“Entertaining?” I snort.“How about your date with the guy who doesn’t believe in deodorant because it‘blocked his natural pheromones’?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Sienna groans, her nose crinkling at the memory.“I swear I can still smell him.”
We dissolve into laughter, our previous exhaustion momentarily forgotten as we trade stories of our disastrous love lives. As the clink of glasses and low hum of conversation surround us, the air-conditioning kicks on, a welcome respite from the heat outside. Summer in Montana is notoriously unpredictable. The day could start out freezing, but by mid-afternoon, it could end up hot enough to melt ice cream faster than you can eat it.
“I thought things would get easier after breaking up with my ex Andy, but dating is even worse than I remember. Sometimes, I wonder why we even bother,” I admit, swirling the ice in my glass.
“Because we’re hopeless romantics.” Sienna raises her glass in a mock toast.“And one day, we’ll find someone who’s just as crazy about animals, fundraising galas, and Russian culture as we are.”
“Cheers to that,” I laugh, clinking my glass against hers.
As our laughter begins to subside, an uneasy sensation creeps over me. The small hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It feels almost as if someone’s scrutinizing my every move. I glance around, trying to identify the source of my discomfort.
“Jess? Is everything okay?” Sienna asks, her brow furrowing with concern.
“Yeah, I just … I don’t know,” I mutter, scanning the faces of the other patrons in search of anything out of place. I lean forward and whisper,“This is going to sound crazy, but I feel like someone’s watching me.”
“Maybe it’s one of your exes,” she jokes, but her eyes sweep the room, too, suddenly alert.
“Ha, right.” I force a smile, but my gaze keeps wandering, drawn to the windows that look out onto the street. And then I see him.
Across the street, beneath the glow of a flickering streetlight, a man stands with his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket. He seems familiar, but I can’t quite place him. Is he from work? Or maybe one of the many fundraising galas I’ve attended? His features are obscured by the shadows, but I can sense his eyes locked on mine.
“Sienna, look,” I whisper urgently, nodding toward the figure across the street.“Do you recognize him?”
“Where?” She squints, trying to follow my line of sight. But as we both stare, the man turns and disappears into the darkness, swallowed by the night.
“Damn it, he’s gone,” I sigh, rubbing my temples.“Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Sienna says, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.“If he shows up again, we’ll deal with it.”
“Thanks, Sienna.” I force a smile, but unease remains coiled within me.
A chill runs down my spine as I continue to stare at the empty space where the man had been. The laughter and clinking of glasses around us seem to fade away, leaving me with a sense of isolation despite being surrounded by people.
“Jessica?” Sienna’s voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.“You okay?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, trying to shake off the apprehension.“I just … I feel like something’s off.”
“Tell you what,” she says before taking a sip of her drink.“Let’s finish these and call it a night. You’re probably just tired from working so much.”
“Maybe.” I force myself to take a sip of my drink. It does little to calm my nerves. As the minutes tick by, the weight of the stranger’s gaze still hangs in the air, making it difficult for me to concentrate on our conversation.
“Hey, Jess,” Sienna says after we finish our drinks.“Why don’t I walk you to your car? Just in case.”
“Thanks,” I reply, grateful for her concern. We gather our things and head toward the door. Every step seems to echo across the room, and I swear everyone’s watching us. I’m starting to feel just as paranoid as that guy I dated.
Stepping out into the cool night, I scan the street for any sign of the mysterious man. But the shadows remain empty, offering no answers.
“Stay safe,” Sienna whispers as she hugs me goodbye.“And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. Okay?”
“Okay,” I promise, hugging her back tightly.“Take care.”
“Always do,” she replies with a wink before walking back into the bar.
I watch her go before turning to my car, steeling myself for the journey home. With a heavy heart, I climb into my car and begin the drive home, but the feeling of being watched never quite leaves me.
The winding mountain road stretches out before me, while the moon casts eerie shadows across the asphalt. I grip the steering wheel tightly as I navigate the twists and turns, my headlights cutting through the darkness. The familiar route should be comforting, but tonight, it only serves to heighten my sense of unease.
