Page 31 of Bony Bony
Funnyhow it seemed to heat up wheneverIgrew irritated withSebastian.Maybeit was like a mood ring.
Aswe walked by a family-owned sandwich shop we liked,Iasked her, “Hungry?”
Shenodded. “Icould eat.Mightas well get lunch while we’re out.”
Weheaded inside, slid into a booth, and scanned the menu before placing our orders.Novaordered a chickenCaesarsalad wrap, andIordered a buffalo chicken sub.
“It’shot in here.”Itook off my jacket and placed it beside me in the booth.
“Ooh, that’s a pretty necklace,”Novaasked. “Isit new?”
“Yes,”Ireplied with hesitance, my fingers fluttering to touch the amethyst.
Sheslowly turned her head. “Whatwas with that odd reply?”
“Whatreply?”Iasked in an innocent tone.
“Yourweird tone whenIcomplimented your necklace.Usually, you’d tell me some story about where you found it, what you love about it, and so on.”
“I’mnot being weird,”Idenied with a shrug.
Novastared at me while she took a sip of her water with lemon.Thenshe asked, “Wheredid you get it?”
Iexhaled with exasperation and picked up a sugar packet, turning it in between my fingers. “Notyou too.Ialready haveSebastianharassing me with twenty thousand questions.”
“What?”Novaleaned back in the booth with wide eyes. “Whyare you sounding so defensive?”Sheshook her head.
Iput the sugar packet back and adjusted my weight in the seat. “No.”Iglanced at the window, watching people stroll past. “I’vejust been—so frustrated with him.Annoyed.Youknow whatImean?Doyou ever feel like that aroundDiego?”
Novagave me a sly smile. “I’msure he’d say so, especially whenIhavePMS.Sometimesthose raging hormones can be a bitch.”Shechuckled. “Andso canI.”
Ilaughed. “Yourbroody ass vampire gives you a hard time about being grumpy?He’sthe dictionary definition of a grump, according toSebastianandLucas.Butthey also say he’s lightened up since he met you.”
“Lovecan do mysterious things,”Novasaid in a singsong voice.
Isnorted. “Andit, too, can be a bitch.”
Afterlunch,Isaid bye toNovaand walked back throughSalemCommon.Thependant grew warmer.Ishielded my eyes and glanced up toward the sun.Whatwas this stone—solar powered?Isnorted, knowing that wasn’t the case.
AsIheaded back to my car,Idreaded going back to the townhouse.Sebastianmight still be there.He’dtalk-talk-talk and eat-eat-eat and shove food in my face.Ugh,Iwas definitely not up for another round of four thousand questions with the wolf right now.
Instead,Iavoided going back home and headed straight to the club.AtleastIcould have some time there alone before we opened for the night.
OnceIparked,Iheaded inside and glanced around forMr.Bones.WhenIsaw him slumped in a booth,Igiggled.
“Greetings, my good man.”AfterIput him back into his proper chair,Iplugged my phone into the speakers and listened to a podcast about the deep sea.
Thatmight be somewhereIcould escape.Buteven as a siren,Iknew there were limits as to how deepIcould venture.Yet, the idea of going somewhere to get a break from my stifling marriage grew ever more enticing.
Iturned toMr.Bones. “Whatdo you think, my friend?MaybeSebastianandIcould use some space.Geta breather from being in each other’s faces all the bloody damn time.”Inodded to myself. “Yes, that’s whatIcould use right now.”
Myskeletal friend didn’t respond.
Overthe next hour, my mood soured as more reasons swam into my brain, convincing me it was a good idea.Perhapswe weren’t meant to be together.Afterall,Ihad my damned mother’s blood flowing through my veins.She’dleft my father, abandoned me.
MaybeSebastianwould get sick of my bullshit one day and leave me too.
Myribs tightened over my lungs, andIfell forward, finding it hard to breathe.Irushed out the back door and gulped air.Thesun shone in the distance, and the faint scent of the ocean tinged the air.Itook one deep breath after another, butIcouldn’t escape those poisonous thoughts swarming my brain.Thequestions.Thedoubts.WhathadIdone to drive my own mother away?
