Page 45 of Born of Ice

“I’m busy tonight.” Her brows furrow in confusion.

“Busy? With what?” She looks around, her eyes briefly running over Electra before she exhales with relief and smiles back at me. “Oh, you mean Electra. She won’t mind.” Stacy waves a hand her way as if Electra is not sitting right fucking there.

My eyes narrow dangerously but the blonde is clearly not catching the change in my mood.

“I mean, it’s not like she can entertain you anyway.” She gives me an exaggerated wide-eyed look like we are in on the same secret, and when my face doesn’t change, she leans in slightly and whispers loud enough for the whole bar to hear. “She’s paralyzed, you know. Like she can’t walk at all. Not much fun, you know? I heard even her boyfriend left her after that.”

My ears pick up on Electra’s fork falling against the plate with a loud clink, but my eyes are not leaving the bitch in front of me.

“I think it’s best you leave right fucking now,” I growl, and Stacy finally realizes something is wrong.

“What? Why? I thought we were getting on just fine.”

“I don’t hit women, but if you don’t take your disgusting self away from my eyes right now, I’ll make a damn exception.” Her eyes widen for a fraction before she plasters a saucy smile back on her face.

Does she think I’m joking right now?

“Maybe it’s not a good time now.” She clears her throat, casting a glance at Electra. “I’ll be at the bar when you free up,” she adds without taking a hint that I’m so not interested it’s not even a hint at this point, and heads back to her friend.

“Wait,” I halt her and she looks back with hope in her eyes, but loses it just as quickly. “Apologize.”

“What?” She frowns, not understanding.

“Apologize to Electra. You were rude.”

“Oh, um.” She shifts uncomfortably on her feet and then utters quietly, “Um, sorry?”

“Have a good evening, Stacy,” Electra says, and the blonde is at least smart enough to run away because no way would I consider it an appropriate apology.

My blood is still humming, my fist clenched under the table when Electra says out of nowhere. “You can go.”

“Go where?” I blink, confused what are we talking about.

“Flirt with Stacy. Hook up with Stacy or whatever else with Stacy.” She tips her head sideways toward the bar, but her face looks granite hard. “I saw you eye-fucking her, so you don’t have to stay here with me. You heard her. I'm not much fun.”

Are these women trying to kill me tonight but for very different reasons? I’m a second from losing it when something dawns on me and I frown. What is that in her tone? I’d think she was pissed off for that garbage comment but she’s always pissed off, so that’s not it. But there is some kind of edge to it.

“Nah, I’m good here.”

“No, you really can go.”

“Nah, I really am good here.”

“Go,” she almost growls.

“No!” I say slowly so she finally hears it as our eyes lock in on each other.

“Why do you two look like you’re about to murder each other and enjoy the process too?” If there was one thing that could make this dinner even worse, it’s hearing Stella’s voice.

I groan on the inside.

“You so jinxed us,” I tell Electra, shaking my head.

“Hi, Stella,” she greets, and the old witch, bends down, kissing the top of her head. “What are you doing here?”

“Having dinner, like normal people, you know. How’s the new living arrangement?”

Electra bites out, “Horrible,” at the same time I say, “Fantastic.”

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