Chapter Three #2
I WAS USELESS FOR THE rest of the day.
Every lecture went in my ear and out the other without me retaining a single word. I was so distracted, I didn’t even put up a fight when Paxton showed up at my door with more flowers and chocolate.
Edric opened the door for him, plucked me off the bed, and set me down over the threshold without bothering to ask questions. “Keep her out late,” he called, shutting the door behind me.
“Wow, Daze.” Paxton dropped a kiss on my cheek. “You look great.”
I did not look great. After classes, I changed into my orange sweats with a hole in the knee, and put my braids up in a messy bun. I had on no makeup and no shoes—since Edric didn’t bother to toss them out with me—and I was wearing my baggiest t-shirt and no bra.
“You dragged me out here to lie to me? What a waste of everyone’s time.”
Paxton laughed. “Technically Edric did the dragging. Here.” He held out the roses. “These are for you.”
I took them, and promptly flung them down the hall. “This was a fun date. Thanks.” I turned to leave. “Bye now.”
“Whoa, wait,” he cried, shooting in front of me. “If you go now, you won’t get any of that pain potion we both need right about now.”
That pulled me up short.
Paxton was right. In addition to the hot burning ball of anxiety in my throat thanks to Badr’s flight, I’d also been dealing with the brain-melting headache I got from our broken bond. As much as I wanted to believe Luame wouldn’t kill me for rejecting Paxton, the drilling agony in my skull rattled my confidence.
My eyes narrowed. “Seriously, omega? You of all people are going to coerce me into going out with you? Hypocrite.”
Paxton flashed me a lopsided grin. Unlike me, he actually looked great. The man dressed up proper to take me out, wearing a soft-looking blue sweater that brought out the flecks in his eyes, paired with black slacks that hugged his ass in all the right ways. The randy animal inside me purred at the sight of him.
“That’s not what I’m doing,” he said. “Nyx whipped up a batch this afternoon and gave it to me. I left it at the picnic waiting for us under the moonlight. Come with me to get it. If when we get there you decide you want to stay, eat a little, enjoy some sparkling conversation...” He grinned into my slitted eyes. “That would be fine.
“But if not, you can always take it and go,” he finished. “See? No force or coercion involved.”
I sniffed. “Why don’t you go by yourself and bring it to me?”
“I shift into a big dog, baby. Doesn’t mean I am one.” Paxton strutted off. “Get someone else to run and fetch for you.”
I gaped at him. “You know what, you should be really fucking careful, because ever since my wolf dumped your ass, she’s very comfortable with me strangling you!”
Paxton cracked up, not slowing his step a beat.
“Hey! Don’t walk away from me. Come back here!”
I chased after the asshole, flinging a string of profanities and insults off his muscled, cashmere-covered back. It wasn’t until my bare feet were tickled by blades of grass that it dawned on me I just got played by an expert.
I swore up, down, and sideways that I wasn’t going on any date with the beast who stole my mother’s letters, but there I was, walking—stomping—side by side with him to a moonlit picnic.
“What?” Paxton winked over his shoulder. “Don’t stop now. We’re halfway there. Might as well come with me to get the medicine at least.”
I considered telling him to shove it, but the stabbing ache in my head cut that thought off at the knees. As much as I hated Paxton, I knew forty percent of the irritability was fueled by the pain. I couldn’t stand to deal with this agonizing distraction when I had more serious things to worry about.
“Fine,” I gritted, following him onto the path leading into the woods. “But I’m just getting the medicine, then I’m leaving. And I’m telling Nyx that if he ever wants to see me naked, he’ll give my medicine to me .”
“Nyx has also already seen you naked,” he drawled.
“You know what I mean!”
Paxton chuckled. He drew up next to me as the trees crowded together, brushing against my shoulder.
I shoved away and walked further ahead.
“Why do I make you so nervous?”
I tripped. “What? Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Paxton came over to help me up.
I ignored his hand and rose up on my own.
He dropped his arm, but not the pensive eyes staring into mine. “You’ve been this way with me since we met. Like you don’t know what to say or do with me,” he said softly. “Like I unsettle you. Why?”
Fist balling, I swallowed hard. “Just show me where the medicine is.”
Paxton pointed. “Half a mile that way. The steak will hit your nose soon enough.”
I set off, my human feet stomping twigs and smearing dirt as gracelessly as my wolf would never be. Paxton’s voice found me in the dark.
“It’s because I’m an omega, isn’t it. You’ve been trying hard not to give away how disappointed you are to have an omega for a fate. You can’t tout your fair and equal society while looking down on one of your wolf husbands.”
I scoffed. “Are you serious? Is that why you dragged me out here? So that you could call me a hypocritical bigot straight to my face?” I spun on him, true anger shining through. “I don’t care that you’re an omega, Clarke. I’ve never cared about stupid things like that. What I cared about is my mom and holding on to the only things I have left of her, and you lied straight to my face all so that you could take that away from me!”
He blinked, brows blown back by the sudden scream.
“You make me uncomfortable because you’re a fake! There’s nothing real about you!” The words shot like bullets from my lips. “I could smell your plastic skin from day one, Ken doll, but I didn’t trust my instincts because I thought you only wore a mask to survive in this world.” I shook my head, turning away. “I should’ve realized that empty is all you are.”
I stormed on, finally scenting the steak on the air and picking up my pace to get to it, and then get the hell away from him.
Paxton didn’t say anything as I tore away from him. He was so silent, I would’ve thought he left if it wasn’t for his scent following me through the woods.
The unsettling silence continued until I broke through the trees, and then the one to speak was me.
“Wow...” My whisper floated through the air, carried away to the waterfall.
It was beautiful.
Rain hadn’t blessed us much in the last few weeks, so only a gentle stream played among the rocks as it fell into the basin—filling a placid pond with fresh, clear water. Resting beside the water was the picnic Paxton promised me.
Werewolves weren’t dainty eaters, so Paxton didn’t mess around with the menu. I smelled seasoned grilled steaks, baked potatoes with bourbon butter, and roasted bok choy. My wolf was salivating—proving I didn’t understand this Luame-given illness. That morning she had no appetite, and now she was about to chew through my stomach to get at that steak. But as distracting as my wolf was being, nothing could draw my eye away from the water.
“Oh my gods,” I breathed, slowly moving closer. “What are they?”
“They’re me,” Paxton replied, making me jump. I almost forgot he was there. “My magic.”
I dropped to my knees, wide eyes fixed on them... as they danced.
Tiny, beautiful, impossible creatures flitted across the surface of the undulating water, dancing under the moonlight refracting through their bodies. Under my eye, one of them turned and blew me a kiss.
It was hard to describe them. What words existed for creatures that didn’t exist? The best way to say it was they looked like little nude Tinkerbells with bodies made of moving, living glass.
“They’re sprites,” Paxton said, making me wipe my smile away just as quickly as it appeared. “They’re not alive in the true sense, but whenever I’m near a body of water, they appear. Almost like the water is welcoming me. Reaching out to me.
“One of its own.”
I spoke unbidden. “I didn’t know magic like this was possible.”
“It’s incredibly rare. Only half a dozen water wolves in history have been able to summon sprites.” He shook his head. “It pissed my clan alpha off to no end that I’m one of them.”
“Why?”
“He’s a water wolf too, of course, but he’s weak as shit. The guy can barely summon water when it’s raining.”
My brows shot up, and not just because a few of the mischievous sprites were beginning to get pornographic with their dancing. “If that’s true, how did he become alpha of an entire clan?”
“The way most of them do.” Paxton’s lips twisted in a wry grimace. “He was the only child of a former clan alpha, and the woman wasn’t going to pick anyone else over her own kid. Nepotism strikes again.
“But that’s not the only reason he hates me,” Paxton admitted. “My whole clan knew about me and my impressive power. When that jerk was chosen, they protested the choice. They said a strong water wolf needed to lead a water clan, and I was the strongest there is.”
My brows rose higher. “Your clan wanted you to be the clan alpha? Even though you’re... not one?”
He nodded, smiling mirthlessly. “The first clan omega in history. They even held a vote and I won the majority among the omegas, epsilons, and betas. The alphas didn’t pick me, of course, but even without their votes, I had the support of seventy percent of the clan.” He gave me a look. “Want to guess who won?”
I snorted. “That weak-ass nepo baby, naturally.”
“Naturally.” Paxton rocked back, sighing. “That same nepo baby led the mob when I was chosen as your mate. Not only did my clan choose me over him, but Luame chose me over everyone. No doubt he was scared I’d finally have the support to take the clan from him, so he made up some crazy nonsense about me leading a secret resistance against the alphas, and planning to slaughter them all and create the first omega-only clan.”
I stopped breathing, holding very still. Paxton was accused of the very treason my mates and I were destined to commit? Was that coincidence, or was Luame trying to tell me something about fate?
“With his beta second-in-command using her power to spread the rumor, I didn’t have a chance,” he said, eyes blank. “The mob almost killed me. The secret police sent to pick me up and relocate me to the safe house had to drive their pickup through the mob just to get to me.”
“Fucking hell,” I cried. No one had mentioned that part of the story to me.
Paxton gave me a mirthless smile. “I’m not empty, Daciana. I’m not fake or plastic, but... yes,” he whispered. “I wear a mask and I don’t bother taking it off because I learned a long time ago that there’s no point in being real. Why open up? Why hope? Why work hard? Why bother with any of it when the whole world is a game that’s rigged for you to fail.
“But,” he said, gazing into my eyes. “None of that is an excuse for what I did to you and your mom’s letters. Luame gave me nothing but a shitty hand... until she gave me you. Screwing that up isn’t on anyone else but me, and I know that, Daze. I truly do want to get you back.”
“So that you can be famous again,” I shot back.
“So that I can be with you. It’s you I want, and only you.”
I blew out an exasperated breath, tossing my head. “You don’t even know me.”
“And still I know what it feels like to be in love with you.” Paxton tipped my chin, spreading heat into my cheeks. “I can only imagine how out-of-my-mind obsessed with you I’ll be when I do know you.”
I yanked away. “Stop that. Just stop.”
“Why? What did I do wrong? I mean e—”
“Stop!” I jumped up. “Stop talking like that. Stop saying what he would say! Because when he said it, he actually meant it, and when you say it, you’re playing an angle that I won’t see until it smacks me in the face, so just stop, Paxton!” Tears stung my eyes. “Your smooth words and charm may work on seventy percent of people, but I’m in the group who knows you’ll never measure up.”
He flinched, dropping his hand. “Ouch. I deserve that, but ouch.”
“Whatever.” I brushed past him. “Where’s the medicine? I’m leaving.”
Paxton rose up and crossed to the picnic. If I was in a charitable mood, I would’ve told him it was perfect. A soft, cushy blanket rimmed with candles and laid out under the stars was the perfect first date. He nailed it.
And he’d never hear that from me.
“Here.” Paxton reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a small vial. “This one is yours, and this”—he pulled out another vial—“is mine.” Paxton put both in my hands. “Take them.”
“What are you doing?” I thrust his vial back. “You need this.”
“And I’ll have it when you forgive me.”
I rocked back, brows crumpling. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Keep it, Daze. When you’ve forgiven me— When I’ve earned it,” he stressed, “then I’ll take it, but not before. You think I’m not serious about doing anything to get you back? Well, this is me being serious. This is real.”
I stared at him, the vial, then back to him. “You’ll be in horrible, agonizing pain, Clarke.”
“As much pain as you felt when Orion burned the letters?”
My face shuttered closed. “No.”
“Well then, it’s no less than I deserve.” He sat back and began setting the food out. “And you won’t have to worry about me cheating and sneaking the meds from Nyx behind your back. If this is what it takes to break the plastic man, and give you a mate worth bonding with, I’ll do it.”
“You’ll die,” I dropped, tone blank. “Your wolf will die trapped inside you—too weak to even howl. You can’t possibly think being with a woman you barely know is worth all of that.”
Hard, unflinching orbs pinned me through. “What exactly do you think is waiting for me out there that’s better than a lifetime with you?”
I stiffened, swallowing hard. Why did he keep doing that? How was he doing that? Castor said something so similar to me the second time I tried to break up with him, telling him that he was better off finding a girlfriend he didn’t have to hide.
“ You think there’s someone out there that’s smarter, kinder, prettier, or more frustrating than you? Because I can burst that delusion for you right now, baby. There’s no one else, and there’s never going to be anyone else, Daze.
“ I was born to be with you. ”
I let out a slow, shuddering breath, my eyes squeezing shut. Gods, I missed that man more than air. No one else could ever replace him in my heart, so why even try?
“Clarke, just take it.” I set the vial down next to him. “Everyone may call me a psychopath, but that doesn’t mean I want to watch you drown while I stand on deck, dangling the life vest and evil-villain cackling.
“I don’t need to torture you to forgive you, because I’m never going to forgive you.” Sincerity laced my words. “Don’t kill yourself for nothing. This is another game rigged for you to fail.”
To my shock, he chuckled. “You can stop testing me, Volana. We both know you are the kind of psychopath who’ll kick back on your yacht, laughing while I splash, and flail, and beg. So stop fishing to see if I’ll take an easy out. I’ll get that nasty potion when you’ve forgiven me, and not a day sooner. Deal?”
I eyed him, and the hand he held out. I actually wasn’t testing him to see if he’d quit on the first chance... but I was still low-key impressed that he didn’t.
Because who was I kidding? What I was most mad about is that I didn’t think of this torture plan first.
“No,” I said, crossing my legs and sitting down. “I’m not making any deals with you or agreeing to anything. You don’t get to turn me into a prize to be won.”
I felt his eyes on me as I grabbed my plate and dug in. The food smelled too good for me to hold back any longer.
“But,” I continued, “if you want to keep showering me in gifts and attention—making a fool of yourself while your brain melts in your skull—that’s your own business. Far be it from me to stop you.”
He chuckled. “Understood.”
“Gods, this is good,” I moaned. “Any drinks?”
Paxton pulled out two ice-cold Maltas right on cue. I popped my lid off with my teeth and downed half the bottle.
“So,” he put forth. “We’ve got food. We’ve got a show.” Paxton gestured to the sprites. “Should we move to the sparkling conversation portion of the evening?”
I ripped out a belch that shook the trees.
“Sexy.”
“How about we move on to the silence part of the evening?” I returned, slathering that tasty bourbon butter on every inch of my steak.
“I can’t seduce you silently. I’m good, but I’m not that good.” Paxton lay down on his back, stretching out next to me and resting his hands under his head. “Hmm. You said you didn’t know the real me, so why don’t we do that? You can ask me whatever you want. If I answer honestly, I keep my clothes on. If I don’t answer, I strip off an article of clothing.”
“Yeah, no. It’s sexy when I do that. It’s creepy if you do.”
He pushed out his lower lip, nodding. “Okay, good note. What about two truths and a lie?”
“What about if you have something you want me to know, you just tell me?”
“All right,” he mumbled, “another good note.” Paxton flipped over, facing me properly. Lips parting, he said—
Nothing.
“This is weird,” he burst out after a long stretch of silence. “I’m not just going to sit here, mindlessly babbling, and pouring my heart out while you eat my food.”
I gnawed on his steak with no regrets.
“I need some back-and-forth here.” Grasping my legs, Paxton turned me to face him. “Talk to me. Tell me what you want to know.”
“Have you seen Badr in the last twenty-four hours?” I asked with no hesitation.
“Badr? No. Why?”
My eyes narrowed, studying him, but he seemed genuinely clueless.
Paxton’s a fake, a voice reminded. You don’t know when he’s being genuine.
“Because he attacked the whole school with his power, and then took off.” Like I said, I was talking to a fake. The last thing I was going to do was tell him about the graveside conversation Badr and I had in the woods. “I’d like to look him in the eye when I throw his expulsion letter in his face, but I can’t find him anywhere.” I paused to take a sip, studying him closely for the slightest reaction. “Do you know where he is?”
Paxton shrugged. “No clue. I wasn’t upright and off the bathroom floor until this morning. I didn’t even see his on-stage meltdown—although I’m told it was a next-level party-killer.”
Paxton scarfed down the half a meal I left him. Behind him, the sprites were doing acrobatics—spinning, flipping, soaring, and tossing each other through the air.
The corners of my mouth quirked up looking at them. They really were the most extraordinary, and adorable, displays of magic I’d ever seen. It was hard to believe creatures so wonderful could come from someone I distrusted so much.
“But does it matter?” Paxton went on. “He’s around here somewhere. Someone will sniff him out eventually.”
My gaze slowly shifted in the direction of the front gates. It most definitely did matter where Badr was, what he was doing, and who the hell he was talking to.
I chose Corvin Academy to make my stand because it was the most impenetrable fortress in all five dominions. The gates looked like nothing more than rusting iron, but they’ve stood tall and undefeated through every war, every battle, and every attempted coup. They were filled with magic that couldn’t be fathomed or replicated.
But all that astounding power didn’t mean shit if my greatest enemy could strut in and out as he pleased... and bring whoever he wanted in along with him.
“Where would he go?” I ventured. “If Badr did get off the grounds, who would he run to? Not his father, so who?”
“Definitely not his father,” Paxton muttered. “Evil bastard.”
It was no shock to me that everyone who had the displeasure of meeting Cygnus Tahan hated him. I knew from listening to his confessions that he was always an irredeemable shithead, so I genuinely had no idea how or why he was chosen for clan alpha.
“What about his mom?”
Paxton shook his head. “Badr never talked about it, but I got the sense he and his mom aren’t close. C—” He sighed. “Castor was the only person in his family that he was close to.”
I looked away, heart squeezing at his name. “What about friends?” I rasped after catching my breath. “Other than you guys. He must’ve talked about the people he hung out with before he wound up trapped in that safe house with the four of you.”
“What about your short time knowing Badr gave you the impression he’s an open book?”
I gave him a look. “An entire year and he didn’t open up about a single thing to you guys? Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he replied, tone flat.
Blowing out a breath, I let it go. The guy was right. I didn’t know Badr long, but I did know him long enough to believe his thoughts, feelings, emotions, and secrets were locked, bolted, sealed, and hidden away on an uncharted island surrounded by man-eating krakens.
“You suck at this, you know.”
I choked, swallowing a sip the wrong way. “What was that?”
“You’re a terrible date.” He snuck some bok choy off my plate. “Here I am, hot as hell, and wowing you with my extraordinary magic, and instead of trying to get to know me, you’re spending all your time asking me about another guy. Was it the whole being-locked-away-in-a-temple thing?” Paxton asked, cocking his head. “Is that why you suck at dating?”
Flames licked my cheeks. “I won’t suck at breaking this bottle over your head!”
Paxton howled, bursting out laughing.
“When exactly does the debilitating pain start?” I gritted. “Because I’d be happy to carry you to your room and drop-kick you on the bathroom floor myself.”
The dick only laughed louder. “You’re the most beautiful woman who’s ever threatened me. I gotta say, it’s taking a lot of the sting out of it.”
I rolled my eyes. How did this guy turn everything I said into a weapon to hit on me with? “What more do you think I need to know about you, Clarke? I got the gist. You had a sucky childhood, all the alphas picked on you, you’re terrible with women because your teenage girlfriend was your right hand, and when you finally grew up, the bullied became the bully. There.” I smiled wide. “Did I leave anything out?”
His lamplighter eyes shone with amusement. “A lot actually. First off, I’m left-handed, and I’m no cheater.”
I snorted, a tiny giggle bursting out. I clamped down on my lip cutting it off, but it was too late. Paxton’s smirk turned smug as well as annoyingly hot.
“And I didn’t have a sucky childhood. I mean, for sure, I ran into more than my fair share of alpha douchebags, but life’s not all bad when your parents are millionaires.”
I froze, my jaw and the masticated beef I was tearing apart—hanging open. “What was that?”
“That’s million, baby, with an m .” I didn’t understand the phrase shit-eating grin until right then. “Yeah, I got expelled from school, but that only meant my moms got to homeschool me in between our trips to Rome, Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, and Brazil. I studied for the Corvin entrance exam while sunning myself on a beach in Monaco.”
“You’re lying,” I blurted. “You have to be. Because if that’s true, it makes even less sense that a pampered rich boy like you let yourself be ordered around like a servant by Badr.”
He rolled his eyes. “There you go again, playing Pampered Princess Priestess. It doesn’t matter how much money my parents have, Daze. I’m an omega full stop,” he stated. “So if I want to get ahead in this world, I need alphas on my side, not wealth. Can you guess who’s a good friend to have?”
Understanding dawned. “The son of the Sun councilman who is set to take over for his father one day.”
“Bingo,” he crowed, tapping his nose. “Yes, life is a lot easier for me being on Nyx’s, Edric’s, Orion’s, and Badr’s good side, but it also helps that they really are good guys. They’ve never used their power to force me to do something I don’t want to do, while every other alpha I’ve met didn’t think twice about it.”
“Alright, I get it,” I broke in, shaking my head. “I don’t know what it’s like to be an omega, so I should stop pretending I do.”
“Yeah, you should.” His voice was hard. “You’ve got no idea what it’s like having your moms sit you down and tell you they’re not handing the business over to you because any alpha anywhere could come along, force me to hand it over to them, and destroy everything they built.” He looked away. “They’re not leaving me any money or property either, because raging dick rules apply there too. A jealous alpha would just take it away.
“I was born knowing I’d have to make my own way in this world. No one’s handing me a piece of the pie, but everyone’s trying to take it.”
“Then I’ll change it. I’ll protect your pie.” The words were out of my mouth before I heard them, and how it sounded. “I mean, I’ll protect you and the omegas from losing all the things you have a right to. Stronger inheritance laws, and harsher prosecutions for alpha command–based thefts.” I nodded to myself, adding those to the list of the many laws I needed to change. “This is how they do it, isn’t it? How they force the omegas to be subservient.
“They force you all to live on home base, and the only way to make it around the field is to cling to their cleats while they drag you around behind them.”
“Now you’re getting it.” He smiled to take the sting out of it. “You really think you’re going to be my savior, don’t you?”
I warmed for no good reason. “I will tear down this backwards world and build a new one on its ashes, and I mean that from the deepest corner of my soul. No one is more committed, determined, or bloodthirsty than me.”
His grin shone over me, dragging my gaze to those full, pink, sinfully kissable lips. “I believe you. I don’t know why but... I do.”
I tugged at my collar. It was hot out here. Why was it so hot! It was the middle of autumn for Luame’s sake.
I roughly cleared my throat. “Anyway, what’s this million-dollar empire your folks run? Have I heard of it?”
“Most likely.” He reached into the basket and pulled out two more Maltas. “The laws may force us werewolves to hide our identities from the mundanes, but it doesn’t stop us from selling to them. My mom is the creator of the She-Wolf line of clothing, shoes, and accessories. My other mom is her co-founder and brand ambassador.”
My brows blew. “She-Wolf? Your parents are the founders of She-Wolf? But I saw their clothes and ads everywhere when I was living with the mundanes, and I mean everywhere .
“I wanted to buy an outfit too, but I couldn’t even afford the buttons on their cashmere Rebel Wolf coats.” I sat back, mind blown. “How did I not know actual she-wolves were the creators of She-Wolf?”
“Did you ever know much about Wolf Nation?” he asked as he pulled his legs in and draped his arms across his knees. “I mean, other than what temple visitors told you?”
I made to reply, and then stopped. No one had ever put it in those terms before but—
“You’re right,” I said softly. “I didn’t know a thing about my home other than the little glimpses I got from visitors pouring their hearts out. I was supposed to be a grand symbol of our society, but I wasn’t allowed anywhere near it.”
I shook my head, pulling myself out of morose thoughts. “But here’s something else that’s interesting, you were raised by two women but you still think it’s cool to run around calling women bitches.”
Paxton flinched, losing his grin fast. “I don’t think it’s cool, and my moms would’ve kicked my ass if they heard me call you that. I really am sorry, Daze. It just came out, but that’s no excuse.” He dropped his head, massaging the bridge of his nose. “Look, I’m not always going to get it right every time but...”
I jumped when strong, calloused fingers brushed over mine, stroking soft circles that erupted goose bumps all over my arm.
“But I never make the same mistake twice,” he whispered, lifting our bonded hands.
I made the most unfortunate squeak when he pressed his lips to my palm.
“I promise you, baby.” Paxton’s warm breath skittered over my veins, marking the path his gentle peppered kisses left down my arm. “I will never take the smile from your lips again, and that’s a promise that will last the rest of our lives.”
I melted, leaning in to take those lips for myself—
Wake the fuck up, woman!
Snapping up, I broke free of my wolf’s hold, and his. I tore my hand away, shooting up to my feet. What the hell! I shouted at my wolf. Even with the bond broken, my wolf remembered what it was like to want Paxton more than air, and what it was like to not be dying, and she was gunning for him.
“You can take your promise and shove it back up your bullshitter, thank you very much, and—and—and why am I still here?” I snatched up the food, tossed it back in the basket, and hitched the basket up my shoulder. It was coming with me. “Goodbye, Clarke. Let’s never do this again soon.”
He laughed at my retreating back. “Bye, baby. Same time, same place tomorrow.”
“I won’t be here! And stop calling me baby!”
I’m pretty sure my rejections didn’t sink in. He was laughing too hard to hear them.
***