Page 55 of Jackal's Pride
I was a badass femme fatale who didn’t just whip up a meal at the spur of the moment. I took pride in what I did but it made me lonely. Last night, sleeping alone, I realized that being by myself wasn’t something I wanted anymore. Sniffing back a sob, I set my phone down and pulled out two plates. Yeah, there was a third one, but I wanted to pretend it wasn’t. A simple slip-up. An over sight. I wasn’t planning for someone else. Besides, who counts the number of plates they set out?
“Did someone say food?” Kitty faded into the house.
I gave her a once-over and smirked. “Why are you in pajamas?”
She shrugged, eyes on the table loaded with a variety of dishes. “What’s the occasion?”
“There isn’t an occasion. I just materialized all this food with the wave of my hands.”
Her eyes moved to the spotless, shiny sink. All the evidence of my excessive cooking spree was hidden before I texted my sister. She lifted a brow, flopped down on a chair, and said, “Mm-hmm.”
Slowly, I made myself a plate. Every few seconds, I glanced up and watched Kitty shovel in food. Her appetite put Jackal’s to shame. I should have taught him about materializing food from the human world. If he could materialize a weapon, then he could learn to do the same with everything else. I didn’t know if he had that ability though. Did he get hungry last night? I shuddered picturing him scarfing down another rat in an alley. At least, I’d introduced him to plates and spoons. Much better than the night I fed him by hand. The memory put a smile on my face, and then I shook my head. Why did I feed him with my hands? I groaned aloud at the memory. The action was totally unlike me. Then it occurred to me, maybe I wasn’t acting out of character. Maybe I was finally comfortable being me. The person before the curse.
That startled me. I was my curse. Wasn’t I?
I watched Kitty put more food on her plate. Maybe I shouldn’t have invited her over. If he didn’t drop in soon, Kitty would eat it all. Not that I cared, but he did say he’d see me tomorrow. That was today.
I rubbed my forehead now. “What’s with you?” Kitty asked.
I dropped my hand. “Nothing.”
“Are you going to eat?”
“Yeah.” I pushed my food around.
Just then a dark, penetrating presence hit me. My heart beat stronger as I sensed Jackal porting into the house. I sat up taller and put on my resting bitch face. With plenty of attitude in my voice, I asked, “What are you doing here?”
“You’re finally here,” Kitty said, and I tensed. “Maureen made you some food.”
“I didn’t,” I clipped out. Keeping my eyes lowered, I put my chin in my hand and noticed how excessively warm my face had become.
“I can tell the difference.” Kitty smiled knowingly.
Gah,I shouldn’t have invited her.
Jackal’s heavy footsteps pounded the floor. He stopped near the kitchen island, pulled out a chair, and dropped his oversized body into it. When I glanced up, his eyes met mine, and he said, “Needing food to sustain oneself.” He rubbed his toned stomach. “It’s tedious.” His gaze swept over the food before he started making himself a plate. “But good food makes it better. Makes you want to eat even when you’re not hungry.”
I tried hard not to show my excitement, but Kitty noticed as she shot a grin at me. “I’m always hungry, so I can’t relate.”
He turned his head. “Gluttony?”
“You know our sins?” Her lips curled up. “How interesting.”
“Almost everyone in the Underworld knows our sins.” I stabbed the hunk of meat on my plate, sticking a piece into my mouth.
“This is your cooking,” Jack mumbled softly, using his utensils like a good boy. He scarfed a bite. “I can tell.”
Kitty beamed at him. “Good, right?”
He groaned his response, and my legs trembled. “Why are you staring?” It took a second for me to realize he was talking to me.
“I’m not,” I lied. I gathered my wits and stopped ogling him to take another bite of food.
“I should go.” Kitty shoved the rest of her food into her mouth and then stood.
I exhaled. “At least finish eating.”
“I’m done,” she said around the mouthful. She waved her greasy hand around and faded.