Page 57 of Wings of Destiny

Another tear slipped down my cheek, as my heart broke a little further. I was a burden. Not that he’d ever admit it. And if roles were reversed, I would never think that of him. But he always felt responsible for my safety. When he had no reason to. I couldn’t risk him like that.

I’ll kill Erebus first. I’ll do what I need to and you…save those people.

I won’t be a burden to bare any longer.

I promise.

I blinked back the tears and squeezed his hand back. I turned to look at him, flashing the most convincing smile I could muster, fingers crossed he didn’t see the truth. I swept a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

I released a breathy laugh. “Well. How about those tacos, huh?”

He gave me a curious look, confused. We’d parked and were sitting in The Taco House parking lot. Derik and Libby were already standing at the curb, waving at us to hurry up.

“Yeah.”

Chapter nineteen

Erin

We waited outside on the curb. The line to get in the restaurant was out the door. Libby dressed in a pair of light-washed jeans and a cream long-sleeve blouse. Derik was in a pair of ripped skinny jeans that were bedazzled on his ass pockets and a hoodie plastered with the town’s university logo on the front. Even Seth, who was a damn furnace, had a Henley on, and his jeans, which unfortunately for my one-sided ogling, cupped his ass as perfectly as they did his thighs.

I stood in line behind Seth and Derik, Libby in front of them. The three of them chatted, towering over me. I tried to keep up but kept stealing glimpses of Seth’s rear end. I finally gave up and sighed.

There’s no point.It’s hopeless.

I can’t focus long enough to catch the tail end of their conversation.

I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering. I was freezing my ass off and it was taking damn near forever to get inside. Ibounced on the balls of my feet to warm myself up and get blood flowing.

These shorts really were a horrible idea.

This is what I get for leaning into my day-dreaming escapade.

Someone moved in close behind me and I shoved my elbow straight back before spinning around. My nostrils flared, and I threw my now clenched fists in front of me, blocking whatever was coming at me.

“Now, Miss Snow, is that how you greet friends?” It was Josh. He rubbed his ribcage where my elbow had knocked into him. “My apologies, though. I hadn’t meant to sneak up on you. Seth had messaged me and invited me out to dinner with you all after I’d left.”

I dropped my hands to my hips, digging in my fingers. I glared up at him. “Most people would say something instead of just moving in behind a woman, you pretentious jerk.”

“You’re correct, Miss Snow. Again, my apologies,” he shrugged off his jacket, handing it to me and I shoved it back. “However, I’d noticed you were shivering and thought some additional body heat might’ve been helpful.” He looked me up and down, judgment flitting through his blue eyes. I mirrored his grazing look. “Or maybe I was wrong in that assumption, as it seems you thought it an excellent idea to wander outside in shorts in this weather.”

I was reeling. Seth and Derik finally realized someone else had shown up and turned around, Seth moving to stand a bit closer to me. I stepped further away, only to do so right into Josh.

I glared up at him. “At least I showed up dressed like a normal person, not some secret psych-millionaire crime boss. Who wears a suit to The Taco House?”

“This suit, if you must know Miss Snow, is what I wear for my day job. I drove here once I completed my work and a few meetings at the office.”

“Uh huh.”

Seth chimed in, “Nice to see you were able to make it out, Josh.”

“My pleasure, Seth. I regret having to leave once Miss Snow awoke this morning. I had a few urgent matters to deal with at the office.”

Seth nodded. “Can’t help it, I figure. But Libby was there anyway, so no worries.”

I stole a glance at Libby, having appeared on the other side of Seth. She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I wonder what that’s about.