Page 11 of Alien Dragon's Bride

Chapter 7

Megan

“Did you guys see that?” Megan stared at the empty sky unable to believe her eyes. A dragon? A freaking golden dragon had flown in the sky and it had looked right through her. She shivered, actually, it felt like it recognized her as if it viewed her down to her soul. No, couldn’t have been. Stress must be getting to her more than she thought or she needed to get her eyes checked. Maybe she needed glasses.

“Megan, look I know you’re upset about the cafe closing, but you’ll find other work.” Mitch held up his hands to placate her. “Is there someone I can call for you?”

“Yeah,” George added. “You need a valium or Xanax or something, Chica? I know a guy.”

“No, no, I’m fine.” Really, she wasn’t but she’d come out into the alley to vent her frustration, her life was falling apart and since she didn’t smoke or do drugs and getting drunk wasn’t an option since she had to work first thing in the morning, screaming in an empty alley made her feel a touch better. Then Mitch and George had come running, trying to soothe her once they realized no one was attacking her. Then the dragon had shown up. What would it have done if she’d been alone? Gobble her up? Is that what happens to missing people? Dragons?

Her breaths came out in pants, her stomach clenching. Adrenaline pulsed through her, and she thought she was going to be sick.

“You sure, Megan, you don’t look so good.” George frowned.

Mitch pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry but I’ve tried to keep the place open as long as can. If there’s anything I can do for you…I feel like such an ass.”

“No, it’s okay.” She hugged him back. Mitch had been like her second father these few years she’d worked with him. “Just a stressful time for me right now. I don’t mean to burden either of you with my problems.”

Mitch let go of her and George patted her on the back. “Why don’t you take tomorrow off.”

“No, I can’t—”

“With pay,” Mitch added. “And I won’t take no for an answer. You need to rest and take time for yourself.”

“Really?” She needed to find another job pronto. “Thank you so much.”

“Wish I could do more.” Mitch tucked his hands in his pockets.

“This is more than plenty, thank you.” She didn’t have the heart to ask him for a loan. Her boss had his own debt and didn’t need hers to add to the mix.

“Go get some rest, girl,” George clicked his tongue. “I expect you bright and early after your whole day off.”

“Will do.” She nodded. Now all she had to do was job hunt the entire day tomorrow. Who knows, maybe she’ll find something early and can go spend more time with dad.

* * *

Megan sat down heavily on the wooden bench. Her feet and legs ached from going from interview to interview. Not to mention the tons of resumes she’d sent online or applications she applied for. So far, no luck.

Despair sat like an elephant on her chest. What if she didn’t find work in time? Tonight was the deadline—how the hell was she going to find work that fast—much less the money to pay what she already owed?

She’d tried everything. Cleaning houses and the cafe’s bathrooms. Working double shifts. She’d applied for every open job she could find from dog walking to babysitting to window washing even though she was petrified of heights.

What else was there? She wrapped her arms around her middle. Tears stung the back of her eyes as she blinked rapidly. Would the damn bus hurry up and get here?

This was ridiculous. She stood and strolled up the street where she could hail a cab to the hospital. Time with dad would help her and give her something to do besides wallow in her misery.

Her legs protested as she hiked up Main to the business district and a better chance of getting a cab. Her cell phone was out of battery anyway so she couldn’t even call up a ride.

An apartment building blocked out the sun for a moment as she walked. She placed her hand up to shield her eyes. Renjer Associates. Where had she heard that name before? They must own the apartments, which were high-dollar when she’d checked housing before finding her one-bedroom hovel.

Wait. That the name of the surrogate company. The receptionist at their office said someone would call her today but her phone hadn’t rung. Had the company researched her online and decided that a waitress wasn’t a good candidate?

But she had to try…again. It was already three o’clock and in a few hours, the hospital would transport her dad to the other, low-end hospital in town. Her throat closed. No. She would try this or she’d go insane with wondering what if. Hell, maybe she already was crazy since she saw a freaking dragon! And neither Mitch nor George had blinked.

“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “Here goes nothing.”

She switched direction to downtown stretch of the city. Half an hour later, she swallowed her fear that pricked her stomach as if she’d eaten a porcupine.

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