Page 4 of Little Red and Her Creatures of Chaos
Finally getting my shit together, I go back out into the diner and grab their drinks. When I get back to the table, their menus look untouched. “Here you go,” I say, setting the drinks on the table. “Are you ready to order?”
The one with the pale blue eyes tilts his head to the side. “You said your name is Radley?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“That’s a pretty name,” Curls says with a crooked grin. “I’m Bryce.”
“Oh. It’s nice to meet you,” I say lamely.
“That’s Nash,” he says, jerking his thumb at the big guy beside him. “And that’s Mason.”
“Are you guys new here?”
Nash shakes his head. “Lived here all our lives.”
“I’ve never seen you.” It comes out accusatory, and I feel myself flush. “I just mean, I’ve lived here too and would remember you guys.”Good going, Radley.
“We’ll have the burgers,” Mason says, pushing the menus toward me. When I try to grab them, he puts his hand on top and stops me. “The other server is stealing your tips.”
“What?” My head snaps up to look at Rebecca, the other server, who’s whispering quietly to our hostess, Kelly. “How do you know?”
“We watched her,” Nash says, pulling my eyes to him. “Would you like us to say something?”
“What? No! I’ll handle it.” Even though that’s a lie. I’m a non-confrontational person, so I’ll just have to keep an eye on her. Mason finally lifts his hand from the menus, and I go behind the counter, placing their orders.
“Did you see the guys who walked in?” Rebecca asks Kelly. “I might have to pass one of them my number.”
“Or all of them,” Kelly laughs.
I feel a tug on my apron, and before I can grab it, Rebecca has my notepad out. She scribbles something on it and shoves it back into the pocket. “Make sure they get that.”
Instead of dealing with them, I check on my other customers and make sure I grab my tips on the empty tables. When that’s done, I grab a tray and start cleaning tables, feeling eyes on me the entire time. I refuse to turn around because somehow Iknowwhere they’re coming from.
“Radley! Order up!”
I clear the last table, take the tray in the back for the dishes to be washed, and then grab the tray for my order. I load theburgers up and make my way over, hoping I don’t trip over my feet. I set their plates in front of them and tuck the tray under my arm. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“The check,” Mason answers. I barely suppress a sigh when I realize she wrote her number on the check. I slide it onto the table, trying to hide it under his plate before I walk away. He snatches it before I can and raises a brow. “Is this yours?” he asks, flashing the number at me.
“No.” I can feel my face burning and peek up to see Rebecca staring.
Mason looks at it for a second before making a big show of ripping it to pieces and laying it to the side. Something about that fills my chest with warmth and gives me a sort of sick satisfaction that he didn’t want it.
This night is looking up, after all.
Chapter 3
Mason
Iwatch Radley walk away until she disappears behind the kitchen doors, and then I turn back to Bryce and Nash.
“That’s her,” Bryce whispers, excitement clear in his voice. I nod without saying anything, and he practically starts bouncing in his seat.
We’ve known who Radley is for years, since her first dream about us—or what she thought were dreams. Until last night, she never tried to find what was haunting her. We led her to her Grandma’s cabin in hopes she would finally learn the truth, but she ran instead.
Then we felt her seeking us out this morning while she was awake. She was feeling the impressions of our prints, and only our one true mate could feel our presence in them, which is how we ended up here today. We’ve watched over her for years but never approached her. I just hope she’s ready to accept what we are.
“What do we do now?” Nash asks.
