[h2]Esme Stirling[/h2]

Esme watched Dean as she plopped down on the floor, then got surprised by the sudden narrowing of his eyes after his laugh, then went back to a smile. She tried to not let anything show on her face as she continued to watch him, trying to keep a small smile on her lips. She was seconds away from answering his question when his smile faded and quickly came back. 

[i]That one?[/i] she thought after he spoke again. Did he really have to call her “That one” instead of by name? Her eyes never left him as he took to his feet and extended a hand to her. Esme took his hand and let him help her out of the chair she was in. Once on her feet, she let go of his hand and walked to the wall and went behind it. She then spun on her heel to face him once he was behind the wall. 

Her smile had faded as she looked at him. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out before she spoke. “I already know what you’re going to say.” she started in a soft tone, then leaned against the wall. “It’s been so long since we met each other and then suddenly we meet back up in strange circumstances.” She sighed heavily as she looked at the floor for a moment, as if trying to find her next words. 

“I don’t know if it’s by some strange coincidence or what, but I find it extremely strange.” she said, looking back up at him. “I still don’t know how I ended up at the same hotel as Natalia.”