Chapter 3 The Weirdness Follows Me Home

♥ ISABEL'S POV

The front door suddenly opened and Kara hurried back into the shop.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw us.

Her eyes looked amused. “Okay. What did I miss?”

“Apparently, I'm being attacked by a Cupid,” I say to her.

Kara looked at Edward. Then at me.

Then she said, “Huh? I leave you alone for ten minutes with a guy and you're already calling him names.”

“Twenty minutes,” I corrected. “And, he's the one who called himself that. And went ahead to attack me with that stupid bow and arrow of his.”

Kara looked confused. “What bow and arrow?”

"Are you blind? That one..." I was saying but noticed the bow and arrow was nowhere to be seen now. "Wait. Where's that weapon of yours, Cupid?"

Edward looked between us innocently. “What weapon?”

I was flabbergasted. He was denying it right in front of me.

“The one you shot me with! Remember?”

I frowned at him.

“I'm not sure what you're saying.” He continued to pretend.

"Oh my goodness. You're such a liar."

“Okay. Calm down Isabel.” Kara said to me.

The sirens came before I could answer.

Edward glanced toward the windows. “Those would be the humans you called.”

“Yes,” I said. “The humans who's about to take your ass to jail. Psycho.”

He smiled faintly. “They're going to be disappointed.”

“Oh, are they now?”

“Because they can't intimidate or arrest me,” he said proudly.

I blinked. “You know, that's not exactly the attitude you want to have when the police are about to put you behind bars.”

“But i can't be arrested.”

“Just wait. You're about to find that out.”

The front door suddenly opened.

Two police officers stepped inside.

Both looked slightly confused when they saw Edward standing in the middle of the bookstore with his ridiculous attire.

One of them approached. “Sir, are you bothering this woman?”

Edward looked me then back at the officer. “I don't think I am.”

I covered my face with one hand. “Oh my God. Officer, arrest him already. He's a crazy stalker.”

The officer's expression hardened. “Sir, we're going to need you to come with us to the station.”

Edward sighed and slowly paced about.

The officer looked at him. “Sir, didn't you hear a word I just said? You're coming with us.”

Edward smiled. “No. I don't think I will.”

The officer frowned. “No?”

“Yes, No. Sadly, I have somewhere else important to be.”

I stared at him. “You have got to be kidding me.”

The second officer stepped forward. “Sir, please cooperate.”

Edward didn't move. “I'm not going anywhere.”

I said through clenched teeth. “Just go with them.”

He looked at me. “Why should i?”

“Because I want you out of my bookstore.”

His expression fell slightly.

The officers exchanged a glance.

Then one of them took Edward by the arm.

Edward looked down at the hand.

Then back at the officer. “You don't have to touch me.”

“Then walk.”

Edward sighed. He finally started toward the door.

Kara leaned closer to me. “He really is weird.”

“Thank you. That's what I was saying.”

“But handsome.”

I flicked her off and she laughed.

Edward stopped at the door and looked back at me. “This isn't over.”

The police man pushed him forward. “Keep walking.”

“Don't worry. You'll see me again,” he said and then smiled.

Then the police officers escorted him outside.

I watched through the window as they walked him toward their vehicle.

Edward didn't look frightened or embarrassed.

He looked amused.

Like this entire thing was some minor inconvenience for him.

I shook my head. “Unbelievable.”

Kara stood beside me. “You really do attract the weird ones.”

I turned toward her. “That's not true.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then name three good ones.”

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Kara grinned. “Exactly.”

I flicked her off again out of frustration.

She laughed.

By closing time, the rain outside had stopped. The bookstore was finally quiet.

I locked the front door, turned off the lights, and checked the shelves one last time.

Everything looked normal.

Mostly.

My eyes landed on the coffee machine.

I narrowed them.

The machine sat there innocently.

Silent and harmless.

Exactly how a coffee machine was supposed to behave.

I walked closer to it. “You're not fooling me.”

The machine did nothing.

I pointed at it. “I'm watching you.”

Still nothing.

I snorted and shook my head. “I need some good sleep.”

I switched off the final light and locked the door behind me.

By the time I got home, I had decided Edward J.Eros was officially the strangest man I had ever met.

And I had met plenty of strange people.

I showered, changed into comfortable clothes, climbed into bed, and picked up a new horror collection.

Nothing romantic or magical.

Perfect.

I had barely read two pages when my phone rang.

Mom.

I stared at the screen as I let it ring till it stopped.

A few seconds later, it rang again.

My brother.

I answered this time. “What?”

“Finally. You pick up.”

“What do you want?”

“Mom and Dad have been calling you.”

“I know they have.”

“Then why aren't you answering your phone?”

“Because I don't want to.”

There was a brief silence. Then he sighed.

“Please pick up their calls.”

“Why should i?”

“Because they're calling me now. And I'm busy.”

I smiled. “Good for you then.”

“Isabel.” He warned.

“Okay okay. I'm sorry. That's terrible for you.”

“No, you're not sorry.”

“Not even slightly.” I chuckled.

“Please pick up their calls.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.” I hung up.

My phone rang again almost immediately.

Mom.

I decided to answer. “Hello.”

“Isabel, did you meet the man?” she asked immediately.

I frowned. “Hello to you too, mother. And thank you, my day was splendid. And, what man?”

“The man we arranged for you today.”

I sat up. “You arranged a date for me?”

“Yes.”

I stared at the wall. “Was he the strange lunatic from the bookstore?”

“What?” She sounded confused.

“Tall? Dark hair? Weird clothes? Talks nonsense?”

My mother's silence was enough to irritate me.

“Isabel, what are you talking about?”

“I met a man today at my bookstore who claimed he was assigned to me. And I'm assuming that was your doing.”

“Hmm. That is strange. Your date with Xander was supposed to be at the restaurant. Didn't I send you the address?”

“Huh?”

She sighed. “Did you meet Xander like we discussed?”

“Who's Xander?”

“The man we arranged for you. Isabel, please don't tell me you didn't go for the date.”

I frowned. “I don't get it. If you didn't send him to me. Then how did he know me? Or where to find me?”

“Who are you talking about?” My mom asked.

I thought about Edward.

Edward J.Eros. Like he called himself.

I had forgotten his name for a second. Though a name like that is pretty easy to stick.

“No one.”

“Isabel, I can't believe you didn't meet with Xander?”

“Sorry to disappoint you. I had a very busy day at work.”

My mother sighed. “Please try to be more open-minded.”

“Goodnight, Mom.”

I ended the call before she could start another lecture.

I picked up my book.

Except…

This wasn't my book.

I stared at the cover and my stomach tightened.

I had been reading a horror collection earlier.

This book had a couple embracing beneath a moonlit sky.

I blinked. “Huh.” I flipped it open.

The first page was filled with romantic prose.

I turned another page. Then another.

Every page was romance.

I dropped the book and It landed on the floor.

“No way.” I climbed out of bed and stared at it.

Maybe I had picked up the wrong book.

That was the only explanation.

I checked the cover again.

It was definitely not the book I'd been holding before my phone rang.

I decided I was tired. That was all it was.

I went to close my curtains.

They were already closed but I pulled them tighter.

Then turned away.

A few seconds later, I heard the faint rustle of fabric.

I quietly looked back.

The curtains were open. Wide.

I froze for a second then went ahead to close them again then turned away.

Rustle.

I looked back quicker than last time.

Alas, it was opened. Again.

I stomped back and closed them again.

This time, I stood there watching them.

Nothing happened.

I slowly stepped away. Then immediately I turned around.

I heard the window rustle and open.

I stared at them.

“Okay.” I grabbed my pillow cautiously. “I do not know what is happening but it looks like I'll be sleeping in the living room tonight.”

That seemed reasonable.

I know it wasn't. There must be some sort of explanation for this.

But to my surprise, even the living room had its own problems.

The television switched on by itself when I sat down.

I switched it off.

The lamp flickered on and off.

I unplugged it from the sockets.

I heard my kitchen cabinets open and close on its own.

I didn't bother to go investigate.

I wasn't stupid. I was going to stay hidden right inside my closet. Until dawn.

At some point during the night, I heard what sounded suspiciously like tiny footsteps running across the floor.

I pulled the blanket over my head.

“Nope. There has to be an explanation. There has to be an explanation.” I repeated to myself until I fell asleep.

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