Alpha's Battle for Love

Chapter 6: In Hindsight

Emily

I watched Tristan walk out of the shop and it was then I exhaled heavily. What was it about him that had unnerved me? It couldn't have been the dream I had last night, could it? The wolf with the dark brown fur and blue eyes-why did it remind me of him so much? And why did I feel the hint of an attraction to him? I could still feel my face a little flushed. I sighed and went out to collect the cups and trash and wiped down the tables.

As I brought back a handful of mugs, I noticed my grandpa staring at me.

“Who was that?" he asked.

“No one," I said, hopefully trying to end an awkward conversation before it began. But he wasn't just anyone, was he?

“Seemed like he was a little too friendly to be no one," Grandpa said.

I sighed, setting the mugs into the sink full of hot, soapy water and began washing them.

“His name is Tristan and he's the stranger that saved my last night."

No sense in lying to my grandpa. He's pretty keen on when I'm keeping something secret. And Tristan seemed very secretive and handsome..so handsome.

“He's the one who saved you and brought your moped back to your apartment?" Grandpa asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Yes," I replied.

“And he asked for nothing in return?" Grandpa had a knack for playing 20 Questions and it never ceased to annoy me. So, I decided to answer them as quickly and honestly as I could.

“Just my name."

“He didn't ask for your number or to go inside your apartment?"

“No and no, Grandpa." I looked at him as if he had farted inside the kitchen. “You know I'm not much of a people person and I wouldn't be caught dead letting a stranger in my home." I scrubbed the mugs clean and rinsed them. I began washing the few small plates that had been out there as well.

“Who lets a complete stranger in their house or apartment for that matter?" I asked. “I could do without a home invasion in my life right now, almost dying last night notwithstanding."

A home invasion would not do well for me. My life was always Murphy's Law. Anything that could happen did. It was why I hardly ever left home when I wasn't working. It made me wonder what would happen if someone ever tried to invade my apartment, would Tristan be there to save me then, as well?

“What is it with you and always attracting weird dudes?" Grandpa asked.

“Tristan's not weird," I said, giggling. Maybe a little cheesy but not really weird. I might have said his name a little too endearingly just then because my grandpa gave me that look, he always did when he saw right through me.

“What?"

“I know that look," he replied. “You like him, don't you?"

“NO!" I said. “I just met him last night." To be honest, that felt like a lie, and I knew it.

“Did you tell him where you work?"

No. But it did make me wonder how he knew where I worked.

“No," I replied. “He probably saw the name on my shirt last night or perhaps he wanted an iced coffee and a pastry and decided to stop here. It could be just a simple coincidence, Grandpa."

He had that smug and disbelieving smirk on his face.

“Right. You should stay away from him, anyway. I don't need another night of you sobbing and staying in bed for the entire day like you did with your last so-called boyfriend."

“I know, Grandpa. Thanks for the horrible memory, by the way!" I rolled my eyes. That night wasn't too long ago. Almost three years. I never thought I'd recovered from John. I thought he was good. That he might have been the one. But he played me just to get me into bed. After that happened, he never returned my calls or texts. I never saw him again.

“You're welcome," the old man replied amusedly as he walked to his office. “If it's not busy in two hours, we'll close up around noon and head to the precinct."

“Okay!" I replied, drying the mugs with a cloth. I still wasn't looking forward to going to the police station, but I was looking forward to closing up early. I'd still get paid for a full day's pay anyway.

The lunch hour was a bit busy, but we ended up closing after one o'clock. Then Grandpa drove us down to the precinct. I filed a report and gave them the a*shole driver's license plate number.

After they put it in the system, they told me that the guy had prior offenses such as a DUI and another hit and run. They told me that they'd send someone to my apartment to assess the damages, but it wouldn't be until next week which I had no choice but to accept.

They said that if I wanted to press charges, I could get a pretty good settlement once it went to court. I wasn't sure I wanted it to go that far, but it was the introvert in me talking. I told them I'd think about it despite my grandpa's advice to follow through with it. I wondered if Tristan would have helped vouch for me, seeing as how he saw the whole incident and saved me in the nick of time. I still couldn't wrap my head around how he did, though.

After two long hours at the station, we finally left. I couldn't get Tristan out of my mind or the wolf in my dream. And I tried to convince myself that it was just a coincidental dream. I thought of the other wolf. The wolf with the black fur and red eyes. Why was it facing the blue-eyed wolf and why didn't it chase after me? I was either losing my marbles or reading too much into ephemeral things. But I'd soon find out what it all meant.