“Ha. Ha. I knew you could hold your own in a verbal spar, but I had no idea you had moves of your own.” He gives me an appreciative once over and heat blooms in my cheeks. Now, is that a compliment or an insult?
“I also overheard that there might be a reason for that,” he teases, but my stomach drops at his tone.
Before he can comment, Levi comes to the rescue. “Quit it, Ryker,” he warns, not taking his eyes off this phone. His commanding tone hushs the entire table and everyone turns, staring in shock at Levi, all except me and Lynx. The little rat is too busy shoveling chicken into his mouth to care. I’m the idiot that’s looking around not understanding what’s going on.
“Holy shit,” JP whispers as his eyes go wide in awe. My breath catches in my throat as I feel the tension at the table, though I’m completely confused as to what’s going on. I lean into JP and he leans down so I can reach his ear.
“What’s going on?” I whisper back as my heart rate starts up like a marching band.
“Levi never speaks out of his routine,” JP excitedly whispers back.Huh?At that moment, Levi looks up to find us all staring at him like he’s a foreign species, and if JP is right about him breaking his protocol, then he might as well be. One thing I’ve noticed about him is he does seem to follow a strict regime.
“What?” Levi snaps out, putting down his phone.
“Hey Levi, since you’re actually joining us today.Do you know where Knox is?” Zeke’s snide remark doesn’t go unnoticed between the group and Moni checks out of the conversation like she doesn’t care.What’s going on there? I’m curious about this Knox guy. I wonder when I’ll actually meet him.
Levi reaches up and adjusts his tie while giving Zeke an unremarkable look. “Yes, he’s with his father. He got pulled for another scouting job, I do believe.” Promptly ending the conversation, he picks up his menu, blocking us from view.
‘Did it just get cold in here? I think I just lost a ball to frostbite,’Lynx says, lifting his leg to see. I snort and all eyes focus on me.
“Sorry, something was stuck in my throat,” I explain, quickly turning my attention to ordering my food. “Hey JP, do they have anything besides water? I need something sweet.” I bat my long eyelashes at him and he swoops in to help.
“Here, how about this? It’s a fruity tea, tastes a lot like strawberries,” he suggests nicely, pointing out a strange word. He wiggles his eyebrows, making me giggle, and orders one for me. Putting away the menu for me, he leans in close to ask, “How are you feeling since class?” His genuine concern warms my little heart and I feel my barriers fall a little bit.
“Honestly? I don’t know,” I sigh, looking down at my hands in my lap. I suck in a breath to keep the burning behind my eyes in check as I look up and see most of the table watching me again. Minus Levi, who’s back to his phone and engrossed in his menu. I’m a little disappointed, but it’s not easy to break a habit I guess. Even Lynx has stopped stuffing his face to give me a look. Sensing my distress, he scrambles across the table, dodging a few plates that pop up with our food, and jumps into my lap.
Digging my fingers into his soft fur, I pull him against me as my safety net. I know it’s silly to some, but Lynx has always been there for me, as my comforter, and I just feel stronger with him here. “I don’t feel any different as a whole, so far it’s like everything has changed, yet nothing has.” I reach out with shaky fingers and grab the fruity drink JP ordered for me and take a quick sip, trying to calm my nerves.Hmm, this is good,and I try to commit it to memory for the next time I order down here.
“Well, hopefully Lilith can help you with that during your Specials,” JP offers, smiling at me. He reaches over and pulls my chair closer to him so he can rub my back.
“What’s she doing to help?” Ryker asks, cutting up his steak and popping a piece in his mouth.
“Why? You need more gossip to spread around, S.T.?” I ask mockingly and playfully narrow my eyes at him.Septic Tank. Ha. Still makes me laugh.
He holds up a finger as he quickly chews, and I smirk because he totally lost this round just due to the wait. “Listen here, cupcake. I hear gossip, I don’t go spreading stuff around as your nickname suggests,” he points his knife at me and winks.
‘No, his dick does that. Maybe I’ll give him a gallon of bleach for Christmas. You know, to stop the spread,’Lynx supplies.
‘Nah, a gallon would just be enough on a ball sack, you might need to buy the entire warehouse,’I offer, laughing in my head. Now though, I’m thinking about his junk and that’s so not where my head needs to be right now.
“Well during Lineage class, we found out that my magic might be bound and whoever did it was probably doing it for years,” I shrug, trying not to think too deeply on the subject. I could get lost going down that rabbit hole, and I wasn’t prepared for it at all! I start nibbling at my salad as JP continues rubbing my back.
“Do you want me to come with you?” JP asks and Zeke pipes in.
“Yeah, we can all go as a group. You know for emotional support,” he smiles and a little fang pops out. Seeing it has me blushing at the thought of my tongue running over those the other day. As if he knows where my mind just went, he sends me a full grin where both fangs pop out, winks, and goes back to drinking his shake.That little tease!
“Thanks for offering guys, but I think I’ll just take Lynx with me,” I reply, squeezing Lynx a little tighter.
Moni gives me two thumbs up across the table and pulls out a gallon from Sparks. “Where the hell do you get those from? Your ass?” I inquire as I stab a piece of chicken and hand it to Lynx.
“It’s magic,” she laughs and takes a sip.
“At least let me get you some comfy clothes to wear if you won’t let me tag along,” JP offers. ”Hurry up and eat,” he commands, and I dig into my meal.
Magic huh? I wonder what I’ll have.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
See no Evil
