She had to be bluffing. “You said thirty minutes; it’s right on the dot.” I hurried over to her and glanced at her phone. I couldn't believe what I saw. She had Connor’s number pulled up, and she already halfway typed my home address out. “You bitch.”
“No, a bitch would be someone who wouldn’t warn you.” She hit the backspace and deleted the message. “A friend gives a warning. Now come, let’s go.” She turned and jumped back into her car.
I wasn’t sure whether I should be impressed or pissed off. She had a knack for getting her way. I begrudgingly got into the car and slammed the passenger door shut for emphasis.
“Oh, stop. You aren't mad.” She waved me off as she put the car in reverse. “You secretly love it.”
It scared me that she wasn’t far off with that assessment. I needed to do a better job gaining distance. If something happened to her because of me, I wasn't sure if I could live with myself.
“Anyway.” She pulled out onto the main road. “We’re heading to one of the bars close to town. They have a live band playing.”
“I don’t like being in crowds.” She was a shifter. She shouldn’t like being around loud music either.
“We hang outside.” She waved me off. “We can still hear the music, enjoy the atmosphere, but not be around all the crammed in bodies.”
That was at least a better alternative. “Fine, but if it’s too much we leave. Promise me.”
“Okay, okay.” She lifted a hand in the air. “Whatever it takes for you to at least try to act like a normal teenager.”
Within minutes, we pulled up to a huge bar that had an open back patio. There were several large groups of people hanging outside, and the music blared.
It took everything I had to climb out of the vehicle. Maybe if I refused to get out, she’d forget about me.
As if she heard my thoughts, she made her way to my door and opened it. “Come on. I swear. Look,” she said as she pointed to a section that was clear. “We’ll go over there, away from everyone.”
I wanted to argue but there was no point. I took a deep breath and climbed from the car. “Remember what you promised.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waved me on, and soon we were walking across the wood floor of the patio, and we took a seat in the far corner.
As I scanned the people surrounding us, my eyes landed on the blonde that Mason had slept with. It was almost like a punch in the gut.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ella followed my eyes to Bridgette. “Oh, yeah. She’s a slut. She’s been harassing Mason. I don’t know why he does stupid shit like that.”
Honestly, I wanted to drop this conversation. I didn't want to think about him and other women. He could never be mine, and it just hurt too much to hear.
“What can I get you ladies tonight?” a young waitress, who couldn’t be much older than us, approached and asked.
“Could I get a Coke and some cheese sticks please?” My stomach growled as if telling me it wasn’t enough. “And a bacon cheeseburger, medium rare?”
“Sure.” She smiled at me and then gazed at Ella. “Oh, a burger sounds good. Let me have the same as her with a large onion rings, my own order of cheese sticks, and some hot wings.”
“Uh… sure.” The girl glanced at Ella. “Are you expecting more people?”
“Nope, just the two of us.” Ella smiled and tilted her head. “I just really enjoy eating.”
“Now that’s not an understatement.” A familiar voice called from across the patio. The wind picked up, blowing his earthy scent in my direction. “But don’t worry, she’ll share some with her brother.” Mason crossed the floor to us, smiling at me, while Alec followed right behind him.
My heart took off when our eyes met.
“Dude, you know she won’t share food.” Alec laughed loud.
Bridgette’s head jerked in our direction, and her eyes landed on Mason. “Oh, hey.” A huge smile crossed her face as she ran over and wrapped her arm around his. “I’m over here. I thought you said you couldn’t make it.”
“I can’t.” Mason disentangled himself from her. “I’m busy.”
The fact that he was blowing her off shouldn’t make me happy, but it did. I needed to get out of here. “Ella, I thought it was just us two.”
“It was supposed to be, I swear. He was supposed to have a fight tonight.” She placed a hand on the table and pointed at Mason accusingly. “How the hell did you know where I was? Did you follow me?”
“It’s a Friday night, and I was afraid my sister might get in trouble, so I pushed the fight till tomorrow.” He shrugged and turned his back on Bridgette as he moved around the table and took the empty chair that was sitting against the wall, between Ella and me, so Bridgette couldn’t join him. As he sat, he scooted the chair closer to me. “Tell her, Alec.”
“Uh… yeah.” Alec’s eyes darted at me but then focused on Ella. “So… add a burger to that order for me, too, please.” He glanced at the waitress.
“Yeah, sure.” The girl hurried off, leaving us alone with an angry, scorned lover.
“Are you being serious right now?” Bridgette leaned over the table, placing her girls on full display for Mason. “I invited you here, and you’re now turning me down.”
“Yup, that’s exactly right.” Mason pointed over to the group that was standing around across the patio. “You’re pretty enough. Someone else will take you home tonight.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she blinked a few times before storming off in the direction of her friends.
“You know what?” I needed to leave. His scent was making me dizzy, and my body betrayed me by leaning in his direction of its own accord, in an effort to be closer to him. “I think it’s time to go.”
“But
