Episode 577: The Stranger

"I know, it’s just that the other night-"

"The other night nothing happened. I’m fine. The guy was probably just lonely, wanting some human contact. He looked homeless." He’d made her think of Xavier. How hard it must have been for her one-time fiance to wander the streets when he’d only been a kid.

The night they’d met, Xavier had worn a dark hood pulled up over head, too, and the posture, the way the tall man slouched in on himself was so reminiscent of the man she’d once thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. She supposed that explained her irrational lack of fear.

"I don’t like the idea of any grungy guy seeking out contact with you. Promise me you’ll be careful if I go. If someone shady comes near the door, lock it."

"That won’t be good for business," she teased, but Sebastian was obviously in no mood for it.

"I don’t care about business. I care about you. Promise me."

"Okay, I’ll promise you. If you promise me to have an actual life again beyond being my bodyguard." She loved that he loved her so much but she doubted this clinginess was healthy for their relationship, or for him.

"Guarding your body is my dream gig," Bas said and dropped a knee-weakening kiss on her. For the most part clinginess wasn’t such a bad thing.

"Careful," he reminded her, before giving her hips one last squeeze and walking out the door. He said it so gravely that even though Avalon wasn’t alone in the store, a shiver ran through her as her head bent over the computer and she heard the bell jingle above the door.

Episode 578: All I Have To Give