It was Friday, and Jared had arranged an afternoon of fun and partying at the office. Officially, it was referred to as team building; in reality, it was just a load of pre-drinking before they headed to the bar to celebrate some new investors.
There was a beer pong tournament and a Super Smash Bros tournament, so morale was high. There was pizza and sushi in the conference room, and chips and snacks on almost every other flat surface. Jared had already confiscated everyone's car keys, and the company was paying for everyone to taxi home at the end of the night.
Kevin suffered an early defeat in the video games and was nursing his second beer when he got a text from Stephanie. They'd only had dinner once in the past week, but knowing she had plans with her coworkers, he wasn't expecting to see her until the next morning.
Stephanie: So, your uncle does ads and marketing right?
Kevin: Yep.
Stephanie: And he's worked in my building for a while?
Kevin: Yeah, probably for at least 10 years or so. Why?
She responded with a photo of a giant gift basket full of fancy chocolates and wines. A second picture followed, a typed tag with his Uncle's company logo on it, and a handwritten note "Would love to chat about what I can do for you â David" followed by his phone number. Kevin was dumbstruck.
Stephanie: My boss is setting up a meeting for this afternoon
Kevin was almost panicky now. Even if it wasn't the same David, the risks were too high for Stephanie.
Kevin: What do you need me to do?
Stephanie: I don't know. I'm not a part of the meeting, but I don't want to be around here at all if it's him. Plus, I have my own meeting to be in, I can't leave.
Kevin: If he does anything out of the ordinary for one of these meetings, I'll give you my Uncle's number and you can call him directly and complain. Just keep yourself surrounded by people.
Stephanie: Okay.
Jared was calling him over for their turn at Beer Pong. He tried to push David from his mind and focus on the game, but Jared could tell something was bothering him. Jared quirked an eyebrow at him; Kevin responded with a grimace and slight shake of his head and turned back to the game.
They won, but Kevin drained his remaining cups anyways. Claiming the need for air, he headed into his office and opened the window the few inches it would allow. Jared found him a few minutes later and closed the door behind him.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Hopefully."
"Nothing happening is a bad thing why?" Jared cracked half a smile before the glare from Kevin reached him.
"So, there's this guy who's harassing Stephanie, and he shows up everywhere. He's completely freaked her out. Somehow, he just got hired by Uncle Dean's firm, so now he works in the same building as her. We don't know if this is another coincidence or something that he actually somehow planned, but he sent a huge gift basket to her office and he's meeting her boss this afternoon."
Kevin collapsed into his desk chair. "He hasn't actually done anything to Stephanie though, and always seems to have a valid reason to be wherever he is at the time. But so many coincidences are starting to feel less like coincidences and more like plans."
Jared looked concerned. Then brightened up.
"Tell her to come here. Join the party. Get out of the office while he's there. Then take her home and make her feel safe."
Kevin sighed. "She has a meeting this afternoon too, and then they've got a team dinner and drinks thing she wants to go to."
"Oh. Well then." Jared's brightness switched to concern, "if you need to go, I'll tell everyone you can't hold your liquor and the shame of your defeat at Smash Bros, and you can get out of here."
Kevin smiled at his friend, "Thanks, but I'll stick around for now until I hear otherwise. Somehow I don't think me showing up unannounced will help where he is concerned."
Jared returned the smile and got up from his chair. "Well in that case, I believe it is time to take on our next competitors!" and he ushered Kevin out the door and into the crowd.
*
The next morning, Kevin picked Stephanie up to go to brunch, both of them feeling a little worse for wear. Revived by the eggs, bacon and pancakes, they returned to Stephanie's and decided to go for a walk around the park.
With her arm in the sling and ribs slowly mending, Stephanie was still very stiff and sore. Their pace was slow, and after half an hour she'd had enough. They returned to her place and she went to lay down, while Kevin set up his surprise for her.
Stephanie could finally watch television for almost two hours without getting a headache, and Kevin planned to take her on a Harry Potter themed adventure right from the couch. He had all the ingredients required to make two of the delicious treats from the books set up in the kitchen, and the movie ready to play.
Kevin walked to Stephanie's bedroom, and saw her asleep on top of the bed. Careful not to disturb her, he climbed onto the far side of the bed and pulled out his phone waiting for her to wake up.
About half an hour later, she finally stirred.
"Morning Sunshine!" Kevin greeted her.
She reached up and rubbed her eyes. "How long was I asleep for?"
"I don't know. At least half an hour."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I hope you weren't too bored."
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Of course not. I have a surprise for you though."
Her eyes lit up, and gingerly she started to get out of bed. Every time he watched her try to change positions like this he cringed, it looked so painful and awkward.
Once she was sitting upright, she looked at him eagerly. "Okay, what's my surprise?"
He stood up and walked around the bed, reaching for her good hand, and led her out into the kitchen, where the ingredients were spread out.
She looked at him questioningly, "What's this?"
"I know it's not Spellmasters, but those books and movies don't have many specialty foods. So, since we've recently finished reading Harry Potter together, we are going to bake some treats from the book and watch the Philosopher's Stone."
He watched her try to analyze the ingredients trying to sort out what they would make.
"Okay, based on the cream soda and butterscotch, I'm guessing it will include Butterbeer, but I can't tell what else it will be."
"Treacle tart!"
"Whoa, that's some intense baking. Have you done this before?"
"Either of these recipes? No. But I have done some baking over the years. It's just supposed to be fun! Try something new."
"I can't even use one of my arms!"
"I know, that's why this isn't a competition." He said with a wink.
They started with the tart, and followed the instructions carefully. After much laughter and a huge mess on the counters and themselves, the tart was in the oven, and they turned their attention to the Butterbeer.
A much simpler recipe, they made it quickly and took their foamy drinks to the couch. Sitting side by side, Kevin's attention was drawn by the mark above her collarbone again.
"Is this a birthmark or a scar?" He ran his finger lightly over the crescent moon shape and Stephanie shivered.
"It's a scar. I've had it most of my life."
"Sometimes it's really noticeable and other times it isn't. Why's that?"
"I don't know. It's just always done that. I think it depends on the temperature. Is it ugly?"
"Ugly? No, not at all."
"Mark thought it was ugly. We actually went to see a specialist about getting it removed."
"Why didn't you?"
She shrugged "Just never got around to it I guess."
"Oh. Do you still want to get rid of it?"
"I don't know. It reminds me of one of the worst times in my life. But that ordeal helped shape who I am, and has always been a physical reminder of why I didn't give second chances."
"Okay. Obviously, it's your choice. I kind of like it though. I think it's beautiful."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I just want to kiss it."
Stephanie stilled beside him and bit her lip. He could see a vulnerability in her eyes before she looked away. When he caught her eye again, she gave a tiny nod, he leaned over to kiss it and a shudder ran through her body.
"I've never been kissed there before. Mark avoided it."
His brow furrowed, "Is that okay?" She nodded. "I've wanted to do that since the night I saw you at the bar."
"What?" She bit her lip and played with the edge of her sling like she played with her bracelet in the elevator, something he noticed she did when she was anxious.
"It was before we started hanging out. You were so beautiful that night, and it stood out in the light just begging to be kissed. It was one of the strangest feelings I've ever had. I didn't even know it was you, and it freaked me out so much I left before the end of the game. I was terrified I'd do something stupid."
She laughed heartily at that, and Kevin was pleased to see she didn't cringe as much anymore. He got up and started the movie.
By the time the movie ended, the tart was fully baked and cool enough to eat. As he stood to stretch, he noticed Stephanie was asleep leaning against the other arm of the couch.
She looked so peaceful, and Kevin was overwhelmed by the warm feeling blooming in his chest. He couldn't believe that she chose him. He liked seeing her so relaxed; not worrying about David and when he might show up next.
But deep down he knew, it was only a matter of time before David showed up in her office.