When Isabelle glanced around the room at everyone else’s plate, I began to see the problem. The human female’s all had single third pound burgers. She set the lid aside and scowled at Ethan as she took a bite of her food.
She exercises a lot. She needs bigger portions than the other females, I sent Grey.
We will order more next time.
Satisfied, I bit into my own double burger and studied her as she watched the TV Charlene had turned on. Since leaving the Compound, I’d grown accustomed to the squeal of electronics. They were everywhere.
When we finished, everyone started passing their empty plates and lids back toward the door. Grey stacked them in the hall.
“If that’s all, I want to go check out the fitness room,” Isabelle said.
At Winifred’s nod, she and the boy left.
Going to give her a head start before you follow? Grey sent me.
He knew me well. The others started to leave, willing to relax in their own rooms now that the meal was done. I left with Grey and Winifred. However, when they stopped at their room, I kept walking. The fitness room was near the reception desk, and Isabelle was the only person in it. I didn’t join her. Instead, I just watched her through the window for a minute. She’d changed into her exercise pants and a tank top and was running on the treadmill. Music droned along with the sound of her steady footfalls. Her gait was loose, almost relaxed. As I watched, she rolled her shoulders and her neck then turned up the speed. How much energy had she soaked up being in the room with all of us?
I went to the welcome area and picked up a magazine to wait and see how long she’d need to run like that before she emptied herself.
More than an hour later, the faint noise from the exercise room stopped.
I set the magazine aside and watched her leave the room. Sweat had darkened the center of the back of her top. I followed her down the hall and studied her gait and the way she held herself. She was tired. What would it be like to go through life either exploding with energy or completely drained? Was there no middle for her?
She let herself into the room, and I waited until I heard the bathroom door close before entering.
Inside, the boy lay on his back, one hand on his shirt over his stomach and the other almost behind his head. His breathing and heart rate were slow and steady. From the bathroom, I heard water start to run. If the boy knew what was best for his health, he would remain napping.
I pulled my book out of the bag at the end of the bed I would share with Grey then eased out of the room. I found Grey with Winifred and Sam.
“How is she?” Winifred asked when I entered.
“Tired. She ran the entire time. Fast for a human. I’m worried we’re not giving her the isolation she said she needs. The meeting we had didn’t help her.”
“It was a very tense topic with high emotions,” Sam agreed.
“Where is she now?” Winifred asked.
“Showering. Ethan is sleeping. If you keep your door open, and I watch the main entrance, she can rest without us present.”
“And still keep an eye on her,” Grey said. I nodded. “A good plan.”
I left them to continue their discussion about revealing our race to the world and found a comfortable seat in the entrance. The book eventually pulled me in, and I put aside my concern that Isabelle was possibly napping beside Ethan. Absorbed in another world, I didn’t notice the passing time until Grey’s thoughts interrupted me.
The group is going to meet by the entrance for dinner. Jim suggested an all-you-can-eat buffet after hearing your concern about Isabelle’s portions.
Jim suggested a buffet because of Jim’s concern for his own portions.
I’ll go wake Isabelle, I sent back.
After Michelle’s talk, perhaps it’s best if Ethan wakes her. It will give Isabelle more time to think about what Michelle said.
Jim sauntered into the lobby, saw me, and plopped down beside me. The timing was too convenient.
“Making sure I stay here?” I asked him.
He grinned. “That’s what they want me to do. But if you really want to go wake her, I won’t stop you. Might follow to watch. Waking a tired female is a sure way to get your tail handed to you fast. So what do you say? Should we go wake her?”
I stood and started down the hall, ignoring Jim’s chuckle as he stayed behind. Grey met me outside the door.
“It would have been better if you’d let me wake her.”
“Not for me or her. Ignoring our connection will only make things worse.”
Grey sighed and unlocked the door. When we stepped in, Ethan lifted his head. The TV was quietly playing, and Isabelle was still asleep beside him. Like in the barn, she’d moved as far away as she could, sleeping on her side at the edge of the bed. Her hands were tucked under her cheeks, in a peaceful way, but she was scowling in her sleep.
“Hey, guys,” Ethan said. “What’s up?”
“Everyone’s meeting in the lobby for dinner. All you can eat pizza just around the corner.”
“Good,” he said, sitting up. “She needs that.” He stood, turned to face the bed, and studied her for a moment.
“Z, wake up.”
She didn’t move, and he looked over his shoulder at us.
“She never wakes up nice. Be ready.”
He turned back toward her and leaned over the bed.
“Z, they’re going to leave without us.”
She made an angry sound.
“Good. Let ’em.”
She rolled over, away from him. He swatted her butt, hard.
Grey’s hand clamped down on my shoulder. The last time the human had done that, I’d flown across the barn and grabbed him by the throat. Obviously, the pup hadn’t learned his lesson. Grey had.
She told you. He can do whatever he wants, and you can’t touch him.
I wanted to growl.
“They’re going to dinner, Z. Still want them to leave without us? It’s an Italian place around the corner. All-you-can-eat pizza.”
She enthusiastically sat up and ran a hand over her face. Her eagerness faded when her gaze settled on me. She stared for a moment then shook her head slightly before looking at Ethan.
I still wanted to strangle him for touching her backside. Again.
“I’m up. Let me brush out my hair,” she said, sliding off the bed. She quickly jerked a brush through her long hair then tossed the brush back into her bag.
“Let’s go.”
I led the way. Ethan and Isabelle followed.
“Thanks, by the way,” Ethan said quietly behind me.
An irrational jealous rage built behind the wall as I imagined why he might be thanking her.
They cannot share a bed tonight, I sent Grey.
Let’s focus on eating dinner first, he sent back.
As soon as we reached the lobby, Jim headed out the doors. The short walk to the pizzeria killed me. Ethan and Isabelle walked companionably side by side the entire time. The scent of his contentment had me fisting my hands. Grey stayed close to me, ready to protect the overly-satisfied pup.
The situation didn’t get any better once inside the restaurant. The long buffet tables did little to distract me from the fact that Ethan and Isabelle sat close enough together that his arm brushed hers when he pulled his chair in.
I took the seat to her left and tried to calm my agitation while everyone requested drinks. Mostly water or tea. Isabelle ordered a soda.
As soon as the waitress left, everyone but Isabelle moved to stand. I stayed in my seat as well, and watched Ethan walk away. A small measure of tension faded from my shoulders with his departure.
Under the aroma of hot food, her scent teased my nose.
“Good call,” she said, looking at me. “We want to wait a few minutes. They can clear out the old pizza, and we’ll get the fresh stuff.”
Her green eyes glittered with humor, and she had that sexy little smile curving her tempting lips again. The annoyance and anger that had been pushing at my mental wall completely disappeared at the sight. I glanced at her lips, hungry for her. She noted the direction of my gaze and blushed. Need twisted in my gut as she looked away. Her scent sweetened just a little, driving me crazier.
She stood quickly and went to the salad bar. I watched her fill her plate and could tell by her expression she wasn’t really interested in the food. She’d only left to avoid what she was feeling for me. I fought not to grin. I’d let her run for now, anticipating the time she’d be ready for me to give chase.
She took her sweet time making her small salad and didn’t return to her seat until half the group was back. Charlene was in the process of scolding Jim for the mound of food on his plate, and their exchange caught Isabelle’s attention.
“Are they related?” she asked, looking at Jim and Charlene.
“Charlene and Thomas are Emmitt and Jim’s parents. Grey is Thomas’s brother,” I said.
She looked around at the group and slowly ate her salad as she considered everyone. I wondered what she was thinking. I glanced at the familiar faces around the table. Everyone present felt like family, except perhaps Ethan. Even Bethi with her sharp tongue and reckless decision-making had earned her place among us. Did Isabelle see that? How our group fit together so well?
I glanced at her and thought not. She wasn’t ready to see the comradery because she didn’t want to see how she might fit in as well.