Behind him, the coffee shop table was empty and the man was nowhere in sight. I forced my gaze back to Roland’s and attempted a smile.
“It’s nothing. I…drank too fast and got brain freeze.” It was a lame excuse, but the only one I could come up with. I hoped he didn’t notice that I hadn’t touched my float yet.
He smiled. “That’ll do it.”
I took a sip of my drink. It was delicious, but my stomach had too many knots in it to handle something so rich. I had no idea what the man would have done if Roland hadn’t been here, and my imagination conjured all kinds of horrible scenarios.
For so many years, I’d been the hunter and humans were the prey. Now I felt weak and vulnerable, and it terrified me.
Roland
“You don’t like it?” I asked Emma, who’d barely touched her drink. She’d gone quiet all of a sudden, making me wonder what could have happened in the five minutes I was away.
“It’s delicious. I’m just full.” She smiled, but it seemed forced.
“So, what do you want to do now?” I asked. Maybe I could show her the sights and cheer her up again.
She pushed her drink away. “Would you be upset if I asked to go home? I feel a headache coming on.”
“No, of course not.” I studied her face, noting that she really did look ill. “Let me find our waitress and pay the bill, and then we’ll go.”
“I took care of it already.” She picked up her phone and bag that lay on the table beside her.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I’d wanted to pay for her meal, and it bothered me that I couldn’t.
“I wanted to. You’ve been so nice, taking me to those art stores. It’s the least I could do.”
I followed her out into the street. “Okay, but you don’t have to pay me back for stuff like that. Besides, I had a good time.”
She looked at me over her shoulder. “I did, too.”
Emma was quieter on the drive back to New Hastings, and I couldn’t stop wondering what had happened to her. I didn’t believe her story about getting brain freeze. Something had upset her while I was on the phone. I’d seen her using her phone. Had she gotten a distressing call or message? There was so much I didn’t know about her, and I doubted she’d tell me what was really wrong if I asked.
The closer we got to home, the more she seemed at ease. We talked about school and our jobs and laughed over a funny text from Jordan. It surprised me to discover she and Jordan were so close because Jordan was a bit prickly with people. I shared some of my Jordan stories with Emma, who got a kick out of hearing about our adventures.
“She gave you her car?”
I nodded. “Of course, she made a point to tell me not to get dog hair all over the seats.”
Emma burst out laughing. “That sounds exactly like something she’d say.”
I hadn’t realized how much her withdrawal had bothered me until I heard her laugh again. I felt my wolf’s relief, too. Neither of us liked seeing her upset.
“You look better. How’s your head?” I asked as we pulled up to her place. Her face was flushed from laughing, and her eyes were warm and happy.
She unhooked her seat belt. “I’m much better. No more headache.”
“Good.” I reached for my door. “You go unlock the door, and I’ll get your stuff out of the back.”
“You can’t carry all that by yourself.”
I gave her a playful glare. “Are you questioning my manly ability to carry a girl’s shopping bags?”
She shook her head dramatically. “Never!”
“I didn’t think so.”
I grinned and got out of the car, lifting my seat forward to reach her purchases. My arms loaded up with canvases and bags, I carried the lot up to the apartment and set it down in the hallway. Emma started taking it up to the studio while I went back to the car for the second load.
My phone buzzed when I reached the car. It was a text from Pete.
You going to the party tonight?
I groaned. Another party? There was no end to it. Not if I can help it.
He sent a smiley face. Not a pack party. Lighthouse party.
I used to know where all the good parties were. Lately, I’d been so caught up in pack business I had no idea what was going on in the social scene anymore. I hadn’t been to a party at the lighthouse since the night Sara, Pete, and I were attacked by a pack of crocotta on the way home. Not one of my fondest memories. Still, it would be nice to see some of my old friends away from all the craziness.
Sounds good. Shannon coming, too?
He and Shannon had been seeing each other since the last party. I was just waiting for him to tell me he’d imprinted. He looked happy and willing, so I hoped he got the girl he wanted, though I was going to miss hanging with him. We’d still see each other, but male wolves settled down when they mated. Another reason I was in no hurry for a mate.
Yes.
We driving together? I asked.
No. Doing dinner first. Meet you there?
Ok.
I grabbed the rest of the bags and took them inside. I heard Emma moving around upstairs, so I carried the bags up to the loft.
“Thanks.” She hurried over to take one from me. “I think I went a little crazy with the shopping.”
I followed her and set the bags on the floor. “You have enough supplies here to paint all of New Hastings.”
She laughed. “I think you’re right. Thanks again for everything. I had a great time today.”
“I did, too,” I said, not wanting our day to be over yet. “Since you’re feeling better, would you like to go to a party tonight?”
Her eyes widened. “The lighthouse party?”
It was my turn to be surprised. “You know about that?”
“Scott texted me about it when we were in Portland. I didn’t know you were going, too.”
“Pete just told me about it.”
“I’m meeting Scott there at eight,” she said. “What time are you planning to go?”
“He’s not picking you up?” My gut hardened at the thought of her with Scott Foley, of all people. He might be a different person now, but I found it hard to forget the old Scott.
“He offered, but I wanted to drive myself. It’s not a date, and I wanted to be able to leave without pulling him away from the party. I’m not really a party person.” She toyed with one of the new brushes she’d laid on her worktable. “I’m glad you’re going.”
I wasn’t sure what pleased me more: her not going on a date with Scott or her saying she was glad I’d be there.
“I should be there around eight. I can pick you up if you’d like. I’ll bring you home if you want to leave.”
She smiled. “Thanks, but I like riding the Vespa.”
“I guess I’ll see you there.” I chuckled as a thought occurred to me. “You know, Sara doesn’t like parties either. Are you sure you two aren’t really sisters?”
The sadness that flashed in her eyes took me aback, and I wondered what I’d said to cause it.
“No, but I love her like one,” she said softly. She set the brush aside. “Would you like something to drink?”
I almost said yes, but I needed to get to the garage if I wanted to go to the party tonight. I’d planned to work on the Chevelle this evening before I’d heard about the party.
“Thanks, but I should get going. Have to get a few hours in on the Chevelle before tonight.”
“Let me get your mother’s dishes for you before you go.”
I followed her to the kitchen. “Did you like the shepherd’s pie?”
“It was delicious, and so was the apple pie.” She picked up the casserole dish and pie plate from the counter and gave them to me. “Please, tell your mother and grandmother I really enjoyed them. I don’t get to eat much home-cooked food.”
I snickered. “As soon as I tell them that, they’ll be on the phone asking you to dinner.”
“I’m…not sure I’m ready for that.” She swallowed then rushed to say, “I don’t mean meeting your family. I mean being around so many…”