I walk by, approaching the store’s entrance.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You’re checking out an old dude!” the boy grumbles.
What the fuck? I’m twenty-two. I glance down at my three-piece suit. I have just gotten out of court. Maybe that’s why he thinks I look old or, well, older than my age. Does Jessica see me as an old man when I’m dressed like this? Starting to feel a little self-conscious about how Jessica views me, I loosen my tie.
Toby’s deep rumbling laughter fills my head.
Oh, fuck off.
“Well, maybe you should take notes. He’s fucking hot and obviously has money.”
“I may barely have two fucking cents to rub together, but no one will ever love you as much and as fiercely as I do. At the end of the day, that’s what counts.”
Good for you, kid. That girl is not worth his time. I stand in front of the window, watching them bicker back and forth in hushed tones. From the reflection of the glass, the kid’s aura turns into an angry blue blaze of energy. I glance over my shoulder quickly to ensure it's just his energy and nothing else.
“Sorry, babe, money matters, and I will mate a man just like him.” She walks away, leaving the poor kid in the dust.
The display window starts to tremble. The magic energy expands at my back. Fuck! Not here, not in front of all these people. I turn around slowly, hoping to defuse the situation before he exposes himself. His hands clench at his sides. His face is a mask of fury and wounded pride. My skin starts to prickle from his emotional pain. Damn, she burned this kid.
I glance in the girl’s direction as she gleefully joins a group of chatty teenagers, like what she did doesn’t fucking matter, like he didn’t matter.
“Hey, kid,” I call out. Slowly, his red-rimmed eyes glance my way. Don’t start a fight with me, kid. It won’t get her back. The ground rumbles. A quick glance around ensures that I’m the only one who can feel it. I reach into my back pocket and pull out a business card from my wallet. Taking a few steps closer, I hand it to him. “How old are you?”
He glances down at the card. “Why? Trying to get to me so you can steal my girl from under my nose?”
A sharp laugh escapes me. “She’s not my type. Besides, my girlfriend is hotter and a lot nicer.”
“You got anything to do with that Larson guy from this territory who hits on young girls at the clubs?”
Shit, he’s talking about my younger brother, Travis. Stupid fuckboy. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I explain, “That would be my brother, Travis. You got a problem with him?”
He barks out a laugh. “Yeah, me and about half the guys around here. She thought you were him.”
Unfortunately for me, Travis and I look alike. I clear my throat. “When you say young, I assume you mean eighteen and over?”
His face blanches, and his energy shrinks a little.
Fucking Travis. I need to talk to him about this shit today before I head back to Emerald Territory. “Can I interest you in acup of coffee? Maybe we can chat about the bullshit my brother likes to pull.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not a snitch.”
Fine. I’m trying to be nice, but if he wants to act like a little prick, then I won’t beat around the bush. I’m surprised at how patient I have been with him this far. I lean in a little closer. “I suggest you chat with me anyway before you blow up the damn mall with your fucking magic.”
His eyes widen, and a prickle of fear ghosts across my skin. He jerkily nods his head.
I gesture toward a little coffee shop down the way, and he follows me, all the while still staring at the girl. But she looks straight at me. “Ignore her. Act like you’re interested in what I am telling you. Got it?”
His eyes finally leave her face, and he glances at me. I’m the last person who should be giving a teenager relationship advice, but I feel for him. I know what it felt like when Jessica pushed me away. I feel his pain and fear.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I stop walking, and the kid turns to face me for guidance. Shit, I have no fucking clue. I hold up a finger, retrieve my phone, and read the caller ID. Thank fuck it's Jessica; maybe she can help me with this more humane interaction.
“Princess.” I answer the call, a little more formal than I would have normally answered. By now she knows the difference.
The kid’s jaw drops.
“Hello, commanding officer. I received your message. What can I help you with?”
I smile into the phone, when an idea pops into my head. “I understand you are busy, so I appreciate you taking the time to return my phone call. I just hired a new assistant. He’s helping me find a birthday gift for my beautiful girlfriend. So, I’m going to hand him the phone, if you could so kindly provide him a listof some things she may like because you know my girlfriend so well.” I raise my eyebrows at the kid.
