“Hey, Is-it-a-belt,” said Bill loudly. “We’re finishing up with our milkshakes and then we’re all heading home. Wanna hang out?”
Liberty cringed.
Isobel burst into laughter. “Holy shit! You’re out for milkshakes with the hot Russian dude and his dad?”
She held the phone tight against her ear and cheek, hoping that no one else could hear. “Yes.”
“A grown-ass man took his father on a date with you?” she questioned, still laughing. “Did they bring Abraham Lincoln too?”
“It’s not a date,” she said in a hushed whisper. “And yes, Gus is here as well.”
Bill stared at Rurik. “Your woman doesn’t know you’re on a date with her. You should probably clear that up.”
Isobel laughed harder, evidently hearing Bill with ease. “I can’t wait to tell Daisy about this. Her flight was delayed so she’ll get in later than expected but should text when she does.”
“Stop. Please,” begged Liberty. “I ran into Bill and Gus while I was dropping off the papers at the university.”
“And the sexy Russian came in when and how?” questioned Isobel. “And does this story involve him getting naked at any point? If so, I want the details. Now. That man is fine as hell.”
Liberty winced, praying Rurik couldn’t hear Isobel’s side of the conversation. “No.”
“What you’re saying is that you’re doing this date thing wrong,” stated Isobel with a loud laugh. “Have I taught you nothing? Get him naked now. Send me pics.”
Liberty yelped and tried to hide the outburst behind a cough. “Enough.”
“Fine. But you know that you want to see him naked as much as I do—maybe more,” said Isobel, speaking the truth.
“More,” spat Liberty in agreement before glancing nervously at Rurik. She did want to see him naked.
He had one brow cocked upward, appearing as if he’d more than heard it all.
She closed her eyes, wanting to fade away. She then stared at her lap, rather than look at him. “Isobel, can I call you back when I get home?”
“No, because cell service at our house has been total shit for weeks,” said Isobel. “In related news, the telecommunications van isn’t in front of the house anymore, and we still have shit internet. Maybe they’ve given up on us.”
Liberty glanced out the window of the diner—only to see the telecommunications van parked across the street. “Or they wanted a late lunch or early dinner.”
“Say what?” asked Isobel.
“I can see the van,” said Liberty. “It’s outside of the diner we’re at.”
“Oh, maybe they’re totally following you,” said Isobel with a chuckle.
“Ha. Ha.” Liberty rolled her eyes and smiled. “Funny.”
“Hey, you don’t know that I’m wrong. My conspiracy theory carries weight since I can start fires with my mind.”
Liberty tensed and shot a frantic look around the table, praying no one overheard the statement.
Rurik was busy staring out the window, his focus on the telecommunications van.
Bill shrugged. “Big deal. Sput-Rurik can turn into a bear. Gus can talk in people’s minds and knows some shit way before it happens. I know a vampire who is into really kinky sex. Duke is a big meanie and can turn into a wolf. I don’t know what that long-haired devil-worshiping-looking dude with the stupid name turns into.” He glanced at Gus and then nodded. “Right. Boomer. Panther. Got it, Gus, thanks.”
Liberty sat there staring at the man as she held her phone.
Bill continued. “Anyway, Boomer can turn into a panther. That’s cool. Better than a stupid bear. Damn Iron Curtain can’t even spit out proper shifters.”
“If Daisy could hear him now,” said Isobel, laughing more. “She’d commit him on the spot.”
“Leave him be. He has a colorful imagination,” argued Liberty, feeling protective of Bill.
“If you say so, but most would say that about us if they heard us talking about what we can really do,” Isobel said, laughing more. It took her a few moments to collect herself enough to speak. “Oh, before I forget. You didn’t lock the front door.”
Liberty paused, thinking about what she’d done when she’d left the house. “That’s odd. I could have sworn I did. I remember using my key to lock it and then tossing my keys in my bag—I think. Though I couldn’t find them when I got to the university. Sorry. Today has been a crazy day.”
“Totally,” said Isobel. “I need to go. I have to focus on this. Don’t wait up for me. I have a date for tonight.”
“With who?” asked Liberty.
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about yourself. Your new boy toy drags his father around with him on dates,” said Isobel as she snorted and hung up.
Liberty tucked her phone away. “Sorry. She’d have worried if I didn’t answer.”
Rurik shifted his focus back to her. “She’s a good friend.”
“She’s like a sister to me,” stated Liberty.
“Boy toy?” asked Bill, nodding to Rurik. “Nice label there, Sput-Rurik.”
Liberty sank down in the booth, wanting to fade away as she wondered how they’d been able to hear Isobel’s side of the conversation.
Bill perked. “Are you ready to go? We need to get you home so you can start baking our pies.”
“I’m sure she has better things to do than bake you pies,” said Rurik.
Bill pointed to Liberty while he spoke to his son. “Gus says she’ll be overthinking the whole day and all the times her lips locked with yours, then she’s gonna stay up late baking.”
His words hit a little too close to home. It was one thing for Isobel and Daisy to guess as much; it was an entirely different matter for a man she’d only just met to do so.
Gus’s gaze found hers and for a second it felt as if he was seeing through her. He then went back to blowing bubbles in his milkshake leftovers.
Could it be there was something more to both Gus and Bill?
Gus picked then to blow extra hard through his straw, causing what was left of his milkshake to fly out and all over the front of him.
Bill swiped
