I glanced up at Orion and he leaned down and whispered, “Looks like Wrath found out Sierra was going with you.”
I raised my eyebrows in shock. “Thatwas for Sierra?”
He nodded. “Like I said, baby, he’s all about keeping her safe.”
A few minutes later, Sierra came bounding down the stairs, looking like she was primed for murder. “You need to curb your dog,” she snapped at Orion, jabbing a finger at him.
“Not really in my job description, sweetheart.”
“Is this what it’s like here every night?” my mother demanded, her nose in the air and her lips pursed in disapproval.
“No,” I said emphatically.
“I think we should go,” Mom continued. “Now.”
I sighed, leaning on my tiptoes to kiss Orion quickly, then following my mother and Sierra out to Mom’s rental car. The roar of pipes sounded behind us and I glanced back, seeing Wrath and Aero following, instead of Grimace and Aero.
“Is he serious?” Sierra hissed.
“Why are those motorcycles following us?” Mom asked.
“Orion wants to ensure we make it to the restaurant safely.”
“Why wouldn’t we be safe?”
“No reason, Mama,” I assured. “It’s their way of looking out for us.”
“Or stalking us,” Sierra muttered.
“What was that honey?” Mom asked.
“Oh, nothing, Jenae. It’s all good,” Sierra said.
We drove to the restaurant without incident, and I noticed that Wrath and Aero stuck around. In fact, they walked into the restaurant and got a table.
Next to us.
“Are they really going to eat with us?” Mom asked.
“They’re not technically eating with us, Mom. It’s fine, just ignore them.”
I made sure she took the chair with her back to them, while I sat across from her with Sierra in between. It wasn’t lost on me that Wrath changed his seat so he could be closer to Sierra, and I don’t think it was lost on her either, with the glare she was aiming his way.
“What’s good here?” Mom asked, perusing her menu.
“Everything,” I said, kicking Sierra under the table who was still glaring daggers at Wrath.
Wrath grinned wide and Sierra reluctantly focused back on her menu.
Raquel
WE SURVIVED DINNER, sort of. Sierra went to the restroom, alot. So much so, Mom began to worry she had dysentery. What made it even more awkward was that Wrath followed her. Every time.
“I’d really like you to come back with me,” Mom said as we headed back to her car.
Wrath had insisted Sierra go with him, so Mom and I were alone.
“I can’t, Mama. I have to study.”
