Chapter 2 02

Chapter 2

Trying not to appear too obvious, Thea glanced over Shae's shoulder and saw who she was talking about. He seemed to be a few years older than her, a five o'clock shadow around his jawline adding to his appeal. He wore a black leather jacket with a white shirt visible underneath, and Thea could see the outline of hard muscle beneath the fabric, the subtle flex of his arms as he adjusted his position at the bar. He had dark and broody written all over him, as though he'd just stepped out of some action movie.

His eyes flickered, and then those striking blue orbs were staring intently into her own, locking with hers across the bar. The brief, unexpected moment made Thea flush, warmth creeping up her neck. But before she could compose herself, a sharp pain shot through her skull, sudden and blinding. She winced, her hand shooting to her forehead instinctively.

"He's alright," she muttered under her breath, trying to brush off the wave of dizziness.

Shae snorted, clearly unbothered by Thea's discomfort. "Of course you would say that. Your mind's too filled with cute Detective Cooper to notice any of the other hotties in this place." Shae took a sip from her own drink, eyes still glued to the man at the bar, who had now shifted his focus back to his drink, oblivious to their conversation.

Thea rubbed her temples in an attempt to stave off the headache. She glanced over at Shae. "I'm serious," she said, a slight irritation in her voice. "He's just... not my type." Even though she couldn't help but notice the way the man's presence seemed to command attention in the room.

Shae's eyes narrowed in concern, and she leaned in, her voice dropping. "Are you getting another headache again?" she asked, her tone softening as she studied Thea's face, the lines of discomfort clear in her features.

Thea sighed heavily, fighting the familiar wave of pain that had become a constant companion over the past couple of months. "I don't know. I hope not." She closed her eyes for a second, trying to breathe through the lingering sensation that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Tell me if you are," Shae said, her voice kind and reassuring. "I'll cover for you. You don't have to push yourself."

Thea smiled faintly at her friend's concern. "Thanks, Shae, but I think I should be alright." She opened her eyes again, the headache already starting to fade as the tension in her body eased. For a moment, she wondered if it was a good idea to mention the strange coincidences that had been happening ever since that fateful day in Crete-the headaches, the vivid dreams, and the odd pull she felt toward certain people. But she didn't want to burden Shae with her confusion. She wasn't even sure she understood it herself.

Shae, ever the perceptive one, didn't press the issue. Instead, she shifted her attention back to the man at the bar. "Tell me that guy doesn't make you think some bad boy fantasy," she said with a grin, her voice teasing.

Thea tried to suppress a smile, her eyes drifting back to the stranger in question. "He's just another guy," she said dismissively, though her heart wasn't entirely in it.

Shae wasn't fooled. "Yeah, right. You don't fool me, Thea." She grinned mischievously. "But, hey, don't worry. You've got Detective Cooper to keep you occupied. No one could compete with that."

The mention of Detective Cooper made Thea's heart flutter slightly in her chest. She couldn't deny the attraction, but the truth was, there was so much more to it. The first time she met Josh, something inside her had shifted. Something she couldn't quite explain. It was more than just his good looks or the way he carried himself-there was a connection that went deeper, a spark that she hadn't felt in years. She was still trying to figure out what it meant.

"I suppose he's not hard on the eyes," Thea said, her voice quiet.

Shae snorted again. "Not hard on the eyes? The guy's a walking fantasy! I swear, if you don't make a move soon, I might have to do it for you." She gave Thea a playful shove, making her laugh, but Thea quickly tried to push the thought of Detective Cooper out of her mind. She wasn't sure she was ready for whatever this thing was.

The conversation shifted again as Shae eyed the man in the black leather jacket one more time, clearly still intrigued. Thea let herself be distracted by the lighthearted banter and her own thoughts. She wasn't sure what was happening with her body lately-what the dreams meant or why the headaches had become worse. All she knew was that they had started the day of the tsunami, when the news flashed across her screen and the pain had been so sharp and overwhelming she thought she might pass out. And then there was the oddest thing of all-Detective Josh Cooper, who had appeared out of nowhere, catching her just before she collapsed.

It was impossible to forget the way he had held her, his strong arms enveloping her in a protective embrace as if he'd been there for a lifetime. And in that brief moment, everything changed.

Shae's voice broke through Thea's thoughts. "I wish someone would send a smolder like that my way," she said, almost wistful.

Thea shook her head, a grin pulling at her lips despite herself. "Just you wait, a hottie will walk in here and save you one day." She gave Shae a playful wink, though she couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever be able to move on from the moment her life had changed so drastically. From the moment she had locked eyes with Detective Cooper.

Shae rolled her eyes. "Save me? Girl, I don't need anyone to save me, but I'll take a smolder any day." She took another sip of her drink and nodded toward the back of the bar. "Speaking of which, better get your cute police officer his drink before he forgets what you look like." She grinned. "And make sure you don't lose any of those drinks, or we'll never hear the end of it from Jackson."

Thea chuckled softly, the familiar teasing lightening her mood. She grabbed the tray of drinks, trying to focus on the task at hand. As she approached the table of detectives, she caught Detective Cooper's gaze again, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile, and her stomach did a little flip. She quickly looked away, trying to ignore the sensation that had become all too familiar.

"Alright, guys," Thea said, trying to sound casual as she walked toward the table, "make way for the girl with the drinks." She was greeted with a chorus of chuckles and good-natured teasing.

As she set the drinks down on the table, Detective Jackson picked up his beer, grinning. "Ah, thanks, Thea. Have you caught any of the match yet?" he asked, twisting off the cap.

Thea shook her head. "Only bits and pieces, but it looks like a nail-biter," she replied, her gaze flicking back to the screen where the game was still underway.

Jackson leaned back in his chair. "You can say that for sure. Brazil's definitely going to win though."

"I hope so," Thea said with a laugh. "I've got fifty bucks riding on them!"

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Oh, a gambler, huh? A woman after my own heart!"

Thea shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all about a little risk."

"And what about you, Josh?" Jackson asked, his eyes turning toward Detective Cooper, who had been unusually quiet. "What's your take on the match?"

Thea's heart skipped again as Josh's eyes shifted toward her. She felt a flush creep up her neck, but she managed to keep her cool. "It's good to have a little risk in your life," he said, his voice smooth and low.

Thea swallowed hard, trying not to look too obvious as she met his gaze once more. There it was again-the unspoken connection that made her feel like there was something bigger at play here. But what?

"Well," Jackson said, raising his beer in the air, "here's to Brazil, then."

Thea clinked her glass against his, but her mind was far away, tangled in a web of questions she didn't yet have the answers to. What was happening to her? Why had things changed so suddenly? And why couldn't she stop thinking about Detective Cooper?