She knew she was going to have to tell her best friends.Not only did they have a right to know, she needed them to know, because she needed someone to talk to.She had to process all that had happened to her, and she trusted Katy and Maddie more than anyone.Well, other than her mom.But Lola couldn't tell her mom this.She would flip her lid and possibly hunt down Callon on her own.
"Can we talk about it later?"Lola asked as she pushed up and turned to face them.Both of their eyes widened and Lola knew she must look pretty rough.
"Are you sure?"Katy asked.
"I just need to distract myself right now," Lola admitted."I promise we will talk after our shift."
Maddie pointed a finger at her and narrowed her pale blue eyes."I will hold you to that.I'm not playing."
Lola nodded."I promise."
Lola quickly put on her apron after stowing her purse in her locker.She glanced at her phone and noticed several texts from Callon.She'd done as she'd promised and changed ‘YM’ to his name.At least she'd used her rational mind then.Well, actually deleting him from her contacts would have been the rational thing to do.She ignored the texts and the stabbing in her chest, and shoved the phone into her back pocket.When she turned to head out she came up short as Maddie and Katy both still stood there with their arms folded in front of their chests.
"I swear to you, Lo, if this has to do with Callon, if he's hurt you inanyway, I will hurt him," Katy said, all the while Maddie nodded in agreement.
"Noted," Lola said and then motioned towards the door.
When they turned to head back into the dining room, Lola took a deep breath and let it out."Just do your work and forget everything else," she said to herself.Then pushed through the door and pasted on a smile.
A couple of hours later, she'd managed to remain so busy that Callon was simply a shadow in the back of her mind.She turned to head towards a table that was empty, but she'd noticed out of the corner of her eye, a person taking a seat.Lola glanced around the room checking her other tables as she made her way over to the new customer.
As she pulled out her order pad and pen she asked, "What can I get y–“ her words stuck in her throat as she looked up and met the green eyes of Bane."Uh, what, why," she stumbled and then glanced around.
"He's not here," Bane said, his deep, smooth voice was soft, gentle in a way that reminded her of how Callon had been with her when they'd spoken on her fire escape."He won't be bothering you anymore."
"Why?"she blurted out, and then quickly said, "I mean good."
Bane studied her, tilting his head slightly causing the light to catch his eyes, making them glow."You have feelings for him."It wasn't a question.
"I just met him yesterday," she said, her tone as defensive as she felt.
"You don't have to be with him," he said, leaning forward and resting his forearms on the table."Ananimuscan choose her mate the same way a human does.You can be with someone who wants you in the same way."
Ouch, she thought,thanks for the reminder that Callon doesn’t want me.She dropped her eyes from his scrutiny."I'm good, thanks.Not really on the market for a," she paused and then finished, "male."
"Shame," he said."You're quite lovely."
Maybe she should have felt flattered, but Callon had spoken sweet words to her as well, and look where that had led.
"What can I get you to eat?"she asked and held up her pad with her pen poised over it.
"Just a water," Bane said."I'm not really hungry."
"Then why did you come in?"
"I have been commanded by my leader to keep an eye on you," he said.
"I don't need you to keep an eye on me," she said a bit snippily.
"Animusneed to be protected," he told her.“Surely, Callon explained that much to you."
Lola didn't want to discuss what Callon had told her."No one has shown any interest in me,"lie, "I will be fine."She wasn't about to mention the scaly guys who'd cornered her on the street.
Bane shrugged."I have my orders, and despite how I feel about our Prince, I cannot disobey without consequences.Not that watching you is a hardship.I might even be able to convince you to give me a chance to be the male you need."
Lola didn't know how to respond.She had a feeling that there was only one male she needed, and he'd just tossed her aside because hisdutiesto his kingdom were more important than even a mate.A mate that would supposedly allow him to fully-shift and make him more powerful.Good grief, it sounded so ridiculous when she thought about it.Beastwalkers, mates, kingdoms.What had she gotten herself involved in?
"I won't let anything happen to you," Bane said, drawing her from her thoughts.She looked at him and saw conviction and determination in his green eyes.
