Page 9 of Pit Stop

CHAPTER

FOUR

SKYE

The man who’s been haunting my thoughts and dreams doesn’t even look at me when he comes by to hang out with my brother the following week—and he definitely doesn’t smile.

It’s like what we had was fleeting, a passing of ships in the night.

I know we agreed this is what needed to happen, but for some reason, I’m struggling with it.

I don’t know what Maverick did to me, but he did something, and I’m not totally right in the head anymore.

He fucked all common sense out of me and now I’m all mopey and love-struck.

I’m so distraught, in fact, that Rob has pulled me out of the house on a Saturday night as an intervention. Not that I really want to go.

I just want to read in bed.

The thing with that wolf shifter the other night didn’t help matters.

Delphine raved about how good the sex was, but the whole encounter left me with an uneasy feeling in my stomach—the way he looked at me, the way he almost seemed to devour me without even touching me. The thought makes me want to curl up under my covers and never come out.

But Rob won’t let me. He shows up, bouncing on his toes and forcing me to shower and get dressed. The horror.

“I promise you, we will have the best time,” he says, his auburn hair flopping over his forehead as we get into his car.

He pushes it back, his bright green eyes almost shining.

He’s pretty. I admit that. My best friend is really fucking pretty.

Too bad he’s a beta and can’t provide what I need when I go into heat.

Not that I’m interested in him. Never have been and never will be.

I arch an eyebrow at him and then fold my arms across my chest as he backs us out of my driveway. “Yeah, okay. If I do this, I get at least two more weeks to read in bed without you forcing me out of the house.”

“Skye. It’s summer. You need to be out and partying.”

“Ha. Are we really best friends? When have I ever partied?”

“True. Well, you need to get over Maverick…”

“Oh please,” I say sarcastically, even though that’s exactly what this is. I’ve been having a pity party. I’ve missed him. Not that he seems to feel the same. He seems back to his normal self.

Ignoring me and pretending I don’t exist.

“Anyway. Maybe you can find some big, strong alpha to get under tonight. Help you move past your…whatever he is.”

I eye him and then purse my lips.

“I was propositioned the other night,” I tell him, and Rob nearly drives off the road.

“When? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I didn’t because I felt uneasy about it. Still do.

“Dunno, just didn’t.”

Rob glares at me and then wiggles in his seat.

“Well, tell me! I’m waiting for all the details.”

“Nothing much to tell. He was just some alpha at the poetry reading. Delphine said he’s a shifter.”

Rob’s eyes widen. “For real?”

“Yeah.”

“But you turned him down?”

“Yeah, he was…I didn’t like him. He gave me weird vibes.”

Rob scoffs and nods. “Yeah, I get it. Those guys all have chips on their shoulders. Bet he’s from that clan up north. Oregon, I think it is.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“What would it be like to shift, you think?”

“Don’t know,” I murmur and turn my gaze toward the window, watching the trees whiz by. “But if it makes me anything like him, then I’d rather stay just the way I am.”

“Truth.”

We sit in silence for a moment and then Rob taps his fingers on the steering wheel. “You know what? Forget about him. Tonight we’ll find a nice guy for you to get under. Someone who treats you well.”

“I don’t know if you’ve realized, but like, I’m not that hot. I don’t think I’m going to get under anyone tonight.”

“Oh, I bet you will,” he says with a waggle of his eyebrows. “You’re hotter than you think. Even the shifter guy thought so.”

I don’t know what that shifter saw in me and I don’t quite care to know the reason he singled me out. But Rob promised to leave me alone for two weeks if I went with him tonight. So I guess I can at least try to enjoy myself.

Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up to a run-down bar on the outskirts of town, and I eye Rob. “Really?”

“There are some really hot dudes here. And a lot of them are easy targets. Come on,” he says and then turns the car off and hops out.

He grins at me through the window and with a long-suffering sigh, I move out of the car and toward my best friend.

Really should find a new one of these , I think as he links his arm through mine before reaching over and threading his hands through my hair.

“Just a little adjustment,” he says when I huff. “And remember to smile. Guys like it when you smile.”

I bare my teeth at him, and he winces. “Oof, maybe not like that.”

That makes me chuckle as he pulls me along and into the tightly packed bar. I can smell the scent of alphas, thick and almost stifling, as we make our way toward the bar top. Eyes turn toward us, and I feel my shoulders start bunching up around my ears.

Besides that shifter, I’ve never noticed anyone take an interest in me before and it’s making me itchy.

Maybe that’s the issue. Maybe I just don’t like being noticed. Perhaps I like to blend in with the background and remain invisible. It’s safer there.

“Stop tensing up like that,” Rob says and then throws a flirtatious smile at a man who sidles up next to us. “It’s normal for guys to notice you. You smell good, I’m sure. And I know you don’t think you’re hot, but like I said, you are. In a very nerdy, smart-looking way.”

I scoff as he leans across the counter and waves toward the bartender.

I try not to make eye contact with the man hovering near me but end up catching the large man’s gaze. He winks at me, and I feel my cheeks go molten. Good lords. I need to get out more if a simple eye twitch causes me to blush.

“Here,” Rob says, handing me a drink, and my eyebrows rise. I don’t usually drink alcohol so I’m not quite sure what to expect.

“What is this?”

“Something strong. To help you loosen up.”

I sip at it and shudder at the potent taste.

“Good gods, are you trying to get me to pass out?”

He grins at me. “I mean, not passed out, but at least smiling naturally.”

I roll my eyes and take another sip, turning around and scanning the heaving crowd. There are so many people here. So many. It’s making my head hurt.

I lean over and tell Rob that I’m going to stand over at the opposite end of the room, and he just rolls his eyes at me. But I don’t let it deter me. I’m determined.

I’m going to spend my time here pressed up against that lonely wall over there and then I’ll go home. I’ll let Rob have his fun and be a good friend while I’m at it. I know I’m lacking in this department, and that I’m lucky to have friends who really make an effort.

I sip at my drink as I finally make it through the crowd, and as I near the far wall, I meet someone’s gaze.

His gaze.

Maverick .

We both freeze, my lips around the rim of the cup, his slightly parted.

Everything seems to slow, and I can hear a ringing in my ears.

I’m suddenly growing wet.

Fuck. Fuck him for being here, for looking like sex and making me leak into my underwear. Why does he have this effect on me? Why am I all twisted up in knots over him?

Because you like him.

I force that thought away.

“Gods,” I murmur as I break the stare and move up against the wall, pulling the glass up to my lips once more and sipping on the strong alcoholic drink. I need to think of someone else, or anything else. Maverick is making me all sorts of crazy.

As I swallow down gulps of the bitter liquid, someone steps up next to me, bumping into me gently.

“Hey there, handsome,” a deep voice says, and I startle slightly, glancing up at a hunk of a man.

Geez, who made him? He’s not from here, I can assure you of that. He’s otherworldly.

“Hi,” I say and then turn my focus back out to the crowd. I don’t know how to have a conversation with someone. I really don’t. I can’t even pretend.

“What’s your name?” he asks, and I side-eye him.

“Skye.”

“Nice to meet you, Skye. Name’s Tater.”

I stare up at him and blink. “Tater?”

“Yup.”

I feel my lips twitch in amusement and then roll them between my teeth. I will not laugh at this man’s name. No siree. I was raised better than that.

“Cool,” I manage to squeak out and then look away, catching Maverick’s gaze once more. He’s near the bar now, his mouth turned down in a slight frown as he watches me.

“Want another drink?” Tater asks. I stare down into mine and shake my head.

“No thanks. I’m not even close to done with this one.”

Tater grins at me, his teeth slightly crooked. He’s endearing in a very odd way. He may be big, but he gives off a distinct teddy bear vibe.

“Yeah, wasn’t sure. Thought I’d be a gentleman and ask.”

“Well, you’re very polite, so thank you. But I’m really fine with what I have.”

He nods, bobbing his head, and I force myself not to look over at Maverick again. But I can feel his gaze on me. It’s heavy and thick, wrapping around me and making it hard to breathe.

And I’m so fucking wet.

Ridiculous man.

“Wanna dance?” Tater asks, and I nod my head. I don’t know why I agree to this because I’m not a dancer, but I let him set my drink down and grab my hand as he leads me onto the dance floor.

But as he lifts his arms to wrap around me, I feel a different presence move up behind me.

“Mm, I remember you,” the deep voice says, and I shiver slightly as I turn and take in the man behind me.

It’s not Maverick. It’s the shifter alpha from the other night.

He’s bigger than I remember, standing right next to me, his eyes almost glowing red.

“Hello,” I manage to say, my body leaning slightly away from his. It’s not that I can’t smell how potent he is, how feral. But for some reason, I don’t want it.

I really don’t.

“Hey, man, we were just about to dance,” Tater says, but the alpha shifter just bares his teeth, and Tater slinks back, his hands up in surrender.

The alpha slides up against me, his hands gripping my hips and pulling me against his chest.

I wobble slightly as my chin tilts up to meet his fiery gaze.