Chapter 20

Twenty

IZZY

T he smell of butter assaults my senses as soon as I step into the theater.

I bypass the concession stand—where a bored-looking, college-aged woman I haven’t met yet works—and step into the employee break room.

It takes me only a few minutes to change into my employee T-shirt, throw my backpack into a locker, and then clock in.

“Hey, Silas,” I greet as I step behind the counter, pulling my hair up into a ponytail.

The rugged, scowling man glances up from the register. His dark hair is loose, cascading around his shoulders, but does very little to soften his features. Today, he wears an eyepatch, obscuring his scarred eye from view.

“You’re late,” the college-aged girl announces as soon as she sees me.

She props herself up on her elbow. Her bright-pink hair is spiky and gives her a decidedly elfin look. She has almost as many piercings as Emery—three in her right eyebrow, five in her left, one in her nose, and a hoop through her lip.

“Izzy, meet Minnie. Minnie, Izzy,” Silas introduces gruffly, still bending over the register. He doesn’t bother to look up.

“Hi.” I awkwardly wave my hand like a total dork.

Minnie exaggeratedly pops her gum and then straightens.

Ignoring me, she turns towards Silas. “I’m heading out.”

“Sweep up theater one before you leave,” he instructs.

Minnie makes a face. “But I?—”

“Now, Minnie.”

Minnie mutters something noncommittally under her breath and then shoves past me, ramming her shoulder into mine. Abruptly, she pauses, her spine straightening and nostrils flaring. Her pierced brows draw together.

“You smell weird,” she announces candidly.

“Minnie!” Silas snaps. He slams the drawer of the register shut and whirls around. His lips tighten in anger. “Now.”

Minnie continues to eye me strangely, and for a brief, crazy moment, I can’t help but wonder…is she a wolf shifter as well?

Stop being ridiculous, Izzy. Not every person you meet is a part of the supernatural world. Maybe you just have a bad case of BO today.

Ugh. This is probably the first time in my life I’ve prayed to have body odor.

“Do you know Grayson?” Minnie asks abruptly, her eyes narrowing.

The question takes me by surprise.

Does she smell Grayson on me?

What the fuck?

My theory of her being supernatural suddenly sounds more plausible.

“He’s my…friend.”

“Huh.” Annoyance paints itself across her face, her expression turning pinched. She rubs a hand over her brow as if to ward off a headache. “He’s dating my best friend, Sidney.”

“Minnie. Theater one. Now.” Silas points down the hallway, and Minnie blows out an irritated breath.

“Fine.” She once again rams her shoulder against mine— ow —and stomps towards the closet where Silas keeps cleaning equipment.

I watch her retreating back with a lump forming in my throat and a lead weight in my stomach.

“You good, kid?” Silas’s gruff voice sounds from directly behind me.

I glance at the large man over my shoulder to see him watching me cautiously, his eyes unreadable.

I force a smile. “Yup. Where do you want me today? Is Jake working?”

“Jake had to take off today.” Silas moves towards the soda machine and washes the nobs with a rag. “Basketball tryouts, apparently.”

“Football already done?”

Silas glances at me before refocusing on his task. “Nah. They have one or two more games. Maybe more if they keep winning. You going to any more games?”

I snort. “Maybe. But I won’t be standing on the sidelines this time around.”

“Smart idea.” His lips twitch in the beginnings of a smirk before they straighten out. “Why don’t you take the counter today? I’m going to be doing payroll. I’ll have Reid clean the theaters.”

A knot manifests in my chest and shimmies its way up my throat. “Reid’s here?”

Silas eyes me strangely. “Will that be a problem?”

I force myself to keep my expression blank. “No. Not at all. It’s fine.”

Silas continues to stare at me as if he doesn’t believe me but chooses not to comment further. However, the sudden twitching of his jaw commandeers my attention.

“If he’s giving you a hard time…”

“No, no, no. It’s fine.” I force my lips to curve upwards. “Everything is fine.”

Famous last words.