"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I just finished locking up."
I start walking off, but he jogs up beside me, surprising me a little.
"You aren't from around here."
I pause, not sure if I should continue trying to speak to him. If he's a changer, I should probably keep from turning my back on him again. If he's a night stalker, I definitely don't want to turn my back on him.
"Um, is that a question or an observation?"
"Both, I suppose."
He smiles bigger, making my heart trip over itself. Stupid deadly beauty bull shit. What is he?
“You're right. I just moved here from Colorado."
He stays at my side, keeping my pace as his hands cross behind his back.
"So are you going to the dock party? I hear it's supposed to be pretty great, and it's just up the road."
I look up, expecting to see a glisten of something in his eyes, but there's nothing there. I can't show him my mark until he reveals himself. It could kill a human to see it.
"No. I don't think so. I'm exhausted."
I start walking faster, and he keeps stride with me, his steps even and not seeming rushed like mine.
"Is Frankie your boyfriend?" he asks.
"Huh?"
"You were calling for a Frankie back there," he murmurs softly, not sounding winded like me.
"Oh. No. Frankie is my mom's friend. I thought I saw him."
Or thought he was trying to scare the shit out of me.
"Ah. Your mom lives here with you then?"
I almost stumble, but I quickly regain my composure before he has to catch me again. I almost wish my mother did live with me right now. She's made me a fucking basket case, and I'm freaking out a little.
For all I know, this is just one hot human. It's not like every sexy creature is an immortal.
"Um, no. I assumed she sent him out here to check up on me. He likes to scare me, so I thought he was lingering in the parking lot."
He bites back a grin, seeming amused by something. He keeps his hands behind his back, casually enjoying the night while I clamber down the sidewalk.
"You seem… scared. Am I scaring you?"
Hell yes.
"A little… are you following me home?" I worry, trying to provoke him into revealing himself and ending this cat-and-mouse game if he's really a blood drinker.
"Not at all," he laughs. "I'm going to the dock party. It's just around the corner up there. I thought it would seem creepier if I was walking behind you."
I let out a nervous laugh, finally relaxing a little, and he smiles his panty-dropping grin that makes the junction between my legs heat up and pulsate.
"Oh. Sorry. I'm just a little freaked out after seeing the news about the missing girls," I mutter, gauging his reaction with subtle scrutiny.
He nods, his smile fading as seriousness takes place.