Page 80 of Poet & Protector

“Cut the shit, Nev.” He didn’t indulge my denial. “It’s not like you to be obvious. And you’re being obvious.”

His observation was precisely why I’d insisted Mason and I walk away from each other.

“I could be watching Bryn.” I wasn’t willing to concede just yet. “She’s cute.”

And she’s dancing with my boyfriend. It’s close enough.

Caleb laughed quietly. “Sure. You might fool a lot of people. But not everyone. You’ve always been good at keeping it cool. He’s changed things.”

I bristled at the truth of his words and my lips pulled back in an instinctive snarl.

Caleb didn’t flinch and gave a slow shake of his head. “I’m not hating. I’m happy for you, Nev. You know I am. But you have to be even more careful now. For both of your sakes.”

The uncomfortable exchange became an even more uncomfortable silence that somehow seemed to muffle the pounding industrial trance all around us.

“I know,” I said at last. “And I need a drink.”

He offered me a smile. “That I can help you with. What’s your poison?”

“Give me your best scotch,” I said.

When Caleb shot me a surprised look, I shrugged.

“If I have to suffer, I can at least do it in style and on Efron’s dime.”

“Cheers to that,” he said. “Rocks or neat?”

“A double, neat, and a glass of water.”

He paused to give me a once-over. “That rough, huh? Sympathies.”

“Your compassion is duly noted.”

Caleb brought me the whisky and water. I settled onto a stool and stayed there. Time passed as I nursed my drink and made small talk with Caleb. I stomped down every temptation to turn around. I was grateful for Caleb’s watching over me. It was also fortunate that I had a reputation of being quiet, standoffish, and sometimes downright sullen. Not at all a person who’d be happy in a club. It was easy enough to lean into that persona to avoid any suspicions as to why I wasn’t on the dance floor.

I wasn’t much for self-pity, but this first social outing of our packs threw into stark relief the challenge of being in close proximity to Mason and acting like it meant nothing to me. That was our reality and always would be. I could only hope it would get easier with time.

As I ran my finger around the rim of my near empty glass, wondering if I should order another, the air around me filled with the scent of jasmine.

“You look lonely, Nev.” Sabine sidled up next to me and rested her forearms on the bar. “Do you hate dancing that much? Everyone else is having a lovely time.”

I was glad to see her. If she was here, she wasn’t with Efron.

“You’re having a lovely time?” I scoffed. Lovely wasn’t a word she was inclined to use.

“I’m making conversation,” she replied. “And I said everyone else, not me. Though tonight hasn’t been half bad, surprisingly. The Nightshades are far less obnoxious than I expected them to be.”

I laughed and patted the stool next to mine. “Sit down. I need to complain to someone besides Caleb.”

“He really does,” Caleb said, grinning when I flipped him off. “Can I get you something, Sabine?”

She shook her head. “I’m taking Nev on a side quest.”

“Is that supposed to make sense to me?” I frowned.

“Not yet,” she replied with a mysterious smile. “Come with me.”

Sabine hooked her arm through mine and dragged me off my bar stool. “I have something to show you.”