Page 33 of Checkmate
“Oh wow.” The question caught Marcus off guard. He really hadn’t expected her to call at all. Never mind inviting him out. But hey, what’s the worst that could happen? His wife cheats on him more?
“Sorry, that’s really forward of me,” Erica said, a touch of nerves in her tone. “I just feel compelled to meet you.”
He knew what she meant. He felt the same compulsion to meet the other victim in this fucked up mess of his marriage.
“You know what, Erica? Coffee sounds perfect.”
Marcus chose a table right in the middle of the coffee shop, in full view of everyone and with a straight line towards the exit.
Trying not to focus too hard on the door, he looked around at the other patrons as they enjoyed their beverages.
He was incredibly nervous as he sat there, waiting for Erica.
Sure, she had sounded pleasant enough on the phone, but what if she’d had time to process and directed her anger towards him?
It didn’t help that he wasn’t sure who he was looking for.
Anyone who came through the door could have been her. The young woman with the mean face who’d ordered a coffee to go and topped it up with something from a silver canister. Or perhaps the older lady doused head to toe in expensive brands and dripping with jewellery that looked like it belonged in a children’s toy box.
However, when the bell tinkled signalling a new customer, Marcus somehow knew that the woman who walked in was Erica.
Her beauty stunned him and took his breath away. She looked around the cafe, her eyes taking in everything as she moved further into the room like liquid in motion.
Everything about her screamed elegance and grace. She held herself in such a way that no one could tell the turmoil he was sure was raging inside her.
And that was how he knew it was her he was waiting for.
Heartache attracts heartache.
Her eyes met his from across the room, her lips turning at the corners into a tentative smile. She walked towards him with confident steps.
“Marcus?”
“Yes,” he said, returning her smile. Standing, he pulled her chair out for her. “Please, take a seat. Can I get you a coffee?”
“A latte sounds great, thank you.”
He excused himself, heading to the counter. It was only as he waited for her order that he considered he shouldn’t have run off so quickly.
He stole a glance towards Erica, only to see her looking back at him. Offering a small wave, he turned back to the barista and made small talk.
No. No, this was good.
He needed this moment to get all his nerves out and make sure his first words to her were not incoherent babble.
Instead, the poor server who wore the name Clive proudly on his chest had to listen to his cheesy jokes and pitiful attempts at small talk.
Unfortunately, his time with Clive was all too short and as he paid for Erica’s drink, he knew he couldn’t put this off anymore.
“Here we go,” he said as he approached the table, placing the mug in front of her. He took his seat, taking a mouthful of his half-empty coffee.
“Thank you,” Erica said, as he got comfortable. “I feel it’s only appropriate to tell you something,”
“Oh, god. What now?”
She chuckled and shook her head, tucking her hair behind her ear. “No. Nothing like that, don’t worry. My sister, who falls asleep to true crime podcasts, I might add, demanded I give her your number.”
“In case I’m a serial killer?” He asked, his features relaxing into a smile. “How very smart of her. Older sister?”
