Page 37 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)
Chapter Thirty-Seven
RAVEN
S pending the day reading was good for my soul. Forgetting about the attempt on my life and what last night meant for me and James was a welcome reprieve. We still haven’t had the ‘talk,’ but I’m hopeful after this morning in his office.
Getting ready to meet Mia, I dress in a black roll-neck jumper and jeans.
It hugs my curves just right, and with the weather cooling down more to near Baltic temperatures, I add a leather jacket, hat, and scarf.
I applied a small amount of makeup to accentuate my cheekbones and eyelashes, but that’s it.
Leo meets me out front and settles me into the car. The drive’s quick with me passing the time by talking his ear off about the current book I’m reading, and what I think he should read next.
“I’m not into dark romance, Raven,” Leo says, shuddering. “I’ve seen enough in my life. I like sweet romances.”
“What about Mafia? You could try that,” I suggest as I glance over at him. “Mafia is so good. ”
“I’ll think about it.” He smirks, and I know I’ve got him.
I should have been a librarian in a past life. The urge to talk about books is never far away. It’s too late to change my major now, but maybe that’s why I’ve been struggling with school? It’s not what I’m really passionate about?
“How did you end up in security, Leo?” I ask curiously. “You could have done anything after leaving the Navy. Why that?”
“I didn’t know anything else. Plus, it works around family life. Especially when I get easy jobs looking after spoiled princesses.” He winks at me, and I shove his shoulder.
“Just drive,” I laugh.
We arrive at Nova’s, and I head inside to find Mia. Leo takes a table close by, always watching.
“There you are, I’d started thinking something had happened to you,” Mia says as she stands up to hug me.
She’s dressed beautifully as always. Her black jeans hug her curvy figure, and her white crop top molds to her breasts.
I hug her back and plant a kiss on her cheek. “Never. Who would keep you in line, hmm?”
“True. I would be a complete mess without you,” she teases.
She wouldn’t. If anything, I would be lost without her. This girl has had my back more times than I can count over the years. Always coming to my defense whenever I was picked on. Mia’s the dark to my light, and I love that about her.
Pulling out a chair, I sit down, scanning the menu when I feel eyes on me. Glancing up, I notice Mia staring at me, head in hands.
“What?” I ask.
“You gonna tell me why you’re living with James?” The twinkle in her eyes tells me she’s on to me. “You’ve purposely been avoiding my messages when I ask, so spill it, lady. ”
Closing the menu, I sigh. “Promise you won’t freak out?” She nods her head, but I add, “We’re in a crowded restaurant and I know you, Mia. I need you not to freak out.”
Mia sits up. “Okay, now you’re really freaking me out.”
“Someone tried to… I don’t know, kidnap me? Kill me? It all happened so fast that I’m not sure what their endgame was.”
A waitress interrupts us, asking to take our order. I can see Mia bouncing in her chair, desperate to get whatever it is off her chest, but she’s holding back.
Once the waitress leaves, I take a sip of my water as Mia leans forward and whisper-yells, “The fuck? Why would someone do that?”
“I honestly don’t know. James is looking into it, but he thinks it’s to do with my dad.” I shrug. I still haven’t fully processed everything; my mind whirs with all of the possible outcomes, but nothing screams at me.
She places a hand on my arm as she softly says, “Raven. I’ve seen the relationship between you and your dad; this wasn’t him. I just know it.”
“I don’t know what to believe.” I wipe a stray tear from my eye. “James insisted that I need to stay with him and have security for my protection.”
“Is that why you walked in with that major hottie?” Mia gestures toward Leo. “I wondered who he was. I’ve never seen you with anyone other than James, so I thought maybe you might have finally moved on.”
I scoff. “Fat chance of that.”
“Yeah, I thought the same thing when I said it,” she laughs.
We settle into the familiar routine of banter. I don’t see nearly enough of Mia, but I know that if I ever need her, she’s there, no questions asked .
“How’s the dating life going?” I ask as we’re finishing our dessert—I can never say no to Nova’s chocolate brownies.
“Don’t ask. I’m giving up on men. They either only want sex or they put you firmly in the friend zone. I’m seriously considering trying out women.”
That causes me to choke on the brownie piece I’d just shoved in my mouth. “Mia,” I start, “you love dick too much to give it up.”
“True,” she says wistfully. “Prince Charming is out there somewhere for me.”
“He is,” I agree. “I’m going to the ladies, I’ll be back.”
Standing up, I walk to the bathroom. Mia and I have never been one to go together; she usually uses that time to catch up on social media or to message the random guy she found on a dating site.
After doing what I need to do, I go to wash my hands when the door opens. I don’t glance up, I’ve always found it weird how girls just randomly talk to each other in the bathroom but don’t anywhere else.
While I’m checking if my hair is still in place, a nasally voice says, “Wow, we could be twins.”
I look in the mirror and see a beautiful woman. Other than the red hair, we couldn’t be more different—she’s stick thin, I have curves. Her face is caked in makeup; mine is not. I give her a polite smile and go to dry my hands.
“I mean, I’m much better looking than you are, but you make it work for you,” she mocks condescendingly as she looks me up and down.
I feel like I’m back in school when one of the popular girls starts to compliment you, only to slap you around the face with a nasty after comment. I don’t reply. I don’t do confrontation; I learned long ago it doesn’t get me anywhere.
Drying my hands, I walk out, not giving her a backward glance .
Breathe. In, out. In, out.
Rushing through the busy restaurant, I feel flustered by the encounter. I reach Mia’s side, clutching onto her as she pays the bills. Not unused to my freakouts, Mia wraps an arm around me, asking, “Everything okay?”
“Absolutely fine,” I reply. “You ready to go? I’ve got an early start.”
Mia knows I’m full of shit, but she nods. We walk out together arm in arm, Leo following close behind. I hug her, promising to call tomorrow.
Once I’m safely seated in the passenger seat, I finally relax enough to wonder who the hell that woman was and what I ever did to her.