a P
e hadn'
into my work, scrubbing the stainless steel steam wand ofscrub
Hayes's smug face. Close my sh
the door jingle. I only registered someone was there when
voice spoke m
led, my hand freez
f a simple flannel shirt. He had dark, thick hair, a clean-shaven jaw, and eyes so deep and brown they see
you?" I asked, wipin
me in the pack's designated high school. He was quiet back then, always in the background. A nobody, really. Just another
as nice to see a friendly, or at least neutral, face. "Wow.
oice a low rumble that was surprisingly pleasant. "Saw the s
s eyes held a friendly lig
" I said, my professional persona k
r-over? Whatever
g righ
ine a familiar comfort. The rich, nutty aroma of the coffee filled th
s posture relaxed. "I think I saw you earlier," he said casually
ing up again. I stopped what I was doing and lean
fless comment. I told this man who was almost a stranger to me, this ghost from my past, everything. He was just so easy to talk
ker of something cold and hard passed through his eyes. It w
e cheated on me six months ago. Told me I was lucky he'd even dated a wolfless human in the first place.
h into a fist. The knuckles went white. Again, the reaction was so swift, so quickly control
and gently took a paper napkin from the dispenser, dabbing at a drop of water that had splashed onto the back of my h
ected jolt, like static electricity, shot up my ar
eating a little faster. I finished the pour-over, the hot water blooming
ead. "It's my mother. She's the one setting up these
cket of my apron, began to vibrate violent
e screen glowed wit
the ignore button and shoved the phone back int
Derrick a
will probably want me to be a domestic slave." I let out a humorless laugh. "God, sometimes I wish I could jus
im, his eyes thoughtful. He didn't say anything, but a corner of his mouth ti
rating again, more i
apron in frustration. "I have to take
rry." He took his mug and walked over to a small table in the cor
d toward the back of the shop, my phone
ath, I swiped to answer, br
at have y
ll, cluttered employee break room, the scent of cof
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