Ahead of the Darkness by Simone Nicole Page A

I shrugged it off. I don’t feel, remember?
    ––––––––
    T he café, Maria’s, was right where I thought it would be, just opposite the club on the corner. It was a quaint little Italian café with a delicatessen too. My mouth salivated at the selection of antipasto, and I made a mental note to come back after the gym and buy a bag full of goodies. For now I just ordered a blueberry muffin with a huge latte, and settled myself at a little corner table.
    “I thought ye said you ate? That muffin cannae be good fuel for the gym, like.” Jesus! Drew magically appeared in front of my table.
    “Are you trying to make a habit out of scaring me? I didn’t see you come in.”
    “Aye, that’s because I was three tables across from ye.”
    “Oh. Wait. How do you know I’m going to the gym? And I do eat ..." I looked down to see I had been picking at the muffin rather than eating it.
    “Ye have a duffel bag with ye. It was an educated guess. Do ye need someone to catch ye this time?” He made himself comfortable on the chair across from me.
    "Not likely."
    "Oh, aye, it was the shoelaces, the ones on ye runners, ye tripped on."
    We looked down at my trainers, and I groaned internally at my lack of laces. Busted .
    “Something like that. What are you doing up so early, anyway?”
    “The same thing ye seem to be doing. What are ye doin’ up so early.”
    “I didn’t have my alcohol-infused comma to keep me asleep, I guess.”
    “Aye, I bet. Come on then, ye cannae sit here all day picking at that poor muffin.” He picked up both our bags and walked out of the shop.
    “Hey!” I downed the last of my coffee and chased after Drew. I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, the bastard had my gym bag.
    “Took ye long enough.” I found Drew waiting outside with both our gym bags in hand.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Ye cannae be trusted to go by yerself.”
    “What? Drew ...”
    “Come on, it’ll be fun.” He grabbed my hand and crossed the road. I would have been lying if I said I didn’t like the feeling of my hand in his. It felt warm and secure, but I pulled my hand free and crossed my arms. So childish of me, but I couldn’t help it. He was being hot and cold again.
    “Ye have ten minutes to get ready. If ye not out and warming up with me, I’m coming in after ye.”
    “Fine, I relent. Can I have my bag now?” I held my hand out and waited for him to put my bag in it. I was still waiting.
    “For the love of God!” I took my bag out of his hand and marched across the road and through the doors. I took the stairs in a huff, secretly hoping I wouldn’t trip up them and land on my face. I heard Drew laughing behind me as he followed.
    “Ye kinda cute when ye get frustrated.”
    “Then I must be cute all the time when I’m around you.” My voice dripped with sarcasm, and I rolled my eyes. “I have never understood how someone can be cute or sexy when mad. It’s a rather unattractive emotion, all things considered.”
    “It’s nae like ye head spins or ye spit fire.” He laughed, and I stopped at the top of the stairs, causing Drew to crash into me.
    “You’re impossible. You know that right?”
    “Aye, I’ve heard that a time or two.”
    I sighed and walked through the gym doors, and waited to check in. The woman at the desk didn’t even lift her head when she started to slide the sign-in sheet towards me, until she spotted Drew.
    “Morning Drew.” She actually batted her eyelashes, and slid the sign-in sheet to him instead. I looked at Drew with a raised eyebrow.
    “We the only ones here again?” We? I finally got a look, but it wasn’t a pretty one. More a who the hell are you look. I refrained from smirking at her. Why that pleased me, I didn’t know.
    “You are usually the only one who comes in this early on a Sunday. Most folk would be half-dead this time of morning. ” The scorn in her voice was enough to make me laugh.
    “Yes that’s where I should be. You did