Page 49 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

17

A Nuisance

Anika

The familiar buzz of her phone drew her out of the small reprieve she’d managed to cocoon herself in at a local coffee shop. It was only lunch time, the work day dragging on as constant paperwork—both digital and physical—piled up on her desk. Anika had barely had a moment to take a breath, mind constantly whirring and working.

Escaping the confines of her office, she’d tucked herself away for a quick lunch, but the constant string of notifications on her phone prevented complete solace. Setting her coffee cup down, she unlocked her phone to find the usual suspect flooding her messages.

Levi.

Ever since the warehouse showing, he’d been texting her. At first, it’d been harmless, an occasional check in about her thoughts on the property—she’d passed it up, unable to get over the sense of dirtiness clinging to it—and if she was interested in others. She wasn’t. Yet it never deterred him. If anything, he fought harder, eager to weaselhis way into her life.

While her interest in him was waning, she couldn’t help but soak up the attention and pathetic nature he exuded around her. It had a small smirk spreading across her face.

Men are so utterly pitiful,she thought while messaging him back.

Somewhere along the way, he’d gotten more personal, more focused on her and her life. Levi was rapt when it came to her job, her lifestyle—since she was somehow still a single thirty-one year old—and anything else he even remotely discovered about her. In all her years away from grade school, she’d forgotten what it was like to have a clingy man around.

Especially these days. Most men veered out of her path, the coldness settling into her eyes forcing them to steer clear of her. It was a side effect of her tragic upbringing, but she preferred it this way. It allowed her to think and focus on herself.

Until now…

Levi:Are you free to grab lunch right now?

Rolling her eyes, she hit send on her own text.

Sadly, no. Work has me running a three person job. Alone:Anika

Levi:Boo

Levi:How about later? Dinner?

You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?:Anika

Levi:I will but I’ll besad :(

Anika stifled her derisive snort, taking a sip of her hot coffee. The strength of the beans made the corners of her eyes crinkle.

You don’t even know me, how can you be sad:Anika

Levi:I know that I love talking with you, no matter the occasion

A few seconds passed, the dots dancing across the bottom of her screen while she waited for him to double text,again.

Levi:C’mon, just one date and if you don’t like me, I’ll leave you alone

Oh, so it’s a date now…not dinner?:Anika

She really didn’t give a fuck what he labeled it, she was only giving him a hard time because she was bored.

Levi:It can be whatever you want it to be

Do you do this to everyone you give showings to?:Anika

Levi:No only you

She scoffed. Sure.