Page 17 of Dragon, Actually
But he doesn’t come right back. Of course not. He’s busy with work. He gets pulled into task after task, and the short time I have between shifts ticks away.
The server comes by with a dessert cart, but I shake my head and grab my bag. “I need to go. Can you bring the check?”
He looks surprised but does as I ask. Even with the friends-and-family discount, I wince at the price. I leave cash on the table, more than enough to cover the meal and tip.
Walking out into the cold night air alone feels like I’m a piñata being smacked with a reality stick. It shatters all my illusions and leaves them scattered on the sidewalk. I feel ridiculous. Myrran’s “future wife” isn’t me. How could I be, when it’s obvious we’re just friends?
Fun friends. Friends who fuck. Maybe it’ll grow into something more at some point, but right now, we’re just a little more than strangers.
I got carried away. I should know better than to catch feelings from a single date. I’m just missing my family, and a cute guy was nice to me. Made me feel good for one night. My loneliness made it seem more meaningful than it was. That’s all.
Chapter 14
Myrran
Ihaven’t slept.
Jewel left the restaurant last night without saying goodbye, and the fact that she paid for her meal felt like a slap in the face. She hadn’t been angry—at least not outwardly—but something was wrong. And I can’t stop obsessing over it.
How did I mess up?
She’s not answering my texts, either. So I park outside her building.
It’s not ideal. Human customs are so different from ours. I’m aware that stalking isn’t desirable or even acceptable in their eyes. But the alokoi bond is relentless, and I can’t relax until I see her, until I understand what happened and how I can fix it.
When the front door finally opens and Jewel steps outside, my breath catches. Bundled against the cold, scarf tucked under her chin, hat pulled down to frame her features…she’s stunning. It surprises me every time.
I dismount from my bike, feeling a mix of relief and nervous energy. “Jewel!”
She jerks her head toward me, startled, then smiles, although it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Need a ride to work?” I ask, holding out my extra helmet. “Way faster than the bus, and no waiting. We’ll even have time to grab breakfast on the way.”
She hesitates for a moment, and my guts tighten, sure she’s going to reject me. But she nods. “Sure.”
Yes.I still have a chance.
It feels incredible having her straddling the bike behind me, the body I worshipped pressed up against my back, her long legs framing mine. I want to purr, roar, shift, break the speed limit. But things are so delicate between us right now. The last thing I want to do is scare her and shatter what connection we have left.
We can’t talk on the ride, but I stop off at an ogre-owned diner near the park. Once we’re inside and order at the too-tall counter, I blurt out, “I’m sorry about last night. I wanted to treat you and show you off to my friends, but I had to spend so much time on the grill. I should have given you more attention.”
Her cheeks flush, and she waves a hand. “It’s fine, really. Now that I’ve had some time to think, I feel silly for leaving like that. It’s just…” She pauses, biting her lip.
“What?” I press, desperate to understand. “What did I do?”
“Nothing. Everything.” She sighs. “Seeing you at the restaurant, in your element, surrounded by your friends—it made me realize how isolated I am. The holidays make it worse, you know? Everyone I know is back home with family or their partners, and I’m…well, not. And I let my loneliness get the better of me.”
Her chin wobbles and her voice cracks a little at the end, and my heart aches that I didn’t see this coming. I wanted her to feel welcome and included at the restaurant. I wanted to spoil her and make her feel part of my world. Instead I showed her what she’s been missing.
“I can fix this,” I say immediately. “You’re coming to the hive for Christmas.”
She shakes her head. “Oh, no. I don’t want to impose on your family holiday.”
“Impose?” I snort. “We’ve got a massive tree, way too much food, and so many dragons that one more person won’t even make a dent.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yes. Bring a suitcase and plan to stay over. I have a big bed with a spot in it reserved for you.”
