Hunter #3
Just when I’m on the verge of getting up, and going over there to rescue my friend, a high-pitched squeal almost bursts an eardrum and a voice I know all too well fills the air.
“Percy, babe, is that you?” Sadie totters over in her heels and wraps her arms around Percy’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace as he tries to get to his feet. She’s wearing a pale pink dress today, it’s much more modest than her usual skin tight flashy choices.
“Oh my Goddess, I didn’t even realise you went to Oakley now. How long has it been?”
“I take it you guys know each other,” I say, trying to keep my voice level.
“Sadie is my cousin. I told you I moved here recently, right? My aunt is the one who told my mom about the dance program.”
My arch nemesis was bouncing on her heels with excitement, looking like the cat who swallowed the canary while everything was starting to click into place.
Looking at the two of them side-by-side, I should’ve realised it sooner. Where Sadie‘s hair was a dark luxurious red, Percy’s was more like fine spun copper, just a little paler and finer. But their lips were both plump and pouty, and they had the same almost shaped eyes.
“What are you doing here?” Percy asks kindly, if a little coldly. He wasn’t quite matching her level of excitement at seeing one another. Interesting.
Sadie turns to look at me with a pointed smug smile, her arms crossed as she causally replies, “Oh I’m just having dinner with my fiance and my future father-in-law.”
I almost spit out my wine. Percy hands me a napkin and as I dab my face for any stray drops that manage to escape. “Last time I checked Evans hadn’t asked you to marry him.”
“I mean, not officially.” She waves her hand airily. “But my future father-in-law is very keen to get the ball rolling. He knows how important these things are. He really appreciates family.”
My stomach clenches, that jealous tendril that had uncurled earlier now like a rock weighing on me, rooting me in place. Evans wouldn’t ask her to marry him just to please his father, would he? I don’t know why I even bother to ask myself that, of course he would.
Mine, a small voice inside my head snarls.
I ignore it to clench my napkin in my fist.
Percy takes his seat again, leaving Sadie to lean over us, her sickly sweet pheromones weaving around us as she drops her voice to a whisper.
“Harrison is hoping to give Evans the nudge he needs to get him moving in the right direction. Afterall, he’s already met with my parents to get their permission. ”
I blink, surprised to hear that. “Evans?”
“No silly, Harrison.”
Evans’s father was meeting with Sadie‘s parents to arrange their marriage? Fucking hell, it didn’t get more archaic than that. I glance over at my best friend and his gaze meets mine. I try sending him my thoughts, begging him to hear me.
Do something.
Give me a sign.
I’ll rescue you. I’ll stage a diversion.
Just do something.
Anything.
Even just an eye twitch and I would go over there.
But there’s nothing.
“And how do you know Evans?” Percy asks, placing his hand over mine.
Evans’ eyes drift to Percy, landing on our hands and his stare hardens before he turns his attention back to his father like I’m some stranger.
“He’s my housemate. And one of my best friends,” I hear myself saying, but there’s no conviction in my words.
A few moments later, Evans gets to his feet and comes over. I expect him to say something to me, but he doesn’t, instead he wraps his arm around Sadie‘s waist.
“Come, we don’t want to keep my father waiting.” Without another word or sparing me a second glance, he leads Sadie away.
What the fuck?
I snarl, low and angry. My dominant alpha pushing against the boundaries at the slight. How dare he? The urge to grab his neck and pin him beneath me rises, like the tide before a storm.
Harrison Crawford’s watches, like a king overseeing his empire, as they return to his table.
He casts his eyes over me dismissively before turning to look at his son.
“I suppose looking unemployable is fashionable right now. There’s confidence, Benedict and then there are people who begged to be looked at for attention. ”
His words are deliberately loud enough for us to hear.
Evans ducks his head, “Yes, sir.”
Clenching my jaw, I toss my napkin down.
That fucking stings. He doesn’t defend me.
He doesn’t say anything in my favor, instead like the sheep that he is, he agrees. Well, I know where I stand. And now I know how he values our friendship.
Mentally, I’m nowhere near that line in the sand any longer. I’ve taken five steps back.
Percy nudges his shoulder with mine, vanilla filling my nose, his hand still covering mine as he leans in. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not above begging a little. Do you want to get out of here?”
Why had I been hesitating? Holding myself back when to Evans I was nothing?
Well, fuck him.
Tonight, I was going to take Percy home and lick every inch of that creamy skin. I was going to fuck Evans’ out of my system once and for all.
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” I lace out fingers together and get to my feet, pulling him with me. “Let’s get out of here, beautiful.”