“As for August, he’s myfriend.”
“I thought . . . nevermind.”
“What did youthink?”
“That you and him already crossed that line,” she said, just as the professor called upon her to introduceherself.
I was surprised that Amanda, a notoriously critical person, didn’t seem disgusted by the age gap. If anything, she seemed confused as to why we weren’t together anymore. Or perhaps, she was acting cool as a cucumber in the hopes of driving Liam back into Tamara’sarms.
35
The first weekwas almost over before I crossed paths with Sarah. She was standing with two guys from her pack beside the entrance of the Roser Atlas Center. I almost waved when I spotted her—a kneejerk reaction—but thankfully, I stuffed my hands in the back pocket of myshorts.
She didn’t acknowledge me either. It had been more than a week since we’d started acting like strangers, and it had left a huge gap in my life which I’d been filling up with work on my house and learning new fighting techniques from Lucas. Liam had stopped by the gym only once since the day he’d yelled at me for going to visit Cassandra alone. Lucas was vague as to our Alpha’s whereabouts. I hoped he was off learning something we could use during the duel, but maybe he was spending time getting reacquainted withTamara.
This afternoon was no different; Lucas trained me. We fought in fur, and although I felt like I was getting better, he wasn’t doling out any compliments. Honestly, I didn’t need praise, but getting some verbal encouragement would’ve been nice. Not that Lucas had seemed in any mood to be overly kind. Since the inn episode, he’d been acting downrighttesty.
I imagined his crabby mood was due to Sarah but didn’t broach the subject, because one, I didn’t want to meddle, and two, I was afraid I might let the truth slip out to comforthim.
As I left the gym, he called out, “Happy birthday, Clark. Hope you have a fun evening planned.” He raised a smile that didn’t reach hiseyes.
I paused with my fingers on the heavy door. “Thanks.” I almost invited him to come, but it would be a little weird. Lucas and I weren’t reallyfriends.
If Sarah had come, though . . . I let that thought drift away before it could bum me out. Soon, I’d get my friendback.
“You did good today,” Lucassaid.
I blinked. “Did you just complimentme?”
His plastic smile turned into a real smirk. “Only because it’s yourbirthday.”
“Uh-huh.” I winked at him and turned to go, but before heading home, I patted the door and said, “Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem,Lucas.”
His black eyebrows listed toward hisnose.
Hoping I hadn’t said too much, I left him to ponder my crypticdeclaration.
When I got home, there was a shopping bag on the kitchen counter with crinkly pink silk paper spilling over the top like cottoncandy.
“Came for you after you left this morning,” Jeb said, flipping through channels. He was already dressed for dinner in a crisp linen button-down and khakipants.
I opened the little card tied around the fabric handles. It wasn’t signed, but it said:So you don’t wear sneakers to your b-day dinner. Miss you.XX
I grinned. Only one person had an issue with my sneakers, and that person wasSarah.
I pulled the paper out and extricated a shoe box. Inside was a pair of sky-high nude heels. I stared at the shoes before kicking off my sneakers to try my gifton.
“Who got you shoes?” Jebasked.
“Afriend.”
“Whichfriend?”
“Just a friend.” My left foot jammed against a piece of balled paper. I removed the shoe and fished the paperout.
“Aboy-friend?”
I looked at my uncle. “I don’t have a boyfriend,Jeb.”
