Page 60 of Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths
I call a Ridez and get the oldest grandma in the history of Ridez drivers who happens to drive five miles an hour below the speed limit the entire way, but I get there just as the first quarter ends and make my way over to the bleachers where Meiying said she’d be.
“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” I claim the empty seat beside her.
“Damn, Isa. Looking good,” she says, taking in my black jeans and red crop top baring my midriff where I painted Rafe’s jersey number—four. I blush. It hadn’t been planned but my rib finally healed, and I figured, why the hell not?
“Thanks. Think he’ll like it?”
Her brows wiggle. “I think he’llloveit.” She smirks, then winks. “He’s a possessive asshole so the fact that you marked yourself as his will make his stupid wolf happy.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not marking myself as his,” I tell her. “I’m just, you know, being supportive.”
“Sure you are.” We both laugh because yeah, I guess I am marking myself as his, but I like belonging to him. Rafael makes me feel wanted. He makes me feel safe.
“Oh, don’t hate me, but I might have to leave the game a little early.”
Oh.I look around, instantly realizing I don’t have anyone else to hang out with here if she leaves, but I promised the guys I’d be here so I can’t very well bail.
“My aunt is running short-staffed at Suzy’s,” she tells me. “I don’t usually work there but she’s in a bind. That’s why I was late. I filled in after school for one of the girls whose sister went into labor. I can stay for most of the game, but I’ll need to leave before the end of the fourth so I can get there before the crowd shows up. She’s expecting a lot of the players to show up after the game.”
“Oh. That’s totally fine.” It’s great, actually. I won’t be alone the whole game. Just for part of the fourth. No big deal.
I look out on the field and instantly find Rafael—number four. My heart quickens and I watch him run up the field, scoring for the Devils. The entire stadium cheers, including me. I jump up and down like a moron screaming his name in the hopes he’ll see me. It’s insane watching them on the field. The humans and druids mostly stand around trying not to get run over. It’s the shifters, vampires, and fae who dominate on the field. Each using their enhanced strength and speed to score.
“Oh, and here. I brought us these to make the game more interesting.” Meiying opens her purse to show me the stash of mini booze bottles tucked away inside.
“You snuck alcohol into a school stadium?”
She grins. “How else was I supposed to get through this game?” Pulling two out, she hands one to me. A mini Malibu rum. I roll my eyes but accept it. “To Desmond throwing an interception.”
“I can’t toast to that.”
She shrugs. “I can. You can toast to Rafael scoring the winning touchdown.”
I laugh but concede. “Okay. I’ll toast to that.” Cracking the cap, I take a drink, downing half of the rum in one swallow before tucking the bottle into my pocket. “That’s kind of awful,” I tell her.
“I know, but it was all I could find on short notice. Zheng keeps a stash of these in the bottom drawer of his dresser.”
“Why? It’s not like shifters can get drunk.”
“I know. Right?” She laughs. “Honestly, I think they’re left over from when he plays human with his dad?” She shrugs. “Who knows?”
Before I can ask what she means, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I look down and recognize Josué’s number flashing across the screen and smile.
“Hello?”
“Hey—” Despite my enhanced hearing, his words are hard to make out through the thundering noise of the crowd.
“Give me a second to get somewhere quiet,” I shout into the phone. “I’ll be back. I need to take this,” I tell Meiying. She waves me off, her attention focused on her own phone as her fingers fly over the keyboard. Standing, I make my way through the stands, slipping through the bleachers and heading for the parking lot gate.
The half-time show is starting up and everyone is on their feet dancing to whatever song the cheer squad has going on.
“Excuse me. Sorry.” I brush past a group of humans and finally make it outside the gate. It’s still loud out here but the noise level is no longer deafening.
“Sorry about that. How are you?” I ask as I stride further across the darkened lot toward the corner of the school. The lights barely illuminate the space but shifter senses allow me to see well enough, so I don’t worry about it being dark.
“I’m good. Now, tell me about this guy you mentioned you’re seeing.”
I laugh, hearing the protective tone in his voice. “Chill with the big-brother vibes. Nothing serious is going on.”
