Chapter 32
Nessa stared down at her phone, the knot of anxiety sitting like a rock in her stomach finally easing.
“You okay?” Hunny asked, drawing Nessa’s gaze from her phone and to her friend, who was perched on the other side of the booth.
They’d been seated less than ten minutes ago, and while the server had been polite, she’d also been dismissive.
“You’ve been staring down at your phone for like five minutes. ”
“I have?” Nessa shook her head to clear it. “Yeah, I’m fine. Murphy’s going to stop by soon.”
“Here?” Hunny looked around the mostly empty diner curiously. “I thought he was back home? That’s like an hour away.”
“He is.” And it was. But he hadn’t hesitated to drop everything after she’d texted him, even after she’d told him she was overreacting and to just ignore her. The odds of seeing Angelo after all these years were insanely low, and she hadn’t left a trail behind when she’d moved to Montana.
How could he have even found her?
Hunny reached across the table, careful to not knock their drinks over. She took Nessa’s hand and squeezed it affectionately. “You know you can always talk to me,” her friend stated.
Nessa nodded, her chin wobbling as she fought to suppress the torrent of emotions overwhelming her.
“I know I’ve hinted at my past before,” Nessa said quietly, her gaze snapping to the front door as it opened, a bell ringing overhead announcing a new patron’s arrival.
She tensed until three strangers walked in, two of them laughing at something the other had said.
“I don’t enjoy discussing it, and I’m not really ready to do so now, but I left an extremely bad situation in Chicago a few years ago. ”
“I’ve pieced together a few things, Nessa.” Hunny leaned forward and whispered, “I’m pretty sure you left a bad man. Someone who hurt you. And I don’t think he let you leave willingly.”
“He didn’t.” Nessa released a trembling breath before shaking her head. “He and my brother were close, and I’m sure they looked for me. Last night, I talked to Murphy about everything.”
“How did that go?”
“Good. Great, actually. I thought Murphy might lose it when he heard the less savory parts, but he held it together and just growled a few times, and that was it.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t offer to kill them for you.”
Nessa was a bit surprised by that, too.
Hunny’s eyes softened. “I’m glad you have someone to confide in like that.”
“Me, too.” Nessa looked down at the hand holding hers. “It’s just … I think talking about everything brought a lot of old memories to the surface, and when we were leaving the store just before, I could have sworn I saw my brother walking away from us on the sidewalk.”
“What?” Hunny spat out, craning her head around the diner like she’d be able to spot Angelo on instinct alone. “Are you sure?”
“No,” Nessa answered immediately. “I think I imagined it.”
Hunny turned her focus back to Nessa. “That’s possible, especially since you were discussing past trauma.”
“I know. But on the off chance what I saw was real, I told Murphy.” Nessa made a face. “I’m not risking my pregnant sister-in-law’s wellbeing to some gangbanger hanging around.”
“Oh, my god, we are sisters now! I didn’t even think about—wait, did you say gangbanger?” Hunny exclaimed, making a perfect ‘O’ of surprise with her mouth.
“Not so loud,” Nessa hissed through gritted teeth. “The point is; I’m sure it’s nothing, but Murphy is coming by either way.”
“That’s really sweet of him.” Hunny sighed loudly, relaxing into her chair a little. “I’m sure he’s going to bring Henry, and if Murphy tells him what’s happening, my big bear is going to be angry when he gets here.”
Nessa cocked a brow. “Isn’t that his normal range of emotion anyway?”
“Nope.” Hunny grinned. “Okay, maybe it is. But you know what I mean. I don’t want him to get mad at you because he thinks I’m in danger.”
“I won’t blame him for being upset.”
Hunny rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, I will. No one gets mad at my sister.” She sent Nessa a playful wink as their server finally appeared at their table, holding two small pizza stones in each hand.
“Ladies, here are your orders. Careful of the trays; they’re still cooling off.
” Their server, Jolene, going by her nametag, set down the pizzas in front of Nessa and Hunny before placing her hands in the pockets of the apron tied around her waist. She blew a bubble with her gum, barely sparing them a glance.
“Do you need a refill, or are you both fine for now?”
“I’d love more soda.” Hunny handed her the half-empty glass.
When Jolene took it and walked toward the kitchen, she added, “Henry found out about gestational diabetes the other day. Ever since, he’s been harping on me to stop drinking soda unless it’s sugar-free.
” She grimaced. “But sugar-free just doesn’t taste as good, you know? ”
“Can you even get gestational diabetes? I thought your immune system was fantastic?”
Wasn’t that another perk of being a shifter?
“Thank you!” Hunny huffed. “I told him he’s acting like a loon. Even Tabitha said the odds of me getting that are essentially zero, but Henry worries about me and the kits.” She sighed again. “It’s really sweet of him, even if he is overbearing.”
Nessa’s mouth pulled back into a wide smile. “Overbearing, really? That was really corny.”
Hunny waved off her statement. “Anyways, I’m trying to drink less sugary beverages in front of him.”
“So you’re going to guzzle down a few sodas before he gets here,” Nessa guessed, her lips twitching with amusement.
“Damn straight.”
“Considering you’ve been craving sugary foods lately, I’m surprised he hasn’t haggled you about eating those.”
“I’m sure he wants to.” Hunny’s upper lip curled into a small snarl. “But I’m also getting these intense mood swings. There’s only so much I’ll put up with. He probably doesn’t want to poke the bear.”
“You’re just doing it on purpose now,” Nessa joked.
Hunny shrugged innocently. “I can’t help myself.”
The server returned, placing the full, icy beverage in front of Hunny. She also set down some silverware and napkins before leaving them to their meal.
With a small squeal of excitement, Hunny snatched up a slice of her pizza, taking a bite. She closed her eyes, humming appreciatively as she chewed. “This was such a good idea.”
Nessa picked up a slice of her own pizza: pepperoni, sausage and green peppers. The two women ate in companionable silence. Hunny was absorbed in her food, but while Nessa’s tasted fantastic, her concentration was on their surroundings.
She was armed, so if Angelo were actually here, she’d do what she needed to protect herself and Hunny. Hopefully, there wasn’t an actual threat, and she’d only conjured her brother up with her overactive imagination.
After devouring a few more slices, Hunny groaned, scooting her half-eaten plate toward the center of the table. “I need to conserve my strength for dessert.”
Nessa snorted, polishing off the rest of her slice. They’d eaten about the same amount. “I thought you said you’re always hungry now? Murphy would have smashed two large pizzas and dessert.”
Hunny laughed, rubbing a hand over her belly as she leaned back in the booth.
“I told you what I ate before. I was a grazer, and everything I ate was pretty light since my metabolism is different and I don’t need as much food as the guys.
Eating half a pizza and still wanting sweets is practically me gorging on food. ”
“Noted.”
Jolene strolled over, inspecting their plates casually. “How was everything?”
“Delicious,” Hunny answered. “And now I’m ready for some chocolate.”
The server nodded, pulling out two small menus from her apron and handing them each one. “We have a few dessert options, but if you’re craving chocolate, our Brownie Deluxe is perfect.”
“I want that,” Hunny said, handing the menu back without looking at it. “Brownie Deluxe is with the ice cream and chocolate chips, right?”
“Right.” The server looked at Nessa expectantly.
She handed her own menu to their server. “I’ll have the same.” She felt pretty full, but she wouldn’t let her friend eat dessert alone.
What was she, a monster?
“Alright, two Brownie Deluxes, coming right up.”
Hunny wiggled her hips from side to side, doing a little happy dance in her seat as the server disappeared back into the kitchen.
Glancing back down at her phone to check the time, Nessa’s brows rose in surprise. Nearly an hour had passed since she’d looked at it last.
Just then, the bell at the front door chimed. Her head shot up at the noise, her heart stalling in her chest when she spotted her mate stepping into the diner, his broad shoulders and impressive height filling the doorway. Instantly, her anxiety disappeared, replaced by a wave of relief.
Murphy had changed into a light-wash pair of jeans, a burgundy sweater covering his torso. Her heart ached. Would there ever come a time when he felt comfortable enough in his own skin to wear something else? She hoped so.
As he stepped fully into the diner, she noticed he definitely hadn’t come alone. Not only had he brought Tank, he’d also brought Jasper, Colter and Zeke.
Murphy inhaled, cocking his head in her direction.
Their eyes met, and she swore she saw his dark brown eyes melt into pools of rich chocolate as he devoured her from afar.
Everything in her responded to that look; her thighs clenched, her core spasmed, and her pulse picked up a frantic tempo in her ears.
He said something to his companions and then moved toward her, his long strides eating up the distance between them in a matter of seconds.
“Hey, Nes,” he murmured tenderly, pulling her up from the booth and wrapping an arm around her waist. He cupped the back of her head and leaned down, brushing his lips over hers. “I missed you.”
“You did?”
She nearly facepalmed. What the hell kind of question was that?