I reached over the side of the bed to grab my pants. “Here, I’ll give you some cash for the trip--”
Panic struck me.
“Oh, shit.”
“What?” Kaden asked.
I let out a long, low groan. “Shit, fuck, shit. I totally forgot.”
“What, Sky?”
I slapped my forehead and dragged my hand down my face. I wished the floor would open up and swallow me. “I forgot my wallet.”
Kaden rushed in. “What? Forgot it where?”
I realized my mistake and tried to correct it. “I mean, I lost it. Sometime last night.”
“Well, do you know where? Can you retrace your steps?”
I grimaced.I can, but I really, really don’t want to.
But what other choice did I have? I couldn’t go on the rest of my life without my wallet. It had my money, cards and ID--and who knew how many of those remained intact? How badly had my wallet been pillaged?
“I’ll try,” I mumbled.
“I’ll help you,” Kaden offered.
The thought made my stomach flip. “No, it’s okay. I don’t want to waste your time on your day off.”
Kaden huffed in annoyance. “It’s not wasting my time, it’s helping my friend.”
How could I explain to my friend that, as much as I appreciated his offer, I didn’twanthis help?
Suddenly Kaden’s phone buzzed, and he looked at it in irritation, then groaned. “Crap, not now. The café wants me to come in. They’re short-staffed.”
A wave of relief washed over me but I forced myself to to pretend to be disappointed. “Oh.”
“I’m really sorry,” Kaden said sincerely. “I don’t think I can get out of this, though. I’ll look all over the store, okay? Maybe you just left it there by accident.”
“Yeah. Thanks,” I said, knowing full well I didn’t leave it at the store.
Kaden sighed. “And sorry about the lack of chips. I’ll make it up to you somehow.”
“It’s okay, really.” I patted his shoulder. “Go on, I’ll be fine on my own.”
After quickly getting dressed and shooting me one last apologetic look, Kaden left the apartment. Then I was free to groan and complain as loudly as I wanted.
“Goddamn, crap, fucking, shit!” I yelled.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shouted a string of expletives like that, but this situation deserved it. I wanted to drop dead before I went crawling back to thatplace.
But I didn’t have a choice. I needed my wallet back, and sitting around and moaning about it wasn’t going to solve anything.
Still, I paced around the apartment, trying to work up my nerve. The cats watched me curiously.
There was one thing I knew for certain, besides the fact that I didn’t want to go at all--I especially didn’t want to go alone. But who else would I trust to go with me? Not Kaden, and not Jake. Not Griffin, because he wouldtellJake. Not Elijah or Felix, either.
But one alpha stood out in my mind.
