Page 68 of My UnTrue Love
Luke made a skeptical face. He had enough musical talent to sense Bill’s potential too.
“You’ll sing,” Clem assured her stubborn best, best friend, “once you feel ready.”
Bill gave a noncommittal grunt and ran a palm over her hair. “Darlin’, is there pepperoni on that pizza slice in your hand?”
“Maybe.” She knew where this was headed, so she took another bite while she still could.
“Peperoni has a lot of salt.”
She chewed faster. “Does it?” She asked innocently.
Bill arched a brow, reminding her of her complete medical history.
Clem wrinkled her nose at his silent nagging.
“She didn’t order that.” Luke interjected with his mouth full. “It came for free.”
Bill looked distinctly skeptical.
“The Lone Prairie gives away free food to keep the seats filled.” Clementine told Bill, giving his leg a meaningful nudge with her foot. “I never told you that? I’m sure I told you that.”
“I don’t think you told me that.” Bill got the message, though. He stopped asking questions and just plucked the pizza slice out of her hand. “Free ornotfree,” he stressed the “not” part, “you can’t eat this.”
She made a face, letting him know that he was a jerk.
He took a taunting bite of the pizza himself, letting her know he was unrepentant.
She rolled her eyes, letting him know he wasn’t nearly as cute as he thought he was.
Bill winked, letting her know that he was indeed that cute.
(And he kind of actually was.)
Luke missed all the nonverbal communication. “You can’t take her food!” He protested angrily.
Clementine opened her mouth to explain about the miscast spell that had damaged her body and Bill’s hyper-fixation on her health, but the boy was already bounding to his feet.
“I knew you were a fucking asshole!” He shouted at Bill. “I knew you weren’t gonna treat her right! No coyoteevertreats his stolen-mate right.”
Bill’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not stolen…” Clementine began, but Luke was on a roll.
“That’s why we’re not supposed to have girls, especially not girls likethis one.” Luke pointed a frantic finger towards Clem. “All our kind should stay away from her. She’s got someone better waiting. Someone nice. She’s got to!”
Bill’s jaw tightened. “He can show up and fight me for her, then. I’m willin’.”
“You’ll fighther.” Luke corrected scathingly. “That’s the way it always goes. You’ll beat the hell out of somebody pretty and sweet, because if you can’t have her, you’d rather see her broken.”
Bill slowly stood up. “Did you just tell Clem that I’m gonna hit her?” He asked in a very soft tone. “Because I don’t appreciate that.”
He was offended. Who could blame him? But Clem mostly heard the agony in Luke’s voice. This wasn’t about her and Bill’s relationship. This was about things he’d seen in his own home.
“Bill, honey, Luke doesn’t mean to insult you.” She laid a hand on his arm. “He’s just distressed.”
Luke stared at Bill, breathing hard. “I knew that you’d be just like my pa.”
Bill’s head canted to one side.
