down to you—I’m being realistic. You start thinking this is some fun vacation in the big city and let your guard down, and that’s exactly when Chad will find us. And not just him—this city’s full of some of the most vicious shifters you’ve ever met in your life.”
“I get it.”
“I’m warning you. I want you to play it smart, Lexi.”
She rolled her eyes, dropping on the couch next to him.
“Let’s get some food. Thai sound good?”
Her stomach rumbled as she realized she hadn’t eaten since that morning.
“Thai sounds great.”
Jason took out his phone and pulled open a take-out app, the two of them placing an order for some noodles. They came and they were delicious, Lexi and Jason sitting out on the balcony watching the sun dip lower and lower into the sky over the water.
She couldn’t help but smile. Lexi was in downtown Seattle, eating Thai food, the city spread out before her. Despite all that was happening, her dreams were finally coming true.
Well, she considered. Aside from the whole “running for my life” thing.
They passed the rest of the afternoon inside, watching TV and getting the apartment in order.
At around six, Lexi found herself getting antsy.
“I need to go,” she said, getting up.
“Wait, what’re you talking about?”
“The interview at the coffee shop, remember? They told me to come back this evening.”
“No—not a chance.”
“Are you serious?”
“You’re not going out into the city at night for some interview. Too dangerous.”
“What? Are you seriously telling me that I’m going to be stuck in this apartment for however long it takes for us to figure out this whole thing? Jason, I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me, but you’re not going to do it by keeping me in here like some caged bird. You want me to learn how to live in the city, the only way it’s going to happen is by me going out there and, you know, actually living in it.”
Jason looked forward, gritting his teeth.
“Fine. But if you’re going to get used to living here, you need to take it slow. Go down to the coffee shop, do your interview, and come right back.”
Lexi beamed. “And what about clothes?”
Jason looked her up and down. “I think I’ve got some stuff lying around. Hold on.”
He rose and went upstairs into the spare bedroom, returning a few moments later with a light blue cocktail dress and matching shoes.
“Here,” he said, setting them down on the couch. “These look to be about your size.”
“Wait,” said Lexi. “Why do you have random women’s dresses here in your apartment?” But she caught herself. “You know what—I don’t want to know the answer.”
Lexi didn’t know how to feel about the fact that despite what they’d gone through over the last few days, he still had his history of being a womanizing alpha.
“We can get you some new clothes once I start making some money,” he said.
“How about this—I get myself some new clothes once I start making some money.” She grinned after she spoke, Jason matching it.
“That works too. Anyway, get to your interview. I’ll hold down the fort here.”
Lexi went up to the spare bedroom. It was a small but cozy space with a view that looked out over the city. Once she was alone, the door shut behind her, she gave herself a moment to appreciate what she had.
Despite everything that had happened, she was exactly where she wanted to be. Lexi had a place in the city, and one with a pretty killer view. And with any luck, she’d have a job before too long.
But she reminded herself that she couldn’t run from her past forever. It’d catch up with her eventually. She’d have to be ready.
Lexi put on the dress, which ended up fitting her quite well. Looking at herself in front of the mirror, she realized that it might’ve been a little much for an interview at a coffee shop.
Better to be overdressed than underdressed, she thought as she stepped into her shoes and started off.
“Remember to come right back,” said Jason from the couch, a laptop open on the table in front of him.
“I know, I know.”
With that, she stepped out and made her way downstairs and onto the city streets.
A big grin formed on her face once she was there. The city was everything that she’d imagined—bustling with excitement and crackling with an energy she’d never known before. Cars flew by, people zipped along the sidewalks, and the towers around her seemed to stretch up