Page 7 of My Secret Protector
Sandra squeals excitedly and I roll my eyes. Oh, yippee! A double date. What fun!I would rather have a root canal.
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A few hours later, I’m regretting all my life choices that led to this point. The guy next to me drones on and on in my ear about his illustrious career on the swim team and Sandra and her boyfriend suck face across from us. I’m so bored that I begin to miss the calculus homework waiting for me back in my room.
“That’s great, Lenny. Really great,” I say in a bored voice while I munch on another tortilla chip.
He stops talking and grinds his teeth. “My name’s Leon. Have you not heard anything I said?”
I have a second of guilt, but quickly slip out of that emotion when he turns and snaps at the waitress to refill our chips and then ogles her breasts.
I place a gentle hand on his shoulder. I flutter my eyelashes and make my voice syrupy sweet. “Of course, I heard everything you said, sweetheart. You just keep on talking while I leave now. You won’t even notice since you like talking about yourself so much.”
His mouth gapes open.
“Sandra,” I lean across the table and snap my fingers next to Sandra’s ear, “Sandra,” I yell.
She jumps and finally pulls herself away from her boyfriend’s lips. “Flora?” she murmurs in a dazed voice.
“Yes, it’s me Flora. I know you forgot about me since you and what’s his name were giving each other a tonsillectomy but I’m out of here.” I grab my sweater and scoot out of the booth.
I hear Lenny or Leon or whoever the hell he is mutterbitch. I don’t give him the satisfaction of reacting.
“Flora…” Sandra gets up to follow me and I hold up my hand in the universal stop gesture.
I sigh. “No worries, Sandra. I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.”
She wisely nods her head and I walk away.First smart thing I’ve seen her do.
I breathe in a huge sigh of relief once I’m outside of the Mexican restaurant. My stomach rumbles as I start walking in the direction of my dorm. Shit, I didn’t even make it past the appetizers.
It’s also over two miles back to the dorm. I sigh and start rummaging through my purse for my phone. Time for the Uber rescue.
Shit, shit, shit. Where the hell is my phone? Where in the fuckity-fuck is my phone?
I turn around and pour the contents out onto the ledge next to me. Yep, no phone.
Fuck my life.
Chapter Ten
I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. -Levi
I stood outside the restaurant and watched her. Seemingly doing my job, but underneath seething at the thought of her on a date with another guy. Even though she looked tortured by the time she stomped out of the restaurant.
I watched her rummage through her purse and then curse, before deciding to continue walking on like the stubborn woman she is. She obviously left her phone in the restaurant but was too hard-headed to go back in to get it. I sigh and shake my head when she starts marching towards the college campus. It’s a two-mile walk. What the hell is she thinking?
My girl is smart. She looks over her shoulder a few times to make sure no one is following her. I know she feels my presence, which is beginning to make me feel like I no longer deserve my Shadow moniker. I was known in the military for my ability to sneak up on prey, but this girl knows that I’m here.
I shove my hands in my pockets. Is it possible she feels the electricity in the air between us like I do? Because this girl is breaking me apart, slowly. Watching her, wanting her…
I stand at attention when my spidey senses start tingling. There’s another presence here, watching Flora. I can feel it. Is it her uncle’s enemies or someone else?
I glance around us. The streets are quiet, especially for a Saturday night. I suck in a deep breath when a drunk stumbles out of the club right in front of Flora. She gives him a nasty look and sidesteps him. I breathe easier as she walks on.
The eerie feeling in my gut grows to panicking proportions when I see a preppy-looking frat guy running to catch up with her.
I try to keep my distance even as the feeling of unease grows. He gestures wildly and she glances around her, frazzled and ready to run.
