have a panic attack? The accident?”

I contemplated just not telling her, part of me didn’t want her to worry. But if I got another one of those texts, I’d be glad someone knew.

I took a deep breath and decided to tell her everything. “No, I got some texts from an unknown number.” I stole a glance at Owen who was scrolling on his phone. “It’s not so much that the text was from an unknown number, but what the texts said.”

She was silent for a moment. “Okay…”

“I think someone was following me this morning or something. And that someone is the person I was with last night. It’s the only explanation. They were talking about the streets being crowded, wanting to redeem themselves, and then to make sure I got the coffee I liked. I was at Pure Pantry. You know that’s the only place that sells the coffee I like.” I looked at Owen, who was looking up at me now. “And this morning, when I was walking Luci, she was acting weird. I don’t know, I think I’m just being paranoid after last night.” Owen had put his phone down now.

“Wait, last night? You had your date last night.”

“Oh, shit. Yeah. I haven’t had a chance to fill you in. That date was a bust. I don’t think I’ll be seeing Brad again, especially not now.” Owen leaned forward onto the table now. I return his glance with a furrowed brow.

Why the fuck was he looking at me like that?

“El, so you think it’s Brad that texted you?” Giordana’s question brought me back to my conversation with her, and I slumped back in my seat, shrinking away from Owen’s gaze.

“He doesn’t have my number. We only talked on the dating app. But it’s the only thing that makes sense. We talked about Pure Pantry before. It’s the only thing that’s logical.” Owen is fully paying attention to my conversation now.

Giordana added, “Okay, I don’t know the details of what happened last night, but this is starting to freak me out, El. Wait, who is the guy you’re with now?”

“His name is Owen. Frankly, he’s freaking me out right now,” I said, staring directly at him with a skeptical look on my face.

“Ask for his last name.” I started to argue with her but didn’t have the energy.

“What’s your last name?” Owen leaned forward again, very interested in the conversation again.

“Alastor.” When he said his last name, a strange wave of warmth washed over me. When this man spoke, his voice was so delicious. I didn’t even care that he was acting a little weird.

“Nor, this is going to seem weird, but give him the phone.”

“What?!” I screeched. A couple sitting on the other side of the café turned to look our way.

“Please, trust me.”

My arm reached out, giving the phone to Owen. “She wants to talk to you.”

What the fuck was going on?

Not knowing what Giordana was talking to him about was driving me crazy. His clipped answers to whatever she was saying were driving me crazy. “Yeah.” “Okay.” “I will.” I was starting to think they knew each other. That’s when I started to put two and two together. Could

Owen have been who she was meeting with last night at Purge? He did have a similar build to one of the guys. Maybe Finn was the other guy.

Owen handed me back my phone, and I put it to my ear. “Tell me what happened with Brad.”

“That’s what you say to me right now, G?” I was absolutely baffled.

“Please, just trust me, Nor. I promise everything will start to make sense soon.” Her voice was pleading, and Owen was looking directly at me.

I suddenly didn’t want to talk about Brad at all. “Long story short, he lost his shit last night when we went back to my place. Luci was not a fan.” I swallowed. “Oh fuck. Giordana, he knows where I live. Oh my god, how did I forget about that?” I dropped my head into my hand.

“Whoa, hey, let’s not jump to conclusions. It’s going to be okay. I’m off tonight at 11, I’ll come over when I’m off and stay with you. I had thought about coming over anyway.”

“Okay. Luci hates him, so there’s that.”

“That’s good!” she declared, and I knew she was right. Luci wouldn’t let him anywhere near the house. “I’ll see you later, okay? Love you, mean it.”

“Love you, mean it.” I ended the call.

Those swirling green eyes pinned me when my eyes reached his. It was impossible to look away from him. Owen’s other features began to shine, his curly, dark-brown hair and chin stubble. He was covered in tattoos and had a muscular build. He was just sexy. Period.

“Well, I guess I’m going to head home. Thanks again for the coffee.”

As I started to stand, I realized the flowers I bought myself were completely ruined. They must have been a casualty in my series of unfortunate events earlier. I let out a deep sigh, holding the delicate, black tulip petals in my hand.

Owen spoke up then, his deep, gravelly voice sent a chill down my spine. It’s like the longer I’m around him, the more he seeped into my pores. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, these just must have gotten squished earlier. Not a big deal.” I said it wasn’t a big deal, but tears were threatening to spill. Their crushed petals were the tipping point for my mental state and managing my emotions right now felt impossible. “I really should be getting home though.” I noticed my voice cracked, and I hoped Owen didn’t catch it too.

Owen was right behind me, his arm reaching for the door before I was able to open it. “Wait, Giordana wants me to make sure you get home okay.”

Of course she does.

“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to call a ride.” If I looked at him again, I might cry.

“I’m going to walk you home, it will be quicker than a ride. Giordana specifically said, ‘Owen, you better walk her home.’ I feel like I have to. She kind of scares me.”

Finally, I had to know. “How do you know her?”

“Oh, I met her last night at Purge. Our band is going to be playing there in about a month.”

Suspicions answered, Owen and I stepped out onto the sidewalk. Something about him made me feel safe. Our conversation back to my place was casual and comfortable. There was something about being around him that felt so natural.