between us. There’s nothing personal,” I said as softly as possible, hoping Zab and Musso wouldn’t overhear.
Her shoulders stiffened and then she turned her gaze to me. It went to my shoes, traveled up my legs and the baggy green pants I was wearing. It continued up over my small chest until her eyes collided with mine.
Hers narrowed. “Of course there isn’t.”
She got up, nearly knocking me over as she walked past me to go into the back room.
I shook my head, lecturing myself internally for never taking my own advice. I had some good stuff sometimes. Not all the time, but this time I definitely had been right. She wanted no part of me, not even the kind and nice part. I should’ve left it alone.
Zab let out a sigh. “I don’t know why she keeps hanging on. We all know it’s not happening.” He stood, looking at the back room and figuring the same as I. She’d gone back there like a wounded animal to lick her wounds.
It took another two head shakes before he followed to check on her, as I’d known he would. Zab only had the kind and nice parts.
“Sucks when you’re not the one. Nothing to do about it but move on,” Musso said, methodically going through his work as if nothing were amiss.
“You never know. Maybe it’ll work out.” I shrugged, lacking anything else constructive to say.
Musso snorted. “No one here, even her, believes that.”
“Why do you think…” Stupid question. I knew why she hung in there. If I was dating him, I might too. He wasn’t that nice, and he wasn’t exactly adoring, but he was something else, had something that made you too aware of his comings and goings. I found myself doing it, watching the door for when he’d arrive. The only word for it might’ve been addictive.
At least he was nice to her. Me? He just bossed me around and needed things from me.
“You going to finish that thought?” Musso asked.
“Already forgot what I was going to say. Gotta go. Hawk’s going to be yelling for me soon.”
Hawk was staring down the road intently, looking at something I didn’t see, when I stepped outside.
“What are you looking at?” I asked.
It took him a minute to respond. “Something feels off.” He still wasn’t looking at me but everywhere else. Up the street and down. Then he was staring at the sky and the rooftops.
I glanced around, wondering what he was sensing and not sure I wanted to know. This place was already a bit too much for me.
“Like what?” I asked, because I hadn’t gotten any better at listening to my inner advice than I had with Belinda five minutes ago.
He shook his head, still looking about the place, as if something was going to pop up out of the air. Maybe it would. This was Xest.
“Let’s go,” he said, motioning me one way as he continued to look the other.
I wasn’t sure if I was picking up on “something off” or his high alert was somehow contagious. Either way, the hair on my arms was standing at attention. I began looking over my shoulder as we walked, waiting for an attack.
“Where are we off to today?” I asked, looking for a better subject to concentrate on.
“Some people want to meet you.”
“Oh no. Not more people.” I stopped walking. I’d rather get attacked by the invisible threat than do another forced meet-and-greet. Every other one had not gone well. First I’d had a little troll fellow tell me I was evil. Then I had that screeching lady, and then a restaurant full of people who decided to hate me. I’d rather have my nails pulled out than meet another soul.
He turned around while I was crossing my arms and shaking my head. “I’m done with new people. I’d rather spend the night failing, if you don’t mind.”
He smiled, and it looked as if he might be on the verge of laughing. “This one will be more pleasant.”
I didn’t budge. “You’ve never taken me to anyone remotely pleasant, ever.”
“It won’t be bad. And if you want to leave after you’ve met them, we can go. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
A few minutes. I guessed I could handle anyone for a few minutes. Although I’d been proven wrong a bunch of times so far.
He raised a brow, silently asking if I was coming, seeming to give me a choice. I let out a long breath, dropped my arms, and walked in