Uma thumps her boyfriend on the arm. “Stop looking at my bestie like that, and even if she was dating someone, it’s none of your or J-Dawg’s business. Emery can date or not date. It’s her fucking life.”
Jude holds up his hands. “You’re right.” He eyeballs me. “Sorry, Em. I know you’re a free agent; it’s just my buddy really likes you, and I’ve never seen him like this with any other woman.”
“I’m not dating, and I’ve been honest with Joaquin from the very start. I like him, but I’m just not interested in anything right now. That’s the truth.”
“I believe you, and I’ll try to get him to tone it down.”
“Don’t get involved. I don’t want to come between you and your friend.”
“But back to this.” Uma jabs her finger at the grocery boxes. “I still think you should go to the cops.”
“And say what?” I flap my hands in the air. “Some creep is hanging around outside my place of work, but he hasn’t done anything except he possibly sent me some groceries?”
“What creep?” Jude’s voice carries a lethal edge.
“Some dude on a bike has been hanging around here and the market.”
“You should get his plate number and then go to the cops,” Jude says. “They won’t do anything, but it can’t hurt to have a record of it on file.”
“Maybe.” If this has something to do with my dad, I’m not sure going to the cops is the smartest move. My dad was in bed with some powerful criminals, and lots of them still have the cops in their pockets too. I think I’ll just take precautions and keep my eyes peeled for now.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Emery
“Well?” Azzy asks when I return to the store ten minutes before the end of my lunch break. “How’d it go?” she asks as I slide onto the chair beside her at one of the tables in the staff cafeteria.
“I got it!” I squeal, clamping a hand over my mouth when a few of my colleagues turn to stare at me.
“Way to go, Em.” Azzy lifts her hand, and we high-five.
“What are we celebrating?” Stan asks, placing his hands on the table.
“Emery got a gig at Vintage Elegance,” Azzy tells her dad. “She’s their new resident pianist on weekends.”
“Congratulations, honey.” Stan beams at me. “That’s amazing news.”
“It’s only a month’s trial, but the owner said they’ll offer it to me permanently if it works out. It’s just Saturday nights and Sunday evenings, so it won’t interfere with my job here,” I add in case he thinks I’m ditching them.
“I was planning on taking Martha to dinner there for our anniversary next month. Now I have an added incentive.”
“No pressure then,” I joke.
“I’m sure you’ll be amazing.” He pats my hand. “I’ll let you eat in peace.”
I wolf down my sandwich in record time, returning to the deli counter for the rest of my shift.
My cheeks heat when Kaiden lands at the counter twenty minutes before I clock out. “Hey,” I shyly say. “What can I get you?” He orders a few premade home-cooked meals along with some cold meats and a few salads. We chat as I package everything up for him.
“No more vampire bites, I see,” he teases, glancing briefly at my neck, and I’m pretty sure I’m the color of a ketchup bottle. “Sorry, I’m just being nosy.”
“It’s cool,” I lie. “I don’t make a habit of that kind of thing. It’s not really like me.”
His expression softens. “I’m a judgment-free zone. I was just, ah, wondering if you had a new boyfriend?”
I stare at him for a few seconds. What an odd question. I’m friendly with Kaiden, but it’s usually all surface-level stuff. Unless Joaquin has said something to him, but he strikes me as the type to play his cards close to his chest. I can’t imagine him telling his brother, unless he went to him for advice. Heat swamps my cheeks at the thought and I really hope I’m wrong. “No, I’m single since I broke up with Myles, and it’s by choice.”
“Enough said. Forget I mentioned it.”
