Chapter 18 #2
“Cinnamon sticks,” he supplies, twisting to continue his search in the back of the car. “He’s got a fucking obsession.”
“How many of those do you have?” I ask as he resurfaces with another set of shades.
“Not enough,” he laughs, unfolding them. Leaning over, Aiden perches them atop my nose with a grin. I frown but don’t make a fuss. It isn’t like I have my contacts, and besides, Aiden always laughs when I wear these since they’re too big for my face.
On cue, he snorts when he sits back to look at me. I roll my eyes and get out, but he’s still snickering to himself as he follows suit. I give him a warning shove as we meet in front of the car, but we’re both smiling by the time he leads us into one of the poorly-named restaurants.
“What do you mean you’re out of cinnamon sticks?”
It’s the first thing I hear when we enter, and the first thing I see is Emitt standing at the counter like a miniature bull, just waiting to charge.
“I mean, there’s no more, sir,” the man on the other side responds in a drawl.
“Then make some!” Emitt exclaims, and I can already scent his frustration from here. “You’ve got an oven, right?”
I look around, noting the other customers watching the scene unfold, and my chest quickly tightens with unease.
Several humans are watching him with more attention than any supernatural creature should want, but Emitt either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
Neither does Aiden apparently, because he walks us towards a booth in the corner, leaving Emitt to cause a ruckus.
Beckett and Isabel are already there, squashed together with the same look of horror I’m sure I’m sporting. They both do a double take when they see me.
“Julian?” Beckett hisses. “What are you doing here?”
“Did they not tell you I was coming?” I ask, sliding into the free side of the booth behind Aidan.
“Only that you said we could leave,” Beckett says before Emitt drops into their side of the booth with a satisfied grin.
“They’re making them,” he reports, and Aiden nods approvingly while I look at his beta, who is still, unfortunately, the subject of all the humans’ attention.
“Were you not a bit too harsh?” I ask under my breath. “They’re all looking at you.”
“And they can keep looking,” Emitt replies with a pointed glare at his onlookers. “I paid for those cinnamon sticks, so I deserve my cinnamon sticks.”
I nod, wondering how tasty these sticks of cinnamon must be, while he redirects his attention to Beckett and Isabel, who are still gawking at me. “What’s wrong with these guys?”
“They’re surprised to see Jewels,” Aiden mutters while he slides an arm over my shoulders. “They didn’t think that I could corrupt him so soon.”
“I volunteered to come,” I correct while I inch a little closer.
“I’m very persuasive,” Aiden states, and there’s no fighting my smile.
“Very cute, but here’s the game plan,” Emitt says as he rests his arms on the table to face us all.
“The show starts in an hour, so once we get out of here, we’ll stop for snacks, head to the drive-in, and set up shop, so you guys can have the best first experience ever.
Then, if you’re up for it, we’ll just hang out somewhere and head back before midnight. ”
“This drive-in,” Isabel begins curiously, “we just drive into a space and watch a projected movie from the car? How do we all hear it?”
“You connect to a station on the radio, and it plays through your stereo,” Emitt explains. “But there are also some speakers in random places for those who sit outside, like us.”
“We’re sitting outside?” Beckett asks as his nose wrinkles. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of—”
“It’s not up for discussion,” Emitt says flatly, and the others are forced to leave it at that.
I look to Aiden for an explanation, and he subtly shakes his head as he rests his hand on my thigh, a cue that he’ll fill me in later. But the weight of his large hand only reminds me of the last time I let him touch me.
“And we’re still watching a movie about lifeguards?” Beckett asks.
“The show, not the movie. They’re doing reruns of classics, and I’m being a good friend by making you all watch the original Baywatch,” Emitt supplies with a firm nod. “Everybody say, thank you, Emitt.”
Only Beckett obeys, making the rest of us laugh while his neck heats up.
“Emitt, stop taking advantage of Beckett,” Aiden scolds while his fingers spread over the fabric of my jeans.
“I am not taking advantage of Beckett, trust me,” he mutters. “He’s just nice. You guys should all learn something from him.”
“Learn something from Beckett? Hmm.” Isabel props her head in her hand and looks at our friend with mock interest. “Well, go on. Teach me something, Beckett.”
Beckett opens his mouth.
“And it can’t be something you stole from a fortune cookie,” Isabel cuts in, and he promptly shuts it again.
Laughter circles the table, and I’m a part of it until Aiden pats my leg beneath the table. It’s a casual touch, I’m sure, but it still makes me shift—until Aiden’s fingers dig into my thigh. I shudder and then jerk upright as a large box is dumped onto the centre of our table.
“Thanks!” Emitt cheers, snatching it off the table, but the lady’s already walking off. “Alright, let’s hit the road.”
“Let’s,” I agree, and I’m the first on my feet.
“Excited for the lifeguards, Julian?” Isabel calls.
“Yep!” I say, escaping to the door. I just need a moment. It’s hard enough controlling how I react to Aiden, I don’t need others witnessing it, especially not my friends.
Claiming our mate in front of others is not a bad thing, Alex inserts, his voice gruff with desire as it always seems to be now. In fact, I believe it can be extremely satisfying.
I’m sure, and yet Aiden is always the one claiming me, I grunt, and that shameful reminder is enough to make him settle.
“…Yeah, that’s fine,” Aiden says to Beckett as they spill out of the restaurant, but his eyes are narrowed on me. “We’ll just meet you guys there.”
“At the drive-in?” I ask, looking between them all. “We’re splitting up?”
“Emitt’s all wet to get there and claim his favourite spot,” Aiden explains, ignoring the way Emitt huffs with exasperation.
“It has a superior viewing experie—”
“So, we’re on snack duty and then we’ll catch up to them,” Aiden continues with a nod towards his car. “I figured, out of everyone, we wouldn’t mind missing a bit if we run late.”
Emitt gasps dramatically. “Oh, I bet y—” His life is saved by Beckett, who manages to steer him towards his car with stiff arms and promised excitement over meeting “a young Jason Momoa.” Isabel follows suit with a wave, her grin massive as she marches behind our betas.
We head the opposite way, and soon, we’re back on the road with Aiden driving like a lunatic again, only this time, I keep my eyes on him.
He’s more relaxed, his one-handed grip on the wheel loose, his scent sweet. The windows are down, and the wind threads through his hair like it wants to touch him too. Passing lights strobe across his skin, painting him anew for me.
“You going to stare at me all night, Jewels?” Aiden asks, and for once, I’m glad to hear his teasing. “It’s fine if you do. I just need to know. Otherwise, I might be a blushing mess all night.”
I hum, not inclined to give him an honest answer.
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned with what’s out there?” he asks, gesturing to the windshield. “It’s your first time out here at night, right? Take it all in.”
I should. I should be pressed against the glass, soaking in every little thing I can. But I’m not, and I don’t want to be. Not when Aidan is infinitely more intriguing.
Aiden smirking. Aiden teasing. Aiden smiling. Goddess, I’m acting like a lovesick pup, but I don’t care.
I just want to enjoy this—being here with him, with my mate. My Aiden.
He pulls us into an aged gas station that looks like it’s seen better days, but the shop attached to it has all its lights on, shelves lined with rows of goodies.
“It’s the closest place to the drive-in,” Aiden explains as he parks the car beside what looks like the only working pump.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“The disgust in your eyes says everything, Jewels,” he teases. I school my features while he chuckles. “I’ll run in, and if you can manage it without throwing up, can you fill her up for me?”
There are so many things I could say to that, starting with why his car is a she, but I grant him mercy and leave it at a nod. He grins at me, and he might as well shoot an arrow right through my heart, but he’s out of the car before he can do me the honour of watching me bleed out.
“I hate him …” I whisper, seeing if that old trick might still work. “I actually hate him.” Nothing.
Sighing, I slip out of the car and set about getting “her” filled up. I’ve just propped the pump back into place when a beaten-up truck pulls into the station. Three guys spill out with raucous laughter as they head for the shop with beers in hand, but they slow when they notice me.
One whistles as he drags his eyes over me, passing a hand over his greasy face. “Well, look here. What are you doing tonight, beautiful?”
“That’s a guy, Jim,” his friend supplies, but neither he nor Jim look too deterred by the news.
“A pretty guy,” Jim replies as he slowly tracks my way.
I ignore them. Tighten the gas cap. Shut the fuel door. When I look up, Jim and his two slimy friends are still grinning at me from around the hood.
I size them up quickly before discerning they aren’t some hidden threat, just drunk humans looking for trouble. I don’t bother watching my step as I circle the car, aiming for my side, but the third musketeer steps in front of me.
“Hey, now. You going so soon?” he asks with a feigned pout. “We only just met.” He reaches for me, and I slap his hand away.
He hisses, eyes darkening. “That wasn’t very nice.”