for another few seconds as he eyes Ethan. “I’m going to order some food to go. Do you want anything?” he asks me.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Thanks, though.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Ethan tells Harrison, who grumbles a response and goes to the counter to order. “Your brother seems rather protective of you.”
“Yeah. He’s older than me by like ten seconds or however long it takes to grab the second baby during a c-section, and he takes being the older brother seriously.” I roll my eyes.
“Good,” Ethan says, surprising me a bit. “I have two sisters. Call me old fashioned, but I believe all brothers should look out for their sisters.”
“I look out for him more than he looks out for me.” I break off another piece of muffin and get chocolate all over my fingers. “He just doesn’t realize it.”
“Don’t ever tell him,” Ethan says with a grin. “I’m gonna take off. It was nice meeting you Anora.”
“Likewise.” Smiling, I hold his gaze. “Thanks again for helping me.”
“Of course. We both know you needed it.” He flashes that cocky grin again and my insides feel all squishy. “Goodnight, Anora.”
“Goodnight.”
He slides out of the booth and starts toward the door.
“Hate to see him go, but love to watch him leave, right?” I say to a waitress passing by. She gives me a forced smile paired with a weird look and keeps walking. I finish the muffin, which is evidence that I did have a lot to drink. Normally, I’m very picky about sharing food or drinks with anyone. It just grosses me out.
I take another sip of coffee, choking it down in hopes it will sober me up faster, and then sweep the crumbs off the table into my hand, putting them back on the plate. I waited tables in college and try to do my best to make life easier for the waitstaff. I leave a tip and then join Harrison while he waits for his food.
“Who the hell was that guy?” he asks as soon as I stand next to him.
“I thought you weren’t being a Judge Judy.”
“Asking who that was doesn’t make me a Judge Judy.”
I purse my lips and then laugh. “This is the first time you’ve had to pick me up drunk. Do you know how many times I picked up your drunk ass?”
He frowns. “Don’t change the subject. Who was that guy? Was he trying to take advantage of you because you’re wasted?”
“I’m drunk, not wasted,” I press. “And no. We just got to talking. He was nice and didn’t even touch me or even ask for my number, which I suppose I could take as an insult. I’m hot enough to be taken advantage of, aren’t I?”
“I’m not answering that. And I don’t know, Annie. The guy knew you were drunk. If I hadn’t shown up, he might have offered to take you home.”
“Okay Anthony Bridgerton. No one is good enough for sweet little Daphne.”
“What?” He looks at me, slowly shaking his head. “And fine, you sound easily swayed right now, so the guy just taking you to a cafe was a good move.”
I nudge him with my arm. “I knew you’d come around.”
A few minutes later, Harrison gets his food, and we head out to his car. There’s a weird feeling in the air again, and the heaviness that usually sits on my chest is gone. It’s an odd feeling, made even weirder by my lack of ability to hold my mental shields up at the moment. I always thought the ghosts were the reason for the oppression, but I’m sensing them left and right as we drive to my house.
I change into PJs as soon as I’m home and go into the kitchen to steal a couple of fries from Harrison. I should have ordered something, dammit. Hunter is waiting by the back door.
“Need to go out, buddy?” I ask him and unlock the door. Hunter bolts forward as soon as the door is open, growling. My heart skips a beat and fear prickles down my spine. It’s the dog-creature. It has to be.
“Oh shit,” I say out loud and sprint out the door. “Hunter!” I call, but there’s no way he can hear me over his own barking. “Hunter!” I call again, but then the energy shifts, hitting me hard and making me dizzy. I shake my head, trying to force the mental shields up, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t block it out.