Page 33 of White Charms and Dark Secrets

A laugh escapes me at his answer, because he's not wrong. “Fine. Why not take me somewhere fun, like bowling or to a theme park?”

“Well, you hate bowling because you suck at it and you're always too embarrassed to put the sides up. So, bowling is out of the question. You also refuse to go on any rollercoasters that flip you upside down because they make you sick, so a theme park is out too.” He gives me a cheeky grin as he grabs my hand and pulls me towards a table in the corner.

“How do you know all that?” I probe. “I mean, we've never bowled or gone to a theme park together.”

“You mentioned it before in passing. I pay attention and have a good memory.” He gestures for me to sit down. “Just let me grab us both a drink, I'll be quick so don't try and escape out the bathroom window or anything.”

I try not to laugh at the joke as he walks off, but fail. Glancing around the bar, I get an odd sense of familiarity. I take a closer look at the three pool tables, scattered seating, and it’s pretty quiet, considering the location. I notice a little stage at the other end of the room, where I'm guessing bands set up to perform in here.

Lizzy would like this place, she loves seeing live performances of new bands in little places like this.

I cringe at the thought. Thinking about my old friend right now is painful. I need a little more time and distance to deal with it properly. Unfortunately, reminders pop up everywhere when you’ve known someone for as long as I’ve known Lizzy.

I twitch in my seat as Darren places our drinks down onto the table. “Relax. I told you I'd be right back.” He chuckles.

I side-eye him. He always manages to get served before everyone else waiting. “You explained why you didn't pick the other places, whydidyou pick this one?” I continue to pry, as he sits down, pushing my drink across to me.

“Do you really not remember?” He looks at me quizzically, and I a bit taken aback as I shake my head. “Look closer. Look at the actual room rather than what's in it.”

Slowly I look around, trying to see whatever it is he's wanting me to figure out. Just as I’m about to give up, I catch a glimpse of the ceiling and lift my head to take it in. My jaw drops as I remember the weird pattern dotting the ceiling. “This is the bar we went to the first time I came for a drink with you!”

“It sure is.” He smirks. “Took you long enough.”

“It looks so different, though,” I comment, continuing my perusal with new eyes. The whole layout is different. The bar used to be on the other side of the room where the stage sits now, and there used to just be one pool table instead of the three across from us.

We'd met on Halloween two years ago at a party and hit it off instantly, and despite a pretty disastrous night, our chemistry endured. Just two days later, after constant texting and flirting, we'd met up here for a drink. I expected a hook up, but we really connected, and then the next few weeks we stayed in constant contact, spending as much time together as possible… until I found out about the whole, 'shifters mate for life' thing anyway.

What a terrible day that had turned into. As I left Darren's cabin that morning, I ran into one of his pack members. The guy made an offhand comment about it, and I freaked, hightailing it out of there. I ghosted on Darren, but about three weeks later, he started to work where I did. I worried it would be awkward as hell and tense, but we became friends after a while. It was a little bit uncomfortable at first, but we've always connected, and over time, we found a middle ground where hanging out after work together with Lizzy and Paul felt okay. The four of us spent most Thursday nights in Rosie’s together.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks, snapping me out of my train of thought.

The day I broke things off with you.

“Our first date here,” I lie.

“That bad, huh?” he asks with a slight twitch of his lips..

I smile at him before admitting, “Our date here was fun. It was the best first date I've ever had anyway.”

“Fun for you, maybe. You tricked me out of fifty pounds with your pool game hustle!” he teases.

“It's not my fault you were dumb enough to fall for it.” I laugh, remembering how I acted like a terrible pool player after he offered to teach me to play. I think I began my little con out of annoyance at his assumption that I couldn’t play. Once I convinced him of my hopeless ability to shoot, I pouted as he teased me, before pretending to snap and challenging him to a bet. He fell for it hook, line, and sinker, and I ended our date fifty pounds richer.

“You looked too hot that night for me to concentrate on your trickery. How could I not fall for anything that came out of that pretty mouth of yours?” His eyes drop a pointed gaze to my lips.

“Shut up,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. I can feel a blush creeping into my cheeks, so I take a big gulp of my drink. Now at least I can blame the rosy cheeks on the alcohol.

“Do you remember where we first kissed on our date?” he surprises me by asking. I glance over to the pool tables. I'd sat on the edge of the only pool table in this place at the time, after destroying him in that game, gloating in my victory, when he'd dipped down and stolen a kiss. His lips chased any sense from me, and we’d made out like stupid teenagers. Only when someone began to cough and clear their throat had we broken apart.

“Want to play a game?” Darren challenges, breaking me out of the spell from that memory.

“What, so I can kick your ass again?” I retort.

“Something like that,” he smirks. “Come on.” He stands, heading over to the pool table without waiting for me. With what seems like little choice in the matter, I down the rest of my drink, then walk over to join him. After setting my coat on the back of a chair next to the table, I lean against it, watching him as he racks the balls.

“Do you want to break?” I offer.

“Is that your way of taking pity on me, letting me take one measly shot before you clear the table?” he jokes, grabbing the pool cue.

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