Brian doesn’t even acknowledge my departure, too engrossed in whatever subject he’s moved onto with Zheng. I storm up to my bedroom and pace the confined space.Breathe, Isa. Breathe.I open my laptop to send off another dozen resumes. I need a job. I won’t allow myself to be trapped here any longer than I have to be. I just need to save up enough to get me back to Arizona. Emmett will hide me from Brian if I ask him to. At least I hope he will. He has to. I can’t do this anymore.
Twenty minutes later there’s a knock on my door. But before I can tell whoever it is to go away, it opens and Zheng steps inside. The chagrined look on his face is the only thing that keeps me from snapping at him.
He pads over toward me, claiming the seat beside me on the bed as I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. He’s quiet for a moment before he heaves a long-suffering sigh. “I’m sorry about that,” he says.
I keep my eyes pinned on the light fixture above me. A stupidly feminine bedroom chandelier with wrought-iron roses and dangling crystals. “Why? Are you worried I’ll end up like my dead mother too? Do you look down on your own kind? Is that why you and the wolves don’t get along?” I sneer.
He scrubs a hand over his face. “What? No. That’s not…” He shakes his head. “It’s complicated. I told you my father was human.”
I flick my gaze toward him. “And? Is that why you’re so chummy with Brian there.”
He sighs. “My dad works with yours. They golf together. He’s been to my house for holidays.” A shrug. “He doesn’t know I’m a shifter, too. I’m my father’s best kept secret, remember?” He sighs and leans back on his elbows. “Brian is an ass. He’s prejudiced against anyone not human. He shouldn’t have said what he did and”—another sigh—“I should have come to your defense. I’m sorry. That was a dick move.”
I push myself into a sitting position. He sounds genuine, but… “Then why didn’t you?”
Dark eyes search mine, no doubt trying to understand what’s going on inside my head. “Because I’m an idiot. My father has certain expectations. I guess I just fell into the comfortable role of not wanting to rock the boat. My father is a lot like Brian. He hates what I am. And growing up, I wanted to please him so badly. I’ve learned to suppress my beast. To go against my instincts and most of the time, I’m not even aware I’m doing it.”
I nod because, yeah, it sucks, but I get it. I’ve felt Brian’s rejection for a handful of weeks. Zheng’s had to deal with his father’s his whole life.
“You hungry?” he suddenly asks just as my stomach rumbles. We both laugh.
“Yeah. You could say that. I was supposed to have dinner with my dad, but I think I’ll go back to avoiding him after today.”
He pushes to his feet and holds out a hand for me. “Come on, I know the perfect spot. A shifter diner just outside the neutral zone with the best burgers in town.”
I hesitate. “Zheng I—”
“Isa,” he cuts me off. “I was an ass. I’m sorry. Not just for now but for earlier too. At school. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I was being an asshole because I was jealous. It won’t happen again. I promise. Give me another shot at being your friend. I won’t fuck up this time.”
I worry my lower lip, indecision sweeping through me. Then again, it’s not like people were knocking down my front door begging to be my friend. “Alright. But can we not talk about my dad? Or the wolves. Or anything that will upset either one of us?”
He chuckles. “Deal.”
19
Isa
Iride with Zheng to Suzy’s, a local twenty-four-hour restaurant on the edge of town in shifter territory. The bell above the door jingles, announcing our arrival, and one of the waitresses waves at Zheng with familiar recognition before returning her attention to her customer.
Stepping inside, I’m immediately taken in by the old-fashioned vibe of the place. Black and white checkered floors are paired with red and white vinyl booths, and the bar counter boasts black, Formica countertops. The place smells like grease and salt and absolute heaven. My stomach rumbles.
Zheng heads straight for the counter, claiming one of the red barstools as I climb onto the one beside him. A boy I don’t recognize heads toward us and says something to Zheng, but I don’t hear what it is as I’m too busy taking everything in. The diner almost reminds me of a Johnny Rockets, though maybe not as polished. I turn in time to see Zheng slap something into the boy’s hand in a discreet gesture. I miss whatever it is before the boy shoves his hand into his pocket and makes a hasty retreat after a quick nod in thanks.
“Who was that?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. If he were human, I’d think a drug deal just went down, but shifters don’t usually partake in drugs given the lack of affect they have on us.
“Just a guy from class.” He shrugs, but when I don’t say anything else, he continues. “I borrowed twenty bucks from him last week after losing my wallet. It was stupid.” He offers me a sheepish grin. “I barely know the guy but he helped me out. I was just paying him back.”
Oh. I guess that makes sense. I begin to take a deep breath and then stop myself. All of a sudden I feel like a complete jerk. I don’t want to always question him. I shouldn’t feel the urge to scent out a lie. That’s not how friendship works. And whatever just happened, it is none of my business.
A waitress bounces toward us, her perky ponytail bobbing behind her. “Hey, little Liu, you off tonight?”
Zheng smiles up at her, his dimples making a sudden appearance. “Yep. I’ve got the rest of the week to myself.”
Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Lucky. Who’s the hot date?” Her nostrils flare and a red sheen rolls over her eyes.
I straighten in my seat.
“A little wolf?” Her head tilts to the side and her smile widens. “Here I thought you’d give someone from Clan Feloidia a shot. You wound me.” Zheng rolls his eyes, but his smile matches hers. “Does Mama Liu know you’re courting the ladies already? Let me tell her.Please!”
