“Yeah, okay.” His eyes focused back on the ground. “I just thought…”
“Thinking usually gets guys in trouble.” Ella tugged on my arm ready to go. “So I’d recommend you stop right there.”
“I’ll see you later.” I stood and followed Ella.
She stopped and waited for me to catch up. “He’s trying to weasel his way in.”
“Yeah, I know.” That was pretty obvious. “It won’t work, so don’t worry.”
“Oh, I wasn’t.” She shook her head and sighed. “It’s just, how blunt do we have to be in order for him to realize it’s not happening.”
“As long as I’m single, he might think there’s a chance.” What he didn’t realize was that I’d be single for my entire life.
“Then we need to find you a date.” Her eyes sparkled. “Maybe he’ll finally shut it down.”
“I don’t date.” Never had and didn’t ever plan on starting that.
“Heartbroken?” She frowned as she slowed her pace.
“Yeah, something like that.” It wasn’t from a guy tearing my heart out.
“That sucks.” She looped her arm through mine. “Been there and done that.”
“What happened?” The more I could get her talking about herself, the less it would be about me.
“Let’s just say he found someone else.” Her usual happy demeanor chilled.
“I’m sorry. He didn’t deserve you.” Whoever it was made an impact on her.
“It wasn’t his fault. Sometimes, fate has a way of intervening.” She sighed and stared off. “Some people were made for each other. I wasn’t made for him.”
He must have found his fated mate. “It still sucks whether he meant it or not.”
“Now that I can agree with.”
The coffee shop appeared in front of us. We’d be there in a matter of minutes.
“Is your brother okay?” I hadn’t meant to ask the question, but he kept appearing in my mind.
“Oh, yeah.” She waved it off, but her feet slowed a little. “He made a decision that I’m not super thrilled with, and he wanted to let me know before I heard it from someone else.”
“What is he doing?” If she wasn’t thrilled, it couldn’t be something good.
“He’s doing something illegal.” She opened the door to the coffee shop, and we both entered.
“It’s not like,” I said and then lowered my voice, “drugs or anything, right?”
She burst out laughing. “No. God no.” She held her side and laughed some more. “Not like that. It’s a little insane. He’s doing some fighting in a gym. After-hours if you know what I mean.”
“Okay.” That wasn’t too horrible as long as he didn’t get caught. The plus side was him being a shifter, so he shouldn’t get hurt too badly.
“Don’t get all judgmental on him.” She pulled out her credit card as she approached the cash register. “Mom’s not doing so well, and we need the money.”
“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I wanted to ask if they notified the regional representatives, but then that would open up another can of worms. “Do you want me to like him or not?”
“What?” Her forehead furrowed.
“Your brother.” She gave me hell all the time. “You threaten him to not talk to me and then get pissy when you think I’m criticizing him. Pick a side.”
She stopped in her tracks and tapped her hands on her dress. “I’m not being pissy. It’s complicated. Okay? I don’t want something to happen and lose this.”
“Fine.” I still wasn’t sure how to act with a friend without feeling weird. I sidled up to the register and ordered two vanilla lattes.
“Hey, I always get these.” She swung her hip into mine, trying to get me to move away.
“Exactly. It’s my treat.” I had just gotten paid, and the tips were good from that huge party the other night, I wanted to at least buy this round. “Don’t worry. I got paid.”
“You work?” She tilted her head and examined me. “I don’t know why, but I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Don’t worry. I’m the kitchen help most of the time, so I get to be by myself, washing dishes, and don’t have to interact with a lot of people.” That was the top job requirement when I started looking. Mona had wanted me to work in the antique store with her, but I didn’t want to be around all those supernaturals. They tended to be her biggest customer base. Humans greatly underestimated the value of old relics.
“Good.” She moved aside so I could hand the cashier my credit card. “You’d make a killing as a waitress if you could smile and be nice to people.”
“Hey, I’m buying your drink right now.”
“But I’m different.” She pointed to her face and smiled. “My natural charm removes your natural defenses.”
She was one hundred percent right, but I wouldn’t admit it. “Eh… sure. Let’s go with that.”
“You bitch.” She laughed though she tried to school her features into a mask of indifference.
“Please stop.” I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “You look constipated.”
“Here you go.” The cashier handed me back my card with a slight scowl on her face. “Next.”
“I don’t think she appreciated our swagger.” Ella rolled her eyes with a huge grin on her face.
“Most don’t.” It felt so weird and nice to be like this with someone. In all reality, she was my first real friend.
Her phone buzzed, and she huffed. “Hey, I’m going to have to go and meet one of my brother’s friends. There’s something going on.”
Our lattes got placed on the counter, and I walked over and grabbed both of them.
“Then go.” I handed her coffee to her. I’ll see you next week.”
“Are you working this weekend?” She took the drink from my hand and smiled. “And thank you for this.”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t quite sure what she was aiming for.
“Dammit.” She pouted and sighed. “I’ll be tied up with my brother and his friends this weekend. All right, have a great weekend, and Monday we’re back on schedule. Okay?”
“Got it.” I watched her run out of the coffee shop and hoped that everything was okay.
As I hurried to my car,
