Floor number four.
“I don’t believe you. How could you not know that I was joining the company?”
Floor number three.
“I’ve been out of town, since November.”
“Doing what? Finding another innocent woman to stalk?”
The doors slide open.
“I met my sister,” he says.
I freeze, one foot already out of the elevator.
“You don’t have a sister,” I accuse.
“I’m not sure she is. We just met. She's around my age. She was born near where I grew up.”
“You’re not sure?” I step back into the elevator and put a hand out to stop the doors from closing.
“We think it’s possible. We sent bloodwork to a company, but they don’t have enough samples to know if all Mothman blood has the same markers or—” he pauses when the elevator dings, I reach out to stop the elevator from closing again, “—or if the DNA markers actually mean we are related.”
“Did you like her?” I ask. I don’t care. I shouldn’t care. It’s stupid to care. Part of me really cares.
“She’s nice. She lives in Alberta with her mate.”
"Canada?" I ask.
"I just got back. I spent the holidays with her."
"The holidays?" I ask quietly.
"Since Halloween. Since I last saw you. When you asked me to leave you alone."
The elevator dings, and I reach a hand out to stop the doors from closing again.
I chew on the inside of my lip. “I’m glad you got to meet her,” I say quietly. This sexy cuddly Mothman has been in my brain for months now. I was terrified that he was around every corner. Waiting for me every night. Now he’s standing in front of me, I’m not scared. Just excited. Genuine joy flickers through me before I remember to steel my features.
“I have to go,” I mutter.
“Please, don’t--” Ant starts to say.
“I have, I need—” I fumble for the words to finish the sentence. "I need to be alone.” I shake my head and flee the elevator.
19
PIPER
“Piper! Hi!” Bailey appears behind the counter of Rhapsody shortly after I walk in. She’s got on a bright pink top and blue jean shorts with little daisies embroidered all over. “Can I get you anything?"
"Decaf, I definitely need decaf,” I mutter, still feeling high strung. I'm not sure why I came to the cat café instead of talking to my other friends. Sure, they are busy at their jobs. Anam is teaching, Kelly has her show coming up.
But it is Bay who actually has experience with cryptids. She and I have gotten closer in the past couple months, we’ve been trading texts and messages online, and if anyone will understand my odd predicament it’ll be her.
"Don't normally see you in the middle of the day,” she muses, handing me the almond creamer she knows I like best.
“I had to leave work early.” I laugh at first, but then I can’t help myself. I blurt everything out in one long embarrassing string. “He was there. He bought my company, Bailey. Or, not bought it—he's sponsoring my non-profit.”
