“No,” I lied.
“Damn. Not my type. Let me know if you meet one that is.”
I shook my head and chuckled. “Can I go now?”
“Call me when you get home. I want to make sure you’re alive.”
After giving her multiple assurances that I would, she finally hung up, and I made my way back over to Hemlock.
“Sorry about that. My friend was just making sure you didn’t kill me or whatever she came up with in her book-rotted brain.”
His eyebrow rose. “Is she one of those dark romance readers?”
I let out an unattractive snort before slapping my hand over my mouth.
“Um… That felt a little judgy, and I don’t appreciate it.”
“Areyouone of those dark romance readers?”
I open and shut my mouth twice.
“I will not be judged by my choice of literature. M’kay? It’s notallI read. I’ve been known to pick up the occasional fantasy.”
“Whoa, whoa. Who said anything about judging?” He leaned in closer with his elbow propped up on the bar as he trailed his eyes over me slowly. “From my experience, dark romance girls are the best kind of girls. You’re into some fucked up shit. I like that.”
My face was on fire. “Well, on that note, I should go. It’s getting late.”
“Sure.” He stood up and flagged down the bartender. “Can we close out? I’ll grab her tab, too.”
“She’s paid up.”
“But I?—”
“Boss said you’re covered. I don’t ask questions; I just make drinks.”
Hemlock sighed. He mumbled something to himself I couldn’t hear over the music and tapped his card on the machine the bartender held out to him.
“Have a good night, and tell your boss I said he’s an asshole.”
“You can tell him that yourself since you clearly have a death wish.” The guy laughed. “Have a good one.”
Hemlock slipped his wallet back into the front pocket of his jeans while I threw my jacket on. The weather was in that weird cold-hot-cold stage still, where you needed a jacket for the morning commute, a t-shirt for most of the day, then a sweater or jacket for the evenings. Freaking Canadian weather.
“Can I walk you home?” he asked, holding the door open for me.
I should say no. It was just around the corner so I’d be there in no time, but it was way past dark and I was still a little buzzed. It wasn’t exactly safe to walk home alone, but the way he was eyeing me had me wondering if walking home with him was safe for my mental health.
“That—”
“Won’t be necessary. I’ll get her home.”
Avalanche was leaning on the brick wall at the edge of the building with his arms crossed. He was blond, in his full costume, looking bored. He gave me a quick once over before he looked over my head at Hemlock—who sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.
“I think you’ll find that I’m more than capable of getting her to her door.”
“I’m standing right here.”
Neither one of them looked at me. It was like they were locked in an unspoken pissing contest. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.Boys.
