Page 42 of Dark Encounter
Chapter 16
Grace
Iwasn't sure what wasmoredisappointing. Not having him come home with me the night before, or knowing that I was stuck waiting for him to show up again. My thoughts were all over the place as I walked toward DeLuca. Jenna wouldn't have to start her shift for another half hour, and I needed her.
Needed someone.
The deep scent of coffee wrapped around me as I opened the door to the quaint little shop and breathed in deeply. I glanced over at the table to my right, half expecting to see Nate sitting there, watching my friend with a stare that made me yearn for attention.
Erik wasn't Nate, and that was a good thing, but I wanted so badly to have someone adore me, to love me so deeply that he would sacrifice everything for me.
That wasn't Erik. It couldn't be.
I didn't know too much about the mafia, but every time his father called, he went running as if he didn't have a choice.
"Hey. You come to see me?" Charlie's voice called me from my thoughts.
I chuckled. "Yep. You free tonight, baby?" I walked up to the counter and let out a soft sigh. Jenna's boss was the best.
"I'm way too much man for you, girlie." He smiled, his chubby cheeks fitting his persona perfectly.
"Oh, brother." Jenna walked out from the back hallway with her arms full of coffee bags. "You two at it again?"
"Maybe." I shrugged and wagged my eyebrows at Charlie playfully. "I want a latte and a few minutes with Jenna if you can spare both."
"For you? Absolutely."
Jenna stopped beside me and rolled her eyes. "A little help please."
I reached out and grabbed each bag, dropping it on the counter as we stared at each other. We'd been friends for so long that a million words passed between us without me saying a word.
"Come on. Let's go for a quick walk before my shift." She walked to the other end of the counter and grabbed my cup, handing it to me and walking toward the door.
"You sure?" I moved past her and tugged my wool coat a little closer.
"Yeah. And tonight, we're getting out and doing something fun." She slipped her arm into mine and gave me a warm smile. "You don't look so good."
"No?" I glanced down at my jacket and bell bottoms. "I was going for retro today."
"No comment." She chuckled. "What are your plans this afternoon? Can we go grab something cute to wear tonight and then go dancing?"
"Dancing? Ugh." I took a sip of my coffee as we stopped beside a stoplight, waiting for it to turn.
"Yes, dancing. It's fun." She released me as we walked across the street. "No boys, no drugs, no drama. Just me and you."
Something about the idea of spending the evening with Jenna and no one else caused tension to release in my chest.
"It's been a weird week."
"Does that mean that you're in?" She reached out and grabbed my wrist, half pulling me onto the sidewalk on the other side of the street as a city bus came speeding by.
"Yeah. Sure." I glanced back, a little off center. "I get off around three today. The event is two weeks away at this point, and everyone is running around the library like idiots with no clue how to do anything."
"Nelly too?" Jenna smirked.
I smiled. "No. Nelly has one emotion. Aggravation."
"Tell me about this weird week." Jenna dropped down on a park bench and patted the seat beside it.
