I go searching for Zheng, uncertain of what sort of reception I’ll get. I can’t believe Rafael said that.
Asshole.
I march across the clearing, pissed at myself for allowing Rafael to get under my skin and determined to smooth things over with Zheng in person. I can’t afford to screw up one of the few friendships I have in this town.
I find him easy enough. He’s sitting on the back of someone’s tailgate, drinking a beer, and joking with a group of guys similarly dressed. A few are shifters but a few definitely aren’t. Two have eerily pale skin. If it weren’t for the sun shining and their violet-colored eyes, I’d think they were vampires. But that can’t be right, so if I had to guess, I’d say they were fae, though I have no idea what kind.
When he spots me walking toward him, he sets down his beer and leans back against the bed of the truck. I can’t see his eyes masked behind a pair of blue mirrored glasses, but I can tell by the downward curve of his lip that I’m not going to get a warm reception.
“Hey,” I say and offer a small wave. Really Isa? A wave? Because that wasn’t awkward.
“Hey.”
I stand there, shifting from one foot to the other. He doesn’t say anything else and the other three guys with him are now staring at me like I’ve grown three heads while wearing a tutu.
“Can we talk?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Sure. Talk.”
Okay then. I guess I should have expected that. I lick my lips, wishing I could see his eyes, gauge just how mad he is with me right now.
“Zheng,” I drag out his name.
He huffs out an exasperated sigh. “Whatever. Fine.” Jumping down from the tailgate he stalks toward his cabin and stops just in front of the porch to lean against the railing. “What can I do for you?” He waves his beer with an over exaggerated flourish.
“You don’t have to be a jerk,” I mutter, folding my arms across my chest.
He’s silent for a beat and I realize he’s not going to say anything. Awesome. Now it’s my turn to sigh. “Look, I just wanted to apologize for bailing on you last night. I saw that girl on your lap by the fire and figured you’d want the room to yourself.” I shrug and do my best to adopt an apologetic look. “I wasn’t trying to ghost you.”
Silence.
“If you don’t want me here anymore, I’ll grab my things and catch a ride back to town.”
Nothing.
Wonderful.
“Whatever.” I turn to head inside his cabin to grab my stuff, praying I can catch a Ridez out here in the middle of boom-freaking-nowhere when his hand on my elbow stops me.
I pause, but don’t turn back to face him.
Gravel crunches beneath his feet as he steps closer, moving around me until we’re facing one another. He rubs the back of his neck in an almost nervous gesture, but I must be reading that wrong.
“I’m sorry. I was a dick.” The corner of his mouth curls up in an apologetic smile.
Really? “I’m sorry, too. I really wasn’t trying to be a bitch and ghost you.” It’s true. Granted, I also wasn’t trying to steer clear, so I wasn’t a cock-block either. But he doesn’t need to know that. He also doesn’t need to know I was swept away by good looks and hot tattoos. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d made poor decisions and probably wouldn’t be the last. First Oliver. Now Rafael. Urgh.
“Are we cool?” I ask, shoving away my inner monologue. I could berate myself and my poor decision-making skills later. “Because I like hanging out with you. I don’t have many friends here and it’d be nice not to lose that with you.”
He exhales sharply. “Yeah. I know I’m overreacting. It’s just…” He pauses. “I have bad history with Rafe and the other wolves at Hellbound High. It’s hard seeing you be so cool with them, ya know?”
I quirk a brow in question because no, I don’t know. I have no idea what issues lie between them. Only that it appears to be mutual and that somehow their Pack is letting the feud continue without stepping in.
“They’re assholes. Especially Rafael. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Rafe’s used his dominance and position in our Pack to get what he wants before. I just...” He gives me a knowing look. “I don’t want to see you taken advantage of.”
I can’t stop the heat I know is spreading across my cheeks, so I look away. “I’m not a submissive,” I tell him, equal parts embarrassed and annoyed. I’m not the type to bow down to the whims of a man. I have a spine. And besides, I’m not looking for a relationship here. I have too much baggage for something like that right now. I want fun, and last night I got that. Sure, this morning sucked, and Rafael is a complete asshole, but it’s not the end of the world either.
Zheng reaches out and tucks a strand of hair that escaped my braid behind my ear.
I still can’t see his eyes and have no idea what he’s thinking, so I go with my gut. “You don’t have to worry. We came here to have fun, right? You got laid. I got laid. Neither of us needs to make a big deal of it. It’s just skin privileges. Is what’s-her-name you hooked up with the love of your life?”
He snorts.
“That’s what I thought. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills. How about we hang today? Just you and me and whatever friends you have here
