Page 57 of Nicolette

“Yeah, I think you’ve been reading one too many books if you believe that’s the norm. Remember, supernaturals are different. We don’t have the same hangups that humans do about matching our children to the right person. Especially for shifters, there is instinct and compatibility to account for that no one can fight against. The sweetbutts see us as a lifeline, the only way they’re going to survive in the world. Personally, I think it’s because they won’t do better for themselves. There are other jobs they could do to earn money and be independent, but they choose that life. They resent you for having your cake and eating it too,” Rambler said, breaking it down for me.

“Fuck, there is so much for me to learn,” I grumbled. “I’m not used to feeling this clueless. Up until now, I knew where I stood in the world.”

Leaning across the table, Rambler grabbed my hand. “Hey, you don’t have to have it all figured out right this second, and we’re here to help you.”

“He’s right, love, this pride might need some work when it comes to attitude, but when push comes to shove, we look out for our own,” Ellie interjected as she dropped off our food. “If you need a female perspective on anything, you are welcome to come by anytime you like. Nothing beats a good conversation over coffee and pie.”

I smiled at the woman. “Thank you, that means a lot. Who could say no to an offer of pie and coffee?”

“No one, that’s why it works. Keeps the hands busy while the mind sorts through things,” Ellie pointed out. “Never had it fail me in my ninety years on this Earth. Enjoy your breakfast, and holler if you need anything.”

The conversation paused as we both dug into our meals, and I was super fucking impressed with the food. Every single bite I took was just as amazing as the last, not something you expect from a diner. However, this diner was run by shifters, and I was learning real fucking quick how they felt about their food. There was so much of it that I only managed to eat about half. Rambler ate another quarter on top of the mound of food he’d gotten, making me feel less bad about not being able to finish.

“Holy fuck, that was good.” I groaned as I patted the food baby, making my stomach pop out. “I’ve never been more thankful to be a shifter and burn calories at the drop of a hat after eating like that.”

Rambler grinned and rested his arms on the table. “Have I told you how fucking hot it is to see you give zero fucks about food? I get that might be stupid to say since we all eat a lot, but damn, you enjoy every moment of the meal and are actually sad you can’t finish it.”

“It’s wrong to waste food that tastes this good, but at the same time, I know reheating it later on, nothing will taste as good. Shit like this, you eat fresh. End of story,” I stated.

“So I shouldn’t ask for a to-go container?” he questioned.

I chewed on my lip for a moment as I looked down at the food. “No, as much as it kills me, it’s better to keep this memory of the food than to ruin it with a microwave.”

“If you’re sure, we’re heading back to the apartments so I can grab one of the SUVs. Which means you could run it upstairs to my fridge,” Rambler offered.

Shaking my head, confident in my choice, I sat up. “Nah, I’ll just have to come back, and next time, I’ll know to ask for half the portion.”

“Smart thinking,” he agreed, sliding out of the booth. “You need any coffee to go?”

“I think three cups is enough for now.” I laughed, grabbing his offered hand and letting him pull me up.

Rambler tucked a finger under my chin, tilting it back so he could kiss me. It was a sweet kiss that had me melting, but I was able to keep myself together enough I didn’t turn into a puddle at his feet.

“Thank you for having breakfast with me. I loved getting some time with you alone,” he murmured against my lips.

With another quick peck, he was heading for the register, and I stood there like an idiot, brain short-circuiting at the casual affection that had happened between us. Shaking myself out of my daze and needing some fresh air to cool myself off, I stepped out front. Literally fanning myself as I stood there, I realized the true torture of what Rambler had done to me today. I was on a hairpin trigger between neutral and instantly turned on, ready to come the second he gave the order. That small sweet gesture reminded my body that it had been promised the big O, and it was still waiting for that to happen, not so patiently.

“Swurve,” a voice growled out, snapping me back to reality.

Turning to the left, facing the main road the diner was located on, I saw Gavin, my trainer, charging up to me.

“Have you lost your fucking mind, up and leaving like that? Do you have any idea the shit that’s gone down since you left?” Gavin demanded as he stopped a foot away from me. “Mortas has taken over the Lucky Shot and is threatening to kill every last one of us if we can’t find you and bring you back.”

“Why the fuck would he do that?” I questioned, trying to wrap my head around him being here and what he was saying. “Gavin, how did you find me here? Is it even safe for you to be on this side of the river?”

“No one knows who I am. Supes don’t pay that much attention to us lowly humans. Or should I say they normally don’t, because you have one that is foaming at the mouth to get his hands on you. What the fuck did you do that night? Don’t tell me you tried to stake him or some shit like that,” Gavin pressed, his tone and body language full of disgust directed at me.

“Stake… what? No, I didn’t try to stake him,” I shot back. “That motherfucker tried to drain me and make me into a human servant. If I hadn’t been saved when I was by two complete fucking strangers, I would have been Mortas’s personal puppet.”

“Nic, everything all right?” Rambler asked, his voice unusually deep and menacing as he came to stand behind me.

I glanced up at him, and the expression on his face explained why Gavin looked like he was going to piss himself. “This is Gavin. He’s the man who taught me everything I know about fighting. Kept me alive all these years.”

My hope was to make it clear that Gavin was as much a victim in LC’s world as I was, so Rambler didn’t just rip off his head because he was talking to me.

Rambler’s gaze flicked toward me for a second before pinning Gavin down once more. “There something we can help you with, Gavin?” he asked. “Seems to me you might be a little lost if you’re trying to find your way home.”

“Look, I don’t want any trouble, but she has to come with me back to Lucky Shot,” Gavin said, his hands balling into fists, trying to stand his ground against Rambler.