“You’re kidding, right?” I gestured to him. “Look at you. You could be on the cover of some magazine.”
Ryu burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I growled.
“Wow, no one’s ever said that to me before,” he said, still grinning.
“I don’t get what you’re laughing about. You’re an attractive alpha, Ryu,” I said sternly. “Not only that, but you’re a good guy. Not like those asshole alphas who always show up at my bar.”
He seemed taken aback by my words. He glanced away sheepishly and said, “Thanks, Scar. That’s quite nice of you.”
“Not being nice. Just honest,” I grunted.
The street bustled with early evening crowds. A cool breeze stirred the warm night, and the air was filled with scents of food from nearby restaurants and snack stands. I would have enjoyed it all much more if it weren’t so busy with people. Crowds made me anxious. Too many people, too many things that could go wrong.
Too many people to stare at me like I was diseased.
“You hungry? Because that place is just begging my stomach to come closer,” Ryu asked, gesturing to a soft pretzel stand.
A snack wasn’t a bad idea. At least it would clear my mind. “Sure.”
“Welcome, take your time,” the stand owner said.
“We’ll have two, please,” Ryu said as he slapped down enough coins. “One regular and one… What kind do you like, Scar?”
The pretzel man perked up at the sound of my name, then looked me up and down.
I bristled in agitation.Yeah, I know it’s a weird name. Bite me.
“Scar?” Ryu asked again.
“I like the powdered sugar ones,” I mumbled.
“Sweet tooth, huh?” Ryu said, smiling. “One powdered sugar and one regular, please.”
“Coming right up…” The man placed both our pretzels into paper napkins and handed them to Ryu.
“This looks so good. Here, Scar.”
But as Ryu handed me the pretzel, he misjudged something important. I was on his right side, meaning the arm closest to him was my prosthetic—not the best at handling delicate motions like holding a soft item.
The napkin slipped right through my artificial fingers. The pretzel fell to the ground faster than I could react. Ryu gasped. His wide eyes flickered back and forth between my prosthetic hand and the dirty pretzel between our feet.
“Oh, Scar, I’m so sorry,” he said, horrified.
Instantly I flinched at the sympathy in his voice. That was the last thing I ever wanted to hear from him.
“It’s fine, it was just an accident,” I said stiffly.
“No, it’s all my fault,” Ryu insisted. “I should have known better.”
My mouth tightened as the irritation built inside me. If he started treating me like a sad victim, I had no problem walking home right now.
“Let me get you another one,” Ryu said, turning to the stand owner. “Could I get a replacement, please?”
The man shrugged. “You have to pay if you want another. Not my faulthecan’t hold things properly.”
Anger shot up my spine like electricity. “What?”
