I raised an eyebrow, because really?
“Sorry.” Max raised his hands. “I wasn’t intentionally scenting you, but it’s kind of hard to miss in an enclosed room. Why are you nervous? You’re friends, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s been a long time.” Not that it felt like that when I saw him before, but now I wasn’t so sure. “I knew him when I was a hunter. With Tombs. It’s not a part of my life I’m in any hurry to relive.”
“And you think talking to Nick will do that?”
I shrugged, unsure. “I don’t know. I was a different person then. And maybe so was he.”
“Ahh.” Max motioned for me to sit back down, and so I did. “You’re worried it won’t be the same between you?”
Was I?
“Maybe. I guess. It hurt so much when he left, and I wonder if I’ve built our friendship into something more than it was. What if we’ve got nothing in common anymore? What if we can’t talk like we used to? It’ll be such a huge disappointment, I’m not sure I want to find out.”
“And what if it’s as easy as breathing. Good friends are worth keeping, even if it takes a little work to get back to where you were before. Yes, you’re both bound to have changed in the years since you last saw each other, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I smiled, getting up with a lot less weight on my shoulders this time. “Thanks.”
“You know,” Max said as I reached for the door handle, “the same might be said of you and Rys.”
For a second, I thought he had a point, but then I shook my head with a sad smile. “Apart from the fact that Rys hates me and has no interest in being friends or anything else.”
His eyes widened at that, and I hurried out of the office before he could question me further. I didn’t wantanything elsewith Rys.
I didn’t.
I reminded myself of that all the way into town to meet Nick. I’d pretty much accepted it as truth right up until the moment I walked through the door into Cassie’s and collided with something big and solid.
Strong hands kept me from stumbling backwards and I knew without looking up.
Of fucking course.
“Sorry,” I muttered, stepping back. I looked up into deep brown eyes that held a familiar warmth. My heart raced and my toes curled, and I basked in it for a moment before the shutters came down, a cool indifference taking its place.
And here we go.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
His accusatory tone set my teeth on edge. “Getting a drink. Obviously.”
“On your own?” He glanced behind me, then met my eyes again, nothing but suspicion in his expression.
Why the idea of me getting a drink on my own or otherwise made me up to no good, I had no idea. “I am allowed out, you know.” I glared at where he still clutched my arms, hating that I missed his touch as soon as he let me go. “Besides,” I added, spotting Nick out of the corner of my eye, “I’m not on my own.” I smiled in Nick’s direction and stepped around Rys, not giving him a second look.
I felt his eyes boring into my back as I walked across the bar to Nick’s table, and it took every ounce of my resolve not to glance over my shoulder.
“Hey.” I smiled in greeting as I took a seat opposite Nick, purposefully keeping my back to the door.
“Hey.” Nick returned my smile, then leant forward slightly. “What did you say to piss off Calder?”
“Nothing.”
“He’s glaring at you like you kicked his—” He winced, clearly remembering my history with Rys. “Fuck.” He hunched down in his seat. “Oh, lovely. Now he’s glaring at me.”
“Because he can probably hear you,” I hissed.
The door slammed, making everyone in the bar startle. I couldn’t resist turning around then, and I caught a glimpse of Rys’s back as he stalked off down the street. When I faced Nick again, he was looking at me, curiosity clear as day.
