“Yes, but they’re in a brown paper bag at the back of the fridge, so nobody,” he pauses, and I know what he’s going to say.
Will see them,I mentally provide. I force myself to meet his gaze. “Thank you, Hunter.”
He stares at me a moment; I think that’s the first time I’ve ever used his given name. “You’re welcome,” he says softly. “We’ll get through this meeting and get back. Bryce doesn't want to be here any longer than you do.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why not, but I don’t. It’s none of my business. I’m an outsider, and it would do me good to remember that. He turns his head slightly. “The fighter is here.”
“What?”
He meets my gaze. “The loud one.”
Ava appears behind him. “Raechel and Max are here.”
I look back up at Hunter. “The loud one?”
He shrugs, and I smirk. He stares down at me, and I’m suddenly self-conscious. “One day, Vamp.”
“One day, what?”
“One day, I’ll get a real smile from you.”
He turns away, and I’m left staring at his back in shock. He turns back. “Are you coming?”
“No, I’ll wait until everybody eats. Can you just tell me when they’re ready to meet?”
He studies my face for a moment and then nods and walks away. I watch him go for a moment and then shut the door. I don’t even make it across the room before somebody knocks on my door again. It opens before I get there. “Why aren’t you coming out? Hunter said you’re staying in here.”
“Hi, Ava. Come on in.”
She grins at me. “Thanks, I will. Come on; you’re not staying in here. I won’t let you. You are my friend, and you are not going to hide back here.”
When she finally finishes, I give her an amused look. “You done?”
“Did I convince you?”
“I was already planning on coming out. I’m just waiting for them to eat.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Okay. Well, I’m glad we had this conversation. So, I’ll see you out there?”
“Yes.” She leaves in a flurry of movement. I throw down my bag of blood and sit on the bed and listen as the sound of voices gets louder. After a little bit, I walk over to the door and crack it open. I stand next to the door and listen. My ears aren’t nearly as good as a wolf’s, but I can still hear better than the average human. I listen as I hear them all laughing and teasing each other. There’s female laughter followed by the low rumble of voices from the males. I can hear a few of them laughing as well. I close the door and lean my head against the wall. I’m not sure why I do this to myself. I force myself away from the door.Stop wishing for things you can’t have.I close my eyes and crack myneck, and try to find that cold, emotionless side I’ve developed over the years. I sit on the bed, open my phone, and find a game to play to kill time. When the knock comes, I’m calm and back to my usual self. I take a breath and open the door. For the second time today, Hunter stands at my door. But he leans against the door frame, blocking my way out. I give him a questioning look, but he doesn’t move.
“If it becomes too much, I’ll get rid of everybody.”
I arch a brow at him. “Can you do that, Wolf?”
He smirks at me. “I’ll make Bryce do it.”
“Ah. That’s how that works.”
His dark gaze meets mine, and I fight the urge to look away. “You’re here as a favor to them. You don’t owe anybody anything.”
I nod, forcing my usual confidence. “Got it. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sherese
