Mia
I was anxious all through the night, worried that Jack was going to come back home even though I had locked the door.
I groaned. This was my second night at home and I couldn’t sleep tonight as well. I shouldn’t have come home, I regretted for the thousandth time. I should have tortured myself with thinking of the party that I didn’t get to go to instead of this torture that I was enduring at home.
I should have gone alone to the party. It wasn’t a must that I went there with a date. I had thought that I would be ashamed going there without a date and being the only one without one but the shame I would have felt was nothing compared to what I was dealing with now.
My head banged and I wished that I could get myself some drugs but I couldn’t, reminding myself that I hadn’t eaten. I glanced at the food lying on the stool and looked away. I couldn’t bring myself to eat the food that Jack had brought in no matter how hungry I was.
Moreover, the food would already be cold and I didn’t like eating like eating cold meals if I could avoid it.
I was glad when I finally slept around three at midnight. That helped me with the headache that was threatening to break my head open.
I woke up by seven and started packing my bag. I had to leave. I couldn’t wait for breakfast or for my family to wake up. I didn’t want to see anyone, not even my mum. She would only force me to stay.
I left a letter for her telling her that I had left. I knew that the werewolves would understand why I had to go and didn’t bother to leave any letter for them.
Luckily for me, the driver was up already and washing the car. I begged him to drive me back home, lying to him that I had something urgent to attend to. He nodded and hopped behind the wheels. I was relieved as I had thought he would ask me to ask Albert if he could take me home that early. That was a scenario I was trying hard to avoid. I didn’t want to see Albert and see the look I was dreading in his eyes.
I knew that I was running and that was fine with me. In this situation, it was easier to be a coward than a shameless bold one.
I got home before noon and crashed on the bed as soon I got home. I drifted off to sleep the moment my head hit the bed and I didn’t wake up until evening. It was as if the sleep I had missed out on for the past two days was trying to catch up with me.
I woke up with a groan, rubbing at my stomach as I felt hunger gnawing at my insides. I remembered that I hadn’t eaten anything since the previous night and got myself off the bed.
“Shit.” I muttered a curse as I got to the kitchen and realized that I didn’t have any food at home.
I hit my palm against my forehead and groaned. I had forgotten to restock the house before leaving. It wasn’t like I cooked that much – as I preferred eating out and buying deliveries – but I bought a lot of snacks for situations like this.
I worked far too late at the office to start dealing with cooking when hunger would already be dealing with me.
I was shocked and sad that there was nothing at home that I could munch on. I would have to endure the hunger till I could get food for myself then.
I had a quick shower and dressed up. I went to the nearby restaurant, grateful it wasn’t that late. I didn’t have the strength to order a takeout and would have to eat it there if I didn’t want to pass out on the road.
The sky was still clear and I didn’t have to be afraid of another psycho on the loose as I was coming back. At the thought of the psycho, I was reminded of Quinn and wondered if he was going to come to my rescue like he had done that night.
I shook my head and scowled, walking into the restaurant. I shouldn’t be thinking of Quinn. I had run away to put his thoughts behind him and that was what I should be doing.
I sat at a corner, busy eating my dinner and shutting out everyone and everything out. I shut out the world and the thoughts in my head, focusing only on the taste of the meal.
I thought of what I would have to do at work the next day and dreaded listening to my colleagues gushing about the party and reminding me of all that I had missed.
“Excuse me.” I heard a voice say and glanced up. “Can I sit here with you?”
I looked at the tall, attractive young man standing before me and smiled. Of course, he could. I nodded at him. What had Albert said about Quinn ruining me for other men?
I had almost believed him when Sammy and Gerald who wanted me suddenly started acting like they had never asked me out. This was a stranger asking to sit with me and I was sure that he was attracted to me.
I couldn’t contain my excitement at his presence and my mood suddenly lifted. I had no idea I had been worried about what Albert had said until this moment.
“Thank you.” He said as he slid into the seat opposite me.
“No problem.” I smiled, looking more friendly than I was.
I couldn’t wait for him to ask for my contact number and prove Albert wrong. I didn’t want to end up with three guys, no matter how dashing and caring they were.
They weren’t even men but wolves. I was angry at myself for making a mess of things by sleeping with Quinn and the thought of not being able to be with other men scared me like crazy.
I hadn’t ever deliberately sat down to think about my marriage but if I ever was to get married, I didn’t want to feel like I was manipulated into it and had no choice. I wanted the one I chose to spend the rest of my life with to be my decision and not because I didn’t have any other options.
“Are you alone?” He asked.
“Yes.” I replied, wishing that he had asked if I was single.
“Good.” He smiled. “I was afraid that you were expecting someone and I would have to stand up later.”
I chuckled. “Would I have told you to sit if I was expecting someone?”
He nodded. “Fair enough. I’m Troy.”
Hmmm. He had a nice name. “Mia.” I replied.
We got talking but I noticed that he kept looking around on several occasions. At first I had decided to ignore it but I couldn’t hold it in anymore when he kept glancing around.
“Are you expecting someone?” I asked, annoyed at the distraction. I was beginning to get turned off already.
He shook his head. “No. There is this girl that I like and she works here. I’m trying to make her jealous by acting as if I’m on a date with you. You were the only lady sitting alone when I walked in.”
What? He hadn’t been here because he found me attractive. I was so shocked that I didn’t know what to say.
“I hope you don’t mind. That was why I asked if you were alone. I didn’t want your boyfriend bouncing me off my feet. That would have been embarrassing.” He said, glancing away again.
Werewolves would know she is yours and human males would feel like she is taken.
I cringed as the words came back to me. Albert hadn’t been kidding. My heart started to pound with fear and all the blood drained from my face.
I swallowed and plastered a fake smile on my face. “Not at all. I don’t mind.” I lied. “I wish you luck in getting the girl.” I meant that though.
He smiled at me. “Thank you.”
I excused myself the moment I was done with my meal and went home, my mood was ruined, worse than how it had been when I had left the house.