Page 50 of Cruel Destinies

“Hey, Shea?” called a voice behind me, and I stopped and turned toward it.

I squinted at the guy, then my eyes widened in recognition. It was the dude from the café, the one I’d run into after my last meetingwith Julian.

“Hey.” I couldn’t remember his name. Aaron or Allen or something?

“I thought I recognized you,” Café Dude huffed as he jogged toward me.

“Yeah. Strange seeing you here. What brings you to Chicago?”

Café Dude pointed back over his shoulder. “I’m actually staying nearby. Last time we met I was visiting a cousin.”

“Oh.” I guessed that could happen. Maybe. “Well, I should be going. I have friends expecting me for a girls’ day out.”

Definitelynota lie.

The guy gave me a strange look, but all I could think about was how much time it must have taken him to put that guyliner on. It made his eyes mesmerizing, in a kinda cool, kinda creepy way. Okay, so I was staring, but he didn’t seem to mind.

He pivoted away from me for a moment, then pivoted back, sucking in a quick breath. “Can I have your number?” he asked, the words coming out in a rush.

I blinked. “What? No quirky pickup lines?”

He shook his head. “Nah. I like the direct approach.”

I fought an eye roll. “How about this: if the fates bring us together a third time, I might consider giving you my number.”

He smiled and gave a confident shrug. “You know what they say. Third time’s the charm.”

I shook my head and continued toward my train. Good to know at least one guy out there actually wanted me outright. Just not either of the two I wanted.

Chapter 16

Shea

When I got to the Bean, Ashlyn and Arya were already in front of it, heads craned back to take in the enormity of it. I had never actually seen the giant mirrored structure, and it was quite a sight to behold.

“Whoa,” Ashlyn said as I joined them.

“You got that right.” I pulled out my phone. “Okay, girls, huddle up for pics.”

We spent several minutes posing, both in front of and reflected in the Bean. The way the curved surface stretched and squished our bodies and faces—along with the city skyline—was enough to dissolve us all into giggles. Nothing like a ridiculous photoshoot to make you forget a certain vampire and all the sexual tension he spewed.

My stomach growled, and Arya started laughing. “You need to feed that wild beast before it eats you alive.”

I chuckled. Apparently, having your blood drunk by a vampire makes you ravenously hungry. “Yassss! Now, where’s a good placeto eat around here?”

Ashlyn pointed. “There’s something over there that smells good. Let’s give that a try.”

I bit my lower lip. “Better watch it or I’ll be calling you Toucan Sam.” At Ashlyn’s confused look I added, “Follow your no-Oooose.”

Arya rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling. “She gets punnier when she’s hungry. Come on.”

We made our way down to The Grill, just on the other side of the Bean. People swarmed in and out of the establishment, laughing and chattering, while ice skaters wove around the outdoor rink to a Michael Bublé Christmas tune.

Warm air greeted us inside, along with an elegant interior and a perky hostess.

“How many in your party?” the blonde asked, a big smile on her face and a Santa hat on her head.

“Just the three of us,” I said.

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