Page 91 of Trick or Stalk

“Presley.”

I turn at the sound of my name.

“Your order’s ready.”

I turn back to Hades. “Let me go get that.”

His eyes stay on mine as he reaches over and takes Penny’s leash from my hand. “I'll be here.”

I turn toward the counter before he can see how much those three stupid words affect me.

Gracie is watching us. Her eyebrows are somewhere near her hairline.

I approach the counter and hiss, “Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

She glances over my shoulder toward Hades. Then back at me. “Who's your friend?”

“He's not my friend.”

“Uh-huh.”

“He came into the bookstore yesterday.”

She stares at me. “And now he's here.”

“Yes.”

“With the book you sold him.”

“You noticed that.”

She smirks. “Hard not to.”

I shrug. “It’s no big deal.”

She just looks at me. “And you're having lunch together.”

“Just coffee.”

She looks down at the bag of food in her other hand.

“Then what’s this?”

I sigh. “Lunch with a side of morals that prevent me from strangling nosy baristas.”

She holds up my food and coffee in a gesture of surrender.

I laugh despite myself.

I glance over my shoulder. Hades has reopened the book.

But he isn't reading.

He's watching me.