Love, After Dark

Chapter 30

The library was nothing like I expected. Light wood floors stretched wide beneath my feet, warm and clean. To the left, a graceful curve of floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the space, sunlight pouring in through sleek shades pulled high. Individual desks lined the glass, each with a brand-new desktop computer facing outward, dividers offering privacy without isolation.

To the right, a lounge area looked more like a high-end hotel than a community library, with plush matching sofas, deep recliners, low tables, and a mounted TV glowing softly. Beyond it sat a small café tucked neatly against the wall, the scent of coffee and baked muffins floating through the air. In the center, round tables dotted the open floor, perfect for study groups. And much further back- where the light dimmed- rows of tall bookshelves stretched deep into silence. It was beautiful. Cozy. Safe.

“Siri!” I spotted Nala waving from one of the tables. When I reached her, she slid a cold cup toward me. “Vanilla iced coffee. Hope that’s okay.” I grinned. “You’re officially my favorite person.” She laughed and introduced the other two girls. Brittany was brown-skinned with soft, shoulder-length curls framing her face, her posture slightly guarded but her smile warm once it appeared. Eliza had long red hair cascading down her back, pale freckles dusting her nose, her confidence easy and unforced. We sat and pulled out notebooks, phones glowing as we discussed the project: Hidden Architects of Resistance, a deep dive into lesser-known Black organizers during the Civil Rights era. Nala scrolled her phone. “There’s a book we need—Silent Backbone: The Women Who Built the Movement. Siri, could you grab it?” “Yeah,” I said, standing.

The librarian- a graceful older woman with silver hair pulled back and crow’s feet that spoke of a lifetime of smiles- looked up as I approached. “Can I help you, dear?” I told her what book I needed and asked where I could find it. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose before turning to the computer in front of her. She found the book in seconds, wrote down the aisle number and pointed me toward the back.

The air changed as I walked deeper into the shelves. Dimmer. Colder. Quiet in a way that pressed against my ears. I couldn’t see my friends anymore. Or the desk. Or anyone. The feeling hit me then. I dropped my phone, bending to grab it. I swore I saw someone at the end of the aisle from my peripheral, but when I turned my head, it was empty. My pulse quickened. I grabbed the book and turned. I slammed straight into a solid chest. Hard. Unmoving. The shock of it caused me to jump backwards and I lost my footing. Strong hands caught me before I fell, fingers digging into my arms. I looked up and froze. His gaze was intense. Sharp. Angry, almost. Like I’d offended him just by existing. “I— sorry,” I stammered. He didn’t speak. “Please,” I whispered. “Let go.” He released me, his frown deepening. I laughed nervously, words tumbling out, until his stare darkened into something dangerous. I fled.

Back in the open space, Nala joked about sending a search party. I laughed, but the unease stayed with me. Over the next hour, the girls and I divided the tasks for the project into four. We each had our own part to complete that would make the project whole. After a while, Nala stood, glancing at her watch. “Well,” she began “I think we can end here for the day?” She stated more as a question to make sure we were all in agreement. I thought about the lecture waiting for me at home before replying,” I think I’m going to stay awhile longer.” “Okay. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” Nala smiled. The girls grabbed their belongings and waved goodbye before walking out.

I grabbed my notebook and began working on the essay portion of the project. Then I felt it again. I looked up, scanning the room until my eyes landed on him. The guy from the aisle. With a dangerous look in his eyes. He was watching me. Unblinking. Unapologetic. I quickly looked away. After thirty minutes, I’d finally had enough. I stormed over to the table he sat at and stood directly in front of him. “What is your problem?” I yelled. “Shh!” the librarian hissed. He said nothing, just watched me as intently as he had before. After realizing he wouldn’t respond to me, I decided I wouldn’t entertain him any longer. “Whatever,” I muttered, walking away. I grabbed my notebook, shoving it into my backpack before storming out.

Outside, the sun was almost gone. The parking lot that had been packed when I arrived was nearly empty. I remembered I had parked in the back and made my way around the building. As I walked, the feeling of being watched settled over me again. I quickened my pace, keys in hand, determined to make it to my car. I was so anxious, I hadn’t noticed the speed bump I was crossing over. I stumbled forward, dropping my keys in the process. I bent down to pick them up. There were two men standing in front of me when I stood.

“Hey, there, beautiful” the guy to my right called. “Excuse me”, I stammered, trying to pass. They blocked my way. I glanced over my shoulder, noticing a third man waiting. A silent threat was written on his face. “What’s the rush, sweetheart?” The first guy taunted. That’s when they surrounded me. They were dirty. Sour-smelling- as if they hadn’t bathed in months. Smiles full of teeth and bad intentions. I started to panic, turning in circles as they continued to antagonize me. “You smell delicious”, the second guy grunted, taking a whiff of my hair. “And you’re so soft”, the first guy stated as his finger grazed my arm. Fear locked my chest.

“Let her go.” A voice called out. Calm. Deadly. It was him. The men jumped, startled by the sudden interrupted. The first man stepped forward, his startled expression turning into one of anger. “Mind your f*****g business!” He yelled. The guy kept his stance, a dangerous look in his eyes. “Looks like we will have to teach you a lesson”, the greasy man growled, swinging a fist in the guy’s direction. He caught it mid-air, snapping his arm like it was nothing. The gruffy man screamed in pain and the others attacked. I stood wide eyed as he delivered blow after blow to the group, sending them crashing into the dumpsters, poles and parked cars. When it was over, they took off running down the alley.

He turned his attention to me. He was suddenly right there- too close- and my breath caught before I could stop it. He was tall, towering really, his presence filling the space like it belonged to him. His skin was a deep, rich brown that seemed almost to absorb the dim light around us, making everything else feel dull in comparison. He wore a simple T-shirt, but it did nothing to hide what was underneath. The fabric clung to him, stretched over a broad, sculpted chest, and when I stumbled into him I felt it- solid, warm, unmovable. It was shocking how hard he was, how real. I could feel the strength in him without seeing it, sense it in the way he stood so grounded, like the world would bend before he ever would. His arms were thick, powerful, the kind that looked capable of doing serious damage and the thought sent an unwanted shiver through me.

When my eyes lifted to his face, my chest tightened. He was devastatingly handsome. Sharp jaw framed by a neat beard, full lips set in a hard, unreadable line, and eyes so dark they felt endless. There was something about the way he looked at me that made my pulse stutter, like he was seeing far more than he should. But it wasn’t just his body that unsettled me. It was the energy rolling off him. Dark, magnetic, dangerous. Standing there beneath his intense gaze, I felt exposed in a way I couldn’t explain, like he could see straight through me. My skin prickled, my breath came shallow, and for a terrifying second I couldn’t tell if I wanted to step back… or lean closer. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “You should get home,” he said quietly. “This isn’t a place for a girl like you after dark.” He opened my car door. I couldn’t speak. He turned, walking away with confident stride. “What’s your name?” I called. He kept walking, not bothering to answer. “Thank you”, I yelled as he disappeared into the night.