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Chapter 8

“So who’s the lucky boy?” Emily asked me across the table as I sat down in between Charlie and Nathan.

“Anyone I may know, Chloe?” Xavier asked lightly, but I knew he had way too much interest in who was taking me out.

Picking up my knife and fork, I began to cut the meat. “Um, no, he actually goes to college.”

“Oh, an older man.” Emily smiled. “And you guys don’t mind?” she questioned my parents. I wanted to roll my eyes. My mother couldn’t be more thrilled about me settling down with a human. Pity my heart was still locked with Xavier’s.

“No, not at all.” My mother shot me a small smile. “We think it’s good that Chloe is reaching out and making other connections.”

Her words held a double meaning, though Emily wouldn’t have picked up on the second one. Charlie made a grunting noise next to me. I glanced at him. He was struggling to cut his steak.

I pulled his plate to me and began to cut the meat up into pieces.

“Oh, Chloe, you shouldn’t have done that. Charlie really needs to learn to use a knife correctly.” Emily frowned at me.

Keeping my expression dry, I glanced down at Charlie, who now looked slightly upset.

“Don’t worry about it, Char. My dad always cut my food up until I was—” frowning, I glanced at Dad, trying to keep my voice light. “How old was I, Dad?”

“I think nearly six or seven, Chloe. Personally I think you made it a habit.” His face shone with amusement. He was right. When I was little, I got him to do it because I enjoyed sitting in his lap.

I shrugged my shoulders and turned my attention back to Charlie, who had a small grin on his face. “See, Charlie, no big deal.” I winked at him before glancing at Nathan, who was having the same problem. Ignoring their mother’s warning, I cut Nathan’s meat too.

“So, Chad, what is it you do?” Emily asked, turning her disapproving face away from me.

“I work in a factory,” Chad answered pleasantly. Because secretly Chad really wanted to work in a factory, but his life was consumed with learning the ropes of the pack.

“Do you enjoy it?” Emily smiled at him.

“Yeah, I love it.”

I shot a sideways glance at Xavier. He sat at the head of the table. He smiled at me and mouthed a ‘thank you,’ which I frowned at. Then he gestured his head down at Charlie who was chewing on a piece of meat. I nodded, now getting what he was on about.

I turned my attention back to my plate, which I had hardly touched. Not because I wasn’t hungry, but because my stomach was full of nerves and tightness at being so close to my mate and not being able to touch him. Or really even speak to him freely.

Xavier was killing me silently and, what was worse, he knew he was doing it.

“Um, Chloe?”

Snapping my head up and looking at my mother, I frowned “Yes?”

“Emily asked if you enjoyed being in Xavier’s class.”

Emily she was looking happily in my direction, waiting for a response.

I could say I hated it, but some part of me loved it because I could be near him. Most of me though suffered in silent pain being close to him.

“Yeah, it’s gym and health, you know. School is school.” I shot a fake smile and then stuffed my mouth full of veggies, hoping to end the conversation there.

“I hope he isn’t a strict teacher.” Emily laughed lightly while giving her husband a look full of love. “I would hate to hear he is the gym teacher who always makes you run laps or something.”

Xavier gave her a warm smile. But it caused my eyebrows to frown when I realized it was a fake one. Perhaps his love for her was a lie too. He was good at keeping secrets and living lies.

“No, not at all. Though I think Xavier’s time gets consumed with girls. He’s popular with the ladies,” I replied coolly. I knew it was mean of me to say, but I didn’t like the look she gave me when I helped Charlie.

“Oh, I bet,” she replied while reaching for her wine glass. She shot me a smile, but her eyes were narrow. I couldn’t understand her sudden jealousy towards me.