Page 83 of Can't Be Love

“Yes, your mother has questions and concerns as well that we will need to discuss,” he said, pointing to his head, letting me know she was already well aware of the situation.

A part of me felt terrible that Dad would even consider giving up his pack position for me, but mostly I felt relieved that he was willing to help and that there was a possible solution to end this nightmare. I knew it would take every ounce of personal restraint I could muster just to sit through Lily’s challenge. The thought alone made me feel sick to my stomach and completely helpless.

Lily

Chapter 29

Thomas sent me a text to meet him at the Tavern for dinner. I was still in my workout clothes, my hair was pulled back into a half ponytail, not long enough for a full one, but enough to keep it from falling in my face. Normally I took great care about my appearance in public, but I had too much on my mind and too much to do to be concerned.

I had one full day left to prepare for this battle. I’d taken my time and done my homework on my opponent. Wanda Larken was ruthless, but she was also noted as emotional and unstable. I could work that to my benefit.

I had called Kyle to see what he could give me on the Larkens. It was more than I hoped for. They were into some pretty shady stuff, and there was no way I was going to allow that into Collier. I had to protect my Pack and that meant focus, something I wasn’t great at to begin with.

Lizzy had proven to be a great sparring partner. There was this sort of sadness surrounding her, but once we broke past that, I saw glimpses of someone entirely different. She always appeared to be the quietest, most reserved, and weakest of the Collier girls. I was wrong about her. Her inner strength and stubbornness when she set her mind to something was astonishing, and I couldn’t wait to dig deeper and get to know the real woman beneath the façade she carried.

When I walked into the Tavern, there was only a brief pause this time and then everyone went back to their conversations. It sort of freaked me out. Was I finally starting to fit in? Or had they just written me off as “soon to be dead, so don’t waste the time?”

I took a high table for two near the bar because it was the first I saw. My leg muscles were still burning from my workout, and I just couldn’t muster the energy to move any further.

“Just one tonight?” Milly asked.

I couldn’t help but smile, feeling no more animosity from her. “No, two. Thomas should be along soon.”

She nodded. “Coke while you wait?”

“You know, I could really use some whiskey tonight.” She gave me a look, like she remembered what happened when I drank, and I grinned. “Okay, okay, one Whiskey Sour, and a Coke. I’ll behave tonight, I promise.”

She gave a quick laugh. “I’m going to hold you to that just one, but you definitely earned it. Heard you’ve been working your ass off training for your upcoming battle. It’s not against little Jessie, is it? No one ?round here seems to know for sure who the second challenger is.”

Gossip ran rampant in the Tavern, and Milly was the ring leader of that crazy circus. I wondered why she hadn’t heard about Wanda. It should have been public knowledge already.

Before I could respond, Edna and her two friends that always seemed to be with her shuffled over to join in the conversation. Feeling a presence just behind me, I turned to see Emmett and James standing just behind me, glaring at the gathering crowd of gossipers.

Clay walked up into the middle of them. “Would y’all just back off and leave the girl alone? She has enough to deal with without you up in her business.”

“We just want to know who the challenger is with,” Milly insisted.

“It’s okay, Clay, thanks.” I meant it, too. Having Thomas’s friends show their support was everything. “To put your minds at ease a little, I have not been given a challenge date for Jessie Parker. That’s not to say it won’t come, because I also have not been told that she has officially reneged on the challenge, but at this time, there is no challenge.”

Murmurs and sighs of relief went through my captive audience.

“We heard there was another challenger, though, and look at you. Clearly you’ve been preparing for it,” one of Edna’s old crows said.

I looked down at my attire and frowned, wondering if I should have taken a few minutes to clean up before dinner. I’d been so hungry and excited to spend a little time with my mate that I hadn’t even considered it.

“You look fine, child, just different than usual. No one was judging,” Edna insisted.

I snorted. “Y’all have been doing nothing but judging.”

She gave me a knowing grin. “Yes, but not over how you look or what you’re wearing now,” she added.

“I do like your candor, Edna,” I confessed, earning myself another true smile from the old bat.

“So? Who is it then?” Milly asked excitedly.

“Wanda Larken. I battle her in two days,” I told them, surprised at how loud and angry the voices grew as the information spread around the room.

“That bitch has the audacity to show her face in Collier territory?” Edna said just as I took a drink of my whiskey. It burned through my nose as I tried not to choke.

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