HIS INNOCENT MATE

HE'S IN MY HEAD

The moment we set foot inside the place, my jaw dropped, I looked over at Emerson who had the same expression as me. The place was so eye catching, the sign post just ahead of us had different arrows pointing in different direction of the places. I walked closer and looked for the boutique- it was on the fourth floor of the building. I went back and dragged Emerson who was still taking pictures and admiring herself and took an elevator to the fourth floor.

We walked towards the boutique and its glass doors swung open, Emerson practically dragged me inside. Racks of dresses shimmered under the lights, sequins catching like tiny stars. Emerson immediately grabbed a neon-green jacket and held it up to my face.

“Perfect,” she declared. “This screams ‘I’m mysterious restaurant guy’s soulmate.’”

I snorted. “It screams ‘traffic cone.’ Put it back.” I rolled my eyes at her delusions

But Emerson wasn’t done. She darted between racks like a hunter, pulling out dresses, tops, and shoes with reckless abandon. I trailed behind, trying to keep her laughter quiet, though my blush hadn’t faded since the restaurant incident.

“You know,” Emerson said, holding up a slinky black dress, “if you wore this, he’d trip over his own foot just to talk to you again.”

“Emmy !” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one overheard. “It was just a coincidence. It wasn’t… it wasn’t anything.”

“Oh, please.” Emerson tossed the dress over my arm. “That was eye contact with tension. The kind that makes entire Netflix series happen.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was betrayed by a smile that formed on my lips. “You’re ridiculous.” I think its too early to be crushing on stranger when I had just lost my mate

“And you’re in denial,” Emerson shot back, grinning. “But don’t worry, I’ll fix that. Step one: wardrobe upgrade. Step two: casual ‘oops, I’m in the restaurant again.’ Step three: wedding invitations.”

I nearly dropped the dress. “Wedding invitations?! We don’t even know his name!” the nerve of this girl, she was really something else.

“Minor detail,” Emerson said breezily, already piling more clothes into my arms.

“ Ah….hello, how am I supposed to afford all of this?” I asked her with a serious look on my face. Was she planning to make me go bankrupt in one day?

“We’ll learn it at the reception.” Emmy said as she tapped my shoulder and headed to the counter. We reached the counter and she pulled out her card to pay but I held her hand. She has already done too much.

“what’s up with you?...” she asked me, she looked confused at my action.

“you’ve already done enough for me Emmy, let me pay my own bill” I said trying to find my own card. It didn’t have a lot but I dint want to burden her

“don’t be ridiculous” she sneered and handed her card to the lady behind the counter. “ You could’ve done the same for me “ she added and smiled sincerely. She was right, if we switched positions I could have done the same for her.

“And since when did you start feeling bad for spending my money” she asked in a teasing tone. “Little hypocrite” she added and smacked my head.

“Ouch!...” I tried to hit back but she was fast and ran, she made a mocking face when I missed her as if its something to be proud of. I just scoffed and followed behind her to get into the elevator.

I called an uber to take us back to the apartment because we had a lot of luggage with us. It took like 20 minutes for the uber to come at the mall where we were. Emerson kept on teasing me here and there about the restaurant guy and she was having fun with it, I was trying so hard to stop smiling but I couldn’t, deep down I knew it was not the right time to et involved with anyone but something about him was making me blush every time I re called what happened.

The rest of the drive was silent, its only because the parrot next to me had slept off, otherwise it would have been a whole different story.

My mind wandered again to the scene from earlier today. The man that stood before me was devilishly handsome, delicious looking I would say. I had never seen something so perfect, his dark shiny hair matched well with his eyes, , I remembered how composed the looked down at me, as if his eyes held something unspoken, I saw them change quickly from being soft and concerned to being cold and bold, but I kind of liked it.

His face looked smooth and well carved, effortlessly with grace, no rough angles just strong and masculine. The way his shirt clung onto his body I could tell that he was well sculpted, he was just so fine, a master piece, a work of art. His lips full and beautiful, veins ran over his arms, they screamed protection and power. His presence didn’t need to be announced, respect towards him was commanded without a word from him. He simply lived, existed and the world responded.

I didn’t even notice that I was smiling like a fool until Emmy called me out.

“What has the restaurant guy done to you??” she asked in disbelief “you’ve been smiling for what….centuries now?”

“What… are you talking about” I said and scoffed. I was trying so hard to hide my smile and keep a straight face but seemed like Emmy was reading my soul

“I miss the quiet universe I had when you were snoring like a…..” I told her and rolled my eyes then leaned back into my seat

“Me? Snoring?” she gasped and reached my ears. By the time I reacted she was already pulling them so hard it hurt

"Aw aw ouch!!!!.....” I was fighting for my dear ears but she couldn’t let go

“you’re sorry, right?” she shouted in my ears. Her voice was so sharp it could make one’s ears bleed

“No, I’m not..” I was trying to protest but she pulled harder. “ Ye…yess I’m sorry” I finally gave in. I felt like she was ready to leave me with one ear

“You’re going to be so dead when we get home” I warned but she just sneered and mouthed “I dare you.” Followed by a playful smirk. I was going to make her carry all the things we bought on her own but she had no idea.

We reached the parking of the apartment and I dashed out the car, so quick like a lighting in the heavy falling rain. I guess by the time Emmy looked to her side I had disappeared because I had her shout out my name loud.

“Over here baby girl” I said and waved so she could see me.

“Seriously!!” “How are we supposed to get this up there” she said and pointed up where out room was

“I think you meant to say how are you….” I said raising my hands up as if I was confused by what she just said. “See you up there” I shouted and turned away

“Izzy you better get your damn ass over here” she declared in a commanding tone

“Or else what..?” I challenged back and left leaving her looking like a homeless child lost in middle of the streets.

I arrived into the apartment and my revenge plan wasn’t done yet. I stood patiently in the doorway waiting for Emmy to come back so that I teach her yet another lesson. And there she was, full in both hands, she looked like an errands runner on a bad day. I laughed as she approached, she looked at me like she was about to strangle me.

“You better get out of my way” she said weakly. But I didn’t burge, instead I spread my legs and arms wide open.

“First apologize” I said lifting my chin up with a proud look.

“Huh!! In your dreams” she said, used her wolf speed and strength to shove me out of the way. I didn’t see that coming. She wasn’t playing fair. “ that’s what you get” she added