Chapter 26

*ALORA* “Alora.” He said in that dark, growly voice like he was tasting it, experiencing flavors no one else did. It was ridiculous but I started feeling excited like a teenage girl who had just gotten her crush to notice her. I’ve never felt this way in years. I had thought the hopeless romantic in me had died. “My name’s…Ford.” There was something about the way he hesitated before he told me that, like half-truths and lies were accepted in the darkness. I wondered why I sensed an air of deception. I didn’t know him. We just met. And I’m still holding his hand. Why did I liked holding a stranger’s hand? I shook my head, I have to get a hold of myself. “May I have my hand back, please?”I noticed he paused for a beat before responding. “Sorry.”His thumb slid over the back of my hand slowly, making me shiver before he released me. As I slid down to the floor and tucked my legs beneath me, I couldn’t help the feeling that he wasn’t sorry at all. Lord, I was having stupid fantasies about a