It didn’t surprise me to see William standing outside Café Lit Monday morning. The sky was cloudy, but it was dry, and he wore a black coat. He smiled at me as I approached and held out one of the two coffee cups he held.

“Good morning,” he said.

I hesitated, but reached out to take the coffee. “Morning.”

“Sixteen-ounce latte?”

“How did you know?” I asked, curling my hands around the warm cup.

“I asked the barista,” he said.

At least that made sense. Some of the baristas here remembered my usual drink. “Okay… thanks.”

“Can I walk you to work?” he asked.

I glanced through the window into the coffee shop.

“She’s not here,” he said.

“Who?”

“Your friend,” he said. “Jessica.”

“She’s… oh.” I pulled out my phone and sure enough, I had a text from Jess, saying she was running late this morning. “Wait, how do you know her name?”

“The barista.”

“You asked the barista for her name?”

“No, the barista calls out names with orders.” He shrugged. “I just pay attention.”

I eyed him for a second. That must have been how he knew my name. “Well, okay then.”

He smiled again, and it gave me funny tingly feelings in my tummy. He fell in step next to me and we crossed the street.

“Thanks again for getting Edgar for me the other day,” I said. “I can’t remember the last time he ran off like that.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So… you were just walking by and happened to see Edgar bolt?”

“I was in the neighborhood, yes.”

“Because you’ve been following me.”

“Yes.”

God, this was so strange. “Do you know where I live?”

“Yes.”

“So, what have you been doing? Trying to peek in my windows?”

He glanced at me with his brow furrowed, like he was confused. “Why would I try to peek in your windows?”

“Well… I don’t know,” I said. “Isn’t that why a man would follow a woman around? Trying to get a peek at something he shouldn’t?”

He stopped and put his hand gently on my arm, turning me to face him. He looked so concerned. “Has someone been peeking in your windows?”

“What? No.” His touch was so distracting, even through my coat. “That’s not what I meant. You’re the one who’s been stalking me, so if you’re not peeking in my windows, then I guess no one is.”

“Good,” he said, sounding relieved. “But if someone ever does, let me know.”

I gaped at him for a second. He gave my arm a gentle squeeze and started walking. As if propelled by a force beyond my control, I walked with him, staying by his side. I noticed he knew exactly where to go; he obviously knew which building was mine.

“Listen, you need to tell me what’s going on,” I said. “You can’t just admit to following someone without offering an explanation.”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Try.”

“I’ve just been looking out for you,” he said.

“Why?”

He paused again and met my eyes. “Because you’re Ivy.”

“You said that on Saturday,” I said. “And it still doesn’t make sense.”

He smiled and there was that funny feeling in my insides again. We resumed walking.

“That’s it?” I asked. “Just because my name is Ivy?”

“No, not because of your name,” he said. “Because that’s who you are.”

“Still not making sense, William.”

“I said it was hard to explain.”

“Why do you think I need someone to look out for me?” I glanced around and didn’t bother to keep the hint of sarcasm out of my voice. “Am I in danger?”

He hesitated, as if he was giving my question a lot of thought. “I don’t know.”

That sent a chill down my spine. “You don’t know if I’m in danger?”

“I don’t think you are now,” he said. “But you might be someday. I’m not sure.”

This conversation was making less sense the longer it went on. “I really don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to worry about it,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.”

“Who are you?” It probably wasn’t the right question, but it was all I could think to ask.

We’d reached my building and he stepped back, that cryptic almost-smile on his face. “I told you, my name is William Cole.” He gestured to my building with his coffee. “And I think you have to go to work.”

“Well, yes, I do.”

“I’ll see you later, Ivy,” he said.

I stood there, staring at him as he walked away. My sense of equilibrium was gone, like the ground and sky had switched places.

“Bye, William,” I muttered.

“Are you okay, Dr. Nichols?”

I gasped at the voice. One of my students was looking at me with her head tilted to the side.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said.

“No, it’s fine,” I said. “I was… distracted. I’ll see you in class?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

I smoothed my hair back from my forehead and went in to my office.

My heart was still jumpy when I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. Focus, Ivy. I had work to do.

But all I could think about was William. Those eyes. That smile. He was so disconcerting, yet irresistibly intriguing. What kind of man would follow me around, and then introduce himself as if he hadn’t been doing anything strange? And his explanation was that he was looking out for me? Because I was Ivy? What did that mean?

I Googled his name, wondering if I’d find anything. There were lots of results for William Cole, but none of them were him. I had a feeling this wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

“Hey.”

I gasped and clutched my chest, my heart suddenly racing. Jessica stood in my doorway. “God, people keep doing that to me today. You startled me.”

“I stood here for a solid minute and you didn’t notice me,” she said with a laugh. “What’s going on?”

I debated for a second whether I should tell her about William. How could I explain him? But I knew she’d hound me until I did. She could read me like a book. I motioned for her to come in and she took the seat across my desk.

“Do you remember that guy we saw at Café Lit a couple of times?” I asked. “The one you called Mr. Amazing?”

“You mean the creepy one who was eavesdropping on our conversation?” she asked. “The one who was staring at you the next time we saw him?”

“Well, yes, if you want to emphasize that,” I said.

“What about him?”

I tapped a finger against my desk. “He was… kind of stalking me.”

“What?” she asked, raising her voice.

“Shh,” I said. “You don’t have to yell. I think he’s harmless. But it was so strange. I kept thinking I saw him everywhere. Then on Saturday, Edgar ran off when we were leaving the dog park. William brought him back. He introduced himself, and when I asked him if he’d been following me around, he said yes.”

“He just admitted it?” Jessica asked.

“Yeah, he didn’t even try to lie about it or anything,” I said. “Looked right at me and said yes.”

“That’s very odd,” she said.

“I know, but in a way, it wasn’t,” I said. “I don’t know how to explain it. He’s… kind of mesmerizing.”

Jessica arched her eyebrow. “Mesmerizing? Ivy, if he’s stalking you, that’s not sexy. It could be criminal.”

“He didn’t do anything criminal,” I said. “Besides, if he hadn’t been there, Edgar could have gotten hurt or lost.”

“You have some interesting logic there,” she said. “It’s a good thing someone was stalking you because he was around to find your dog?”

“I realize how that sounds,” I said. “That’s part of what I can’t figure out. I kept telling myself I should be concerned, but I wasn’t. He’s… well, he’s really nice.”

She nodded. “Oh good, I’m glad your stalker is nice. That’s a relief.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well it’s better than him being scary. He said he’s just been looking out for me.”

“Why would he do that?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Anyway, I saw him again this morning. He bought me coffee.”

“And now you’re dating your stalker,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Have you lost your mind?”

“It wasn’t a date. He was outside when I got there, and he’d already bought coffee.” I rubbed my temples. “God, Jess, what am I doing?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” she said.

“I know it’s crazy, but I kind of like him,” I said. “He’s very…”

“Very not the man you’re actually dating?”

I scowled at her. “That’s not fair. I’ve been out with Blake a few times. It’s not like we’re exclusive. And it doesn’t matter, because I didn’t go out with William. That’s not what this is.”

“Well it’s something,” Jessica said. “You have a guy stalking you and now you’re having coffee with him and telling your best friend that he’s nice. Did you hit your head over the weekend?”

“Thanks, that’s very helpful.”

She tilted her head and gave me a very maternal smile. “Honey, I’m just concerned. You can’t have some guy following you around.”

“I know. I’ll deal with it.”

“Okay,” she said, her eyebrow arching again, like she wasn’t sure if she believed me. “So, I came over here because I had an idea. What if we double date?”

I opened my mouth to say I hadn’t had a real date with William, so it was way too soon to double. But I realized she meant Blake. “Oh. Um… yeah, that might be fun.”

“Might be?” she asked. “Come on, I need to meet this guy. I know you’re not sure if you’ll keep seeing him. But if you are, he has to pass the Jessica-test.”

I laughed. “Okay. I’ll submit Blake for Jessica-testing. He said he’d call to make plans, so I’ll bring it up and see if he’s interested.”

“Great,” she said. “We’re free this weekend, so let me know.”

“Does Peter know about this?”

She waved her hand. “Peter will be fine. I’ll make it worth his while.”

“A little oral bribery?”

“It’s not bribery, it’s knowing his currency,” she said with a wink. “I should get going, but text me about this weekend. And make sure you get Mr. Creepy to stop stalking you.”

“His name is William, you don’t have to call him Mr. anything now.”

“Stop defending your stalker.” She got up and adjusted her sweater. “You’re already halfway to Stockholm syndrome.”

“I am not,” I said. “That requires kidnapping or a hostage situation.”

“Well, if he kidnaps you, you’re going to be very susceptible,” she said. “Just warning you.”

“Bye, Jess.”

“See you,” she said with a smile, and walked out the door.

I picked up my coffee looked at it, as if it would explain the mystery that was William. Sadly, it didn’t.