Page 205 of Prey for Me
Don’t go there, Jay.
Fortunately I don’t need to remind myself. Medein comes down the aisle, kisses Luna Kathy’s cheek and hugs Caleb.
My heart pinches at the sight.
Why is she here? I thought after yesterday...
I shake my head. Obviously, I was wrong.
I’m thinking about making a quick exit when the sermon begins. It’s too late to leave.
I lean my head back to say directly to the Moon Goddess,Now would be a good time for me to burst into flames.
***
To distract myself, I focus my attention on the sermon. And I’m pleasantly surprised. I didn’t agree with, well, pretty much anything he said, but there were things about forgiveness I didn’t know I needed to hear.
Taya smiled at me during such parts and squeezed my hand. It wasn’t a coincidence for her to ask me to come to church today. She knew I might need this.
No amount of immersion into the sermon could distract me from the crinkling paper. My eyes wander toward the sound to see Sam unwrapping a piece of candy next to me. The noise stops when he sees me looking. “Don’t ask me to share,” he says with a mouthful.
I put my hands up in surrender. “Wasn’t going to.” I grin and look away, pretending I didn’t see anything.
The crinkling resumes. Followed by a loud slap that causes the sermon to lose focus momentarily.
“Ow,” Sam whisper-yells.
Out of the corner of my eye, Taya is glaring at Sam. “Put that away. You can’t eat in here. It’s rude,” she whisper yells.
Sam looks around at the people in the room before he locks eyes with Taya. “Who’s going to take it from me, hm? Exactly.”
Taya rolls her eyes, lets out a huff, and turns her attention back to the sermon.
Having won, Sam grins and pops the piece of candy in his mouth.
A few seconds later, Sam starts coughing, choking on the candy.
Taya bites back a laugh and leans into him. “The Moon Goddess saw you.”
***
After the sermon, we all exited the church to stand outside chatting. Surprisingly, most people are being kind to me. Whether Sam stands with us, or they don’t recognize me, for a moment I forget what’s-his-name.
Taya leans into me and mutters, “Incoming.”
Spoke too soon.
“Jay,” Caleb says.
Taking a deep breath, I hold my chin high and face him, refusing to let him see me falter. “Hello, Mr. Waller.” I smile when he’s clearly shocked by my formality.
He narrows his eyes, and I know his wolf is begging to spank me right about now.
“Can I speak to you? Alone?”
I follow Caleb’s eyes to Sam.
Sam calmly looks at me and shrugs. “Up to you. Want me to get rid of him?”
