Page 64 of Coco and the Misfits

“Never heard of them. And June wouldn’t flirt with a pack without telling me.” I dismiss the idea because it’s ridiculous. “We tell each other everything.”

“Of course,” Gigi rushes to say. “You’re right.”

But doubt slithers into my mind. She was upset because I chose Atticus over her that night. Is she still mad at me? Is she really flirting with this pack and everyone knows except me?

“I’ll let you know if I see her or hear from her,” Gigi goes on. “Look, I’ve got to run, Ronin is…” Her voice drops. “He’s inking me.”

“Oh?” My curiosity perks. “What are you getting?”

“It’s a secret. You’ll see.”

“Okay.”

“Actually, there’s a small party at the tattoo shop today. Cash, one of the artists, has his birthday and there’s a small gathering. Wanna come?”

“Me? But I only know Ronin. And Ryder. Anyway, I don’t know.”

She doesn’t comment on my little slip. “Since when do you skip the chance to party?”

Right. It’s so not me, and she says it’s a small gathering. It’s not a bar or a nightclub.

Get back in the saddle, right? Wasn’t that what I wanted?

“Okay… Sure.” I lean forward, shading my eyes as I look down. Is that guy across the street staring up at my window?

“Meet you there?”

“Yeah.” The guy starts walking away. It was all in my mind. “Sure. See you in a bit.”

23

COCO

I start out confidently, locking my apartment, taking the stairs down, crossing the street. Then I remember the guy I thought had been watching my window and a slight panic sets in, so that I start running. Soon enough, I have a stitch in my side and I’m wheezing as if I’m drowning.

I reach the tattoo shop and stop outside in a pool of sweat, trying to regain my breath.

How do other people do it, going jogging every day for miles and coming back looking fresh as a lettuce and saying things like “That was wonderful, I’m full of energy now?”

If you ever see me running, it means someone is chasing me. Or in this case, nobody is, but I’m blinded by stupid panic. Shadows chase me; the memory of fear and helpless terror.

From inside the shop, I can hear voices, laughter and music.

See, brain? Everything is normal. Everyone is living a normal life, not running in the streets like a crazy person.

Throwing my hair back, pulling back my shoulders, I assume a nonchalant attitude as I walk in. Sweaty? Out of breath? Panicked? Me?

Nope.

Ronin sees me first and calls out my name. I grin and wave, approaching the group gathered around a foldable table laden with sweets, sandwiches and beers.

“Is this a party or a picnic?” I tease, grabbing a small sandwich because I’m famished. “This isn’t what the brochure described.”

“It’s both. Hey, Coco!” Gigi lifts her can of beer at me. “Cheers.”

I nod at Cole, the owner of the shop. He’s sitting with Grey, the beta in Gigi’s pack who worked here for a while. At the back, I see Cash, the other tattoo artist, and Ryder talking together.

I’m here to relax, meet friends and chat.

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