Chapter 29: 29: Unspoken Bonds

BELLE

“Your boyfriend is here again,” Candice said in a singsong voice as she came to stand beside me.

“Who?” I played dumb. I had seen Grayson walk in when my shift started but had already decided that I was under no circumstances interacting with him.

I was too tired—both emotionally and physically—to deal with him today. Maybe if I ignored him long enough, he would give up on me and leave me alone. I mean, he had done it once, hadn’t he?

“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed him yet.” Candice teasingly poked my side. “No one could ignore that face of his. Or body. He’s been staring at you since he sat down.

“Is there a reason you haven’t gone over there yet?”

I glanced up at Grayson. He was in the same booth as yesterday, and, just like Candice had said, he was indeed staring at me. Warmth traveled through me when my eyes met his. I looked away quickly.

“Who’s Belle’s boyfriend?” Brenda asked, walking up behind us to get to the cash register.

Although she was almost two decades older than us, Brenda was always interested in whatever gossip was circulating around the diner that day. “Is that Liam kid here again?”

A low growl came from the corner, barely audible. My heart rate picked up, knowing where the noise had come from without even having to look.

“Liam is not my boyfriend,” I said quickly. I already knew Grayson didn’t like Liam; in fact, I was almost positive he had done something to him.

He still hadn’t turned up after disappearing yesterday and didn’t answer when I had tried to call him this morning. I was starting to get really worried.

I didn’t need Grayson hearing people call Liam my boyfriend when I still wasn’t convinced he hadn’t let his wolf eat him or something. Do werewolves even eat vampires?

“He’s just a friend. I don’t have a boyfriend.” I was sure to speak clearly so that a certain someone was sure to hear me.

“Maybe not, but that guy in the corner is ~definitely~ interested,” Candice continued.

She had ~no~ idea.

Brenda looked amused. “Oh, really?” She glanced over at Grayson. A flush took over my cheeks.

I knew Grayson could hear us no matter what, but honestly, did they have to make it so obvious that we were talking about him?

“Why don’t you go over there? He’s cute,” she whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes. “I already told him I wasn’t interested when he was here yesterday,” I said. “I don’t know why he’s back here.”

“Maybe he’s hungry,” Candice provided unhelpfully.

“Have you taken his order yet, Belle?” Brenda asked.

I looked down. I thought about lying but knew Candice would give me up immediately if I did.

“No,” I responded, hoping she wouldn’t make me go over there and talk to him. “He didn’t order anything yesterday. He just sat there all day. I figured today would be the same.”

Brenda frowned. “Hun, your ~job~ is to take orders. And if he’s not going to get any food, he can’t stay here and take up a perfectly good table. I’m gonna have to ask him to leave if that’s the case.”

My eyes widened. I did not want any of my coworkers interacting with Grayson, especially my sweet manager, Brenda. I knew what he was capable of.

I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anybody got hurt because Grayson lost his temper over something as stupid as telling him to leave the diner.

“He’s not doing anything,” I said. “Can’t he just sit there?”

Brenda shook her head. “You know the rules. If he’s not a paying customer, then he can’t stay here.”

I sighed, already feeling my body heat and my stomach roil at the thought of having to talk to him. “I’ll go take his order right now,” I murmured.

Brenda nodded in approval. “Let me know if you have any problems.”

***

I approached Grayson’s table slowly, my lips pressed together in a fine line. He watched me the entire time, waiting patiently with his hands folded in front of him.

“What do you want to eat?” I asked sharply when I finally stood in front of his table.

“I thought you didn’t want to serve me,” he replied, his deep, smooth voice causing shivers to travel up my spine. As if he hadn’t heard the entire conversation that just ensued.

I looked up from my notepad, glaring. “If you don’t order something soon, my manager is going to kick you out.”

A half-smile curved his masculine mouth. “Are you finally admitting that you want me here?”

“No, I just don’t want you hurting anyone when they try to force you out. Now, ~please~, just tell me what you want.”

I hated that we were arguing again. I was so, ~so~ exhausted.

Even though I had slept through the night for the first time since arriving in Evergreen—something I was astonished to realize when I woke feeling warm and content—fighting the mate bond was starting to take its toll on me.

Grayson studied me closely, his brows tugging together. “Baby, have you eaten anything today?” he asked me, completely ignoring my request.

“Stop calling me baby. Order something, or I’ll pick something out for you.”

“I’ll order if you tell me what you’ve eaten today,” he replied sternly. “Don’t think I won’t drag you out of this diner the same way I did yesterday.”

I knew he wasn’t bluffing. I screamed internally.

“I had a bowl of cereal, okay?” I finally answered.

He frowned. “That’s not enough food. You didn’t eat anything yesterday. I will not have my mate fainting or starving herself when those things are easily avoidable.”

When he called himself my mate, an agony so fierce gripped me that it nearly took my breath away. My entire body slumped. I had to bite my lip to keep from whimpering in pain.

“You’re not my mate, Grayson,” I whispered, letting my tone convey how hard this all was for me. “I don’t care if you never slept with anyone else. You gave me up. I wanted you, and ~you~ gave me up.”

I swallowed the ball forming in my throat, looking away from his intense expression. I couldn’t have this conversation with him again. It felt like being rejected over and over again.

I took a few steps back. “I’ll have Candice bring you some pancakes or something. Stay if you want. I really don’t care anymore. I have to get back to work.”

He grabbed my wrist before I could walk away. Sparks danced up my arm and warmed my skin.

“If you would just let me explain,” he said, “you would see how much I want and love you. I never gave you up. It wasn’t up to me. I never meant for any of this to happen to you.”

My throat was too dry to swallow. “Yeah, well, it did,” I said, my voice sounding quiet and defeated, even to me. “The damage has been done.”

I pulled my arm from his grip and walked away.