Page 73 of Jesse
Just a quick trip, I told myself. I’d grab my laptop and bags, and be back before Jesse even noticed I was gone.
Decision made, I grabbed the keys and slipped out, leaving Jesse to his sleep.
The streets were empty, the truck’s steady rumble filling the silence as I headed back to the food truck.
The fairgrounds felt different now, quiet and stripped of the earlier noise and color.
I approached the food truck cautiously, glancing around as I unlocked the doors.
Inside, I quickly located my bags and laptop. Slinging them over my shoulder, I paused, senses pricking. A flicker of movement caught the corner of my eye.
Heart pounding, I stepped outside, scanning the area. The shadows seemed to shift, but I couldn’t pinpoint anything.
My wolf bristled, a low, uneasy growl echoing in my chest. I circled the truck slowly.
Nothing.
Letting out a shaky breath, I grabbed the door, ready to shut it. A voice broke the stillness behind me, and I froze.
“Late night, huh?”
I spun around, my wolf bristling. It was that guy.
“Oh, hey!” I said, racking my brain for his name. “Uh, A…?”
“Aiden,” he said with a small smile. He leaned back casually, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.
“Right. Aiden,” I repeated, forcing my unease down. “What are you doing here?”
“Camping nearby,” he said, nodding toward the woods beyond the fairgrounds. “I like taking walks at night. Clears the head.”
“Uh-huh.” I tightened my grip on the strap of my bag.
“What about you? Isn’t it a bit late to be hanging around the truck?”
“Just needed to grab a few things,” I said, keeping my tone casual.
Aiden tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked around. “Are you alone?”
My wolf bristled again, a warning growl rumbling at the back of my mind. My eyes flicked to the tattoo on his neck. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
I swallowed hard, forcing my expression to stay neutral. I stepped back toward the truck.
My mind raced, trying to think of a plan. If I could get inside and shut the door, I might have the upper hand.
“Everything alright?” Aiden asked, taking a step closer.
“Yeah,” I said quickly, backing up the steps and into the truck. “Just… uh, forgot something.”
He followed, one slow step at a time, his smile slipping as he studied me.
My fingers brushed against the counter, searching blindly for anything I could use.
The cold glass of a bottle met my palm.
I swung the bottle, smashing it against the side of Aiden’s head. He let out a guttural growl, stumbling back as shards of glass rained down.
But he recovered faster than I expected.
