Page 27 of Marked By the Pack
“Zoey…” Emma said.
Otto laughed. “I’m not undatable.”
Oh, I’m the only undatable one? Great.I rolled my eyes. “Just tell me.”
Otto pressed his lips together.
I turned to Emma and Callum. “Spill it.”
“I can’t,” Emma said. “I’ve told you several times that I can’t. And Otto can’t tell you either.”
Yeah, that excuse was getting old. And it made zero sense. “Callum? How about you? Can you tell me the big bad secret?”
Callum glanced at Otto and then back at me. “I already told you he was a thief. Isn’t that bad enough?”
“I’ma thief?” Otto said. “And what does that makeyou?”
“I didn’t steal anything from you…”
“Great,” I said, cutting them off. “I’ve already heard this bit. Otto stole a watch. Or Callum stole a watch. Callum’s a vampire so you hate him even more. Whatever. Get over it.”
Everyone just stared at me like I was the one being poorly behaved at the table.
The lights flickered a few times. They seemed to be flickering whenever I mentioned vampires. Was Grudge watching me right now?Damn it, Grudge.I couldn’t wait to talk to him about that later tonight. But right now I wanted freaking answers. “So no one’s going to tell me the secret?”
Crickets.The lights dimmed again.
“What’s going on with your lights?” Callum asked.
“I’m having…wiring problems.”Cut it out, Grudge.
“Do you want me to check it out?”
So now you’re being helpful?“No, I’ve got it covered. I’m going to go check on dinner.” I excused myself and practically ran into the kitchen. Tonight was officially adisaster. I opened up the oven. At least my lasagna looked good. I grabbed some potholders and pulled it out.
“I really am sorry,” Emma said from behind me. “I want to tell you the secret. I do. But…I can’t. And as weird as it sounds, Otto really can’t either. He just has to show you.”
I put the lasagna on the stove and sighed. “Well, Otto isn’t going to be showing me anything.”
“What does that mean?”
“He thinksI’mthe undatable one.Me.Even though he’s a thief with secrets even worse than that.” I rolled my eyes.
“Did he say that?”
“I mean, he didn’t rub it in like that. But yes. He said he can’t date me. So this night is pointless. All I’ve accomplished is upsetting Callum by inviting Otto.” I was practically begging for my blood to be sucked.
“I’m sorry, Zoey. I know you liked him.”
I wanted to laugh and play it off. But I did like Otto. I’d always been attracted to him. And then when I ran into him today… I shook away the thought. But it was just replaced by how safe I’d felt when he’d held my hand.Stop it.I didn’t need a real life boyfriend. I had plenty of online boyfriends.
I just had to get through this dinner from hell and then I could spend the rest of the night being wanted. “Let’s just get this over with.” I grabbed the lasagna and carried it out into the dining room.
Callum and Otto were sitting there silently. At least they weren’t arguing.
“Dinner is served.” I dropped the pan ungracefully onto the table. And then I helped myself to a heapingserving. It wasn’t like anyone here cared about my etiquette. “Help yourselves,” I said with my mouth full.
“So, Otto,” Emma said as she spooned out a normal serving for Otto and then herself. “How was work?”
