Page 3 of Meant for Them
I yank my hand back as fast as possible, because there’s no way in hell I’m getting involved with a man right now, fated mate or not. “What did you come in here for? And when can you leave?”
He takes a step back, surprised by the acerbic tone I broke out just for him, and I think he’s half a second away from jumping over the counter and doing something really stupid.
I grab the baseball bat I keep stored under the counter for messy interactions, propping it on my shoulder so he knows I’m not being coy.
“But…half-breed or no, I know you just got the same information I did, beautiful.”
“And I know I just asked you to leave. Look, I’m a poor half-breed working a shitty job, living in a shitty apartment, and your suit looks like it cost more than what I spend in rent for half the year. Let’s just…pretend this didn’t happen and go our separate ways. Trust me, I’m not good enough for you.”
He studies me, leaning a bit closer. “Who told you that?”
“No one. Or, well, everyone. It’s a lesson I’ve learned over countless interactions with wolves in my life. No one wants the half-breeds, and it’s not like I’ve got a lot going for me. You are wiped of any obligation to me, so just run off to whatever important place you need to be and enjoy your nice home and your shiny life and thank yourself for not getting involved with the likes of me.”
I think he’s going to walk off and leave, but he grabs an armful of candy and a cup of coffee instead, throwing everything on the counter. I refuse to make eye contact while I scan everything, throwing it in a bag for him while making sure I don’t touch his hand when I slide it across the counter.
“Think about the job offer,” he says before tapping the counter and sliding the card back to my side of it before walking out. “It pays good, and it’d only be for me.”
He looks back several times before he gets in his car, pulling out his phone to call someone immediately.
Then his car stays parked for a few minutes after that, and I swear he takes a picture of me through the window, and when he leaves, I tell myself I’m relieved.
So what if I only get one fated mate in my life? I’ve been conditioned to expect that to not work out in my favor, so I can’t be too upset that it didn’t. I don’t need someone to swoop in and take care of me, I don’t need his pity, and I sure as hell don’t need drama from pretentious people he hangs with that will likely fly off the handle at learning who he’s mated to by fate.
Maybe it’s time to skip town and start over somewhere new.
Is that too dramatic?
two
Morgan
“Excuse me ma’am, you can’t enter here. New boss gave us instructions to trespass anyone that tried to go inside.”
Am I…am I in the right place? “I have a shift starting in a few minutes; I work here.”
The construction worker shakes his head. “Not anymore you don’t. We’re pretty much tearing it down. Had it liquidated last night, there’s not even product in there to sell. Probably best you get a hold of your supervisor. Do need you to leave though, this is now an active construction site.”
I have a hard time believing that the gas station I’ve worked at for years, the one I was literally just at until yesterday afternoon, is suddenly out of business and empty. This guy clearly has bad information.
Ready to call his bluff, I risk a few steps up to peek in the windows, and I’m primed and ready to tell him he’s crazy, when I realize maybeI’mthe crazy one.
“Well fuck me. What the hell?”
The construction worker has resumed his task of throwing shit in a dumpster and has joined other men and women in safety vests and hard hats, and it looks like they’re gutting the place.
None of them seem to want to talk to me, and when I try, I’m warned about being trespassed again.
I pull my shitty prepaid phone out of my pocket and call up my boss, who blessedly answers pretty quickly. “Hey, what’s up Morgan?”
“You tell me. I’m trying to clock in, but apparently, I’m now trespassing? Did I get fired and no one told me?”
“Ah, fuck. About that. Hey look, I’m really sorry, but we got bought out last night. Made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I didn’t!” He cackles. “Your final paycheck will arrive as normal, good luck!”
“Wait, Rob, what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“I uh, wish I could help you. Me and the Mrs. are heading out for a two-week cruise now because we can afford it! So listen, you’re a good kid, you’ll figure something out.”
The fucker hangs up.
