Page 22 of Quarterback Sneak

I found her.

He’s quick to respond.That’s awesome!

She’s human and has no idea what I am. She’s also dating another guy.

Quint looks about how I feel right now—gut punched. I nod towards the door because the longer we stand out here staring at each other without talking, the more attention we’re going to draw. He takes a step towards the door. “Let me know what I can do to help.”

“Thanks.”

I follow him inside the shop and instantly look for Evie. When I don’t see her, I figure she’s in the back. Quint gets in line to get a drink, and I walk over to the table where I left Reid. He looks up at me, probably trying to gauge my mood. “Is she in the back?” I ask.

“She left.”

I scowl at him. “You should have told me.”

I reach for my bag, but he stops me. “Let her go for now. She went with her friend, the one that was nice. You already followed her when she went out for her break; you don’t want to come on too hard too fast.”

I pull my chair out and drop into it. “I hate it when you’re right.”

He smirks at me. “You figure out anything more outside?” he asks quietly.

I blow out a breath of frustration. “She likes orange chicken. What even is orange chicken?”

“It’s from Panda Express,” Quint says, pulling over a chair to sit with us. “Seriously, you’ve never eaten at Panda Express?”

“You know Zane,” Reid interjects. “He’s a stickler for eating healthy.”

“It’s Chinese fast food,” I tell them, looking at my phone.

“Yeah, we know. Everybody knows, except you apparently,” Quint says.

“That chicken does look good.” I’m not a big Chinese food fan, mostly because it’s unhealthy, but that chicken does look like it might be good.

“If you try it, make sure you try some Beijing Beef too,” Quint says

“And the Honey Sesame Chicken,” Reid adds.

“Oh, and the Honey Walnut Shrimp,” Quint says, and Reid nods in agreement.

I grin at the two of them. “Are you two hungry?”

“Starving,” Quint says.

“Come on.” I grab my bag and stand up. “Let's grab lunch.” On my way out the door, I happen to look over towards the serving counter and lock eyes with the girl with the dark cropped hair, who makes life hard on my mate. I make a mental note to keep tabs on her. I’m not sure why she’s got it out for my mate, but I’m going to make it my business to find out. I take a step away from the door, and the scent of that Jace guy hits me. I snap my gaze up and lock eyes on the male who kissed my mate not too long ago. Anger floods me instantly, and I work to keep my wolf under control.

“Easy,” Reid says quietly from next to me. It doesn’t escape my notice that Quint and Reid have each taken a position on either side of me. The three of us would scare off any normal person, but apparently Jace isn’t normal. He walks towards us without an ounce of fear on his face.

“Hey,” he says in an angry tone. His attitude is so different than it was a little bit ago with Evie. “I hear you’re trying to make a move on my girl.”

Anger burns through me at his choice of words, but I keep my emotions on lockdown. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He gives me a cold smile. “Sure, you don’t, Blackwood.” He steps closer, but I don’t move a muscle. “Listen to me very carefully. Evie is mine.” My wolf threatens to leap from my chest and take a piece out of this guy, but years of working on my iron control keep him from being able to do just that.

“I wasn’t aware she was a possession,” I tell him, keeping my voice even and steady.

“She’s mine, and I will be her first everything. That one hasn’t had a lot of experience around men; I can tell.” A smug smile fills his face. “I’ll teach her everything she needs to know.” I stare him down, willing myself not to move, not to kill him. “Know this, Blackwood. Evie is mine, and if you mess around with her, I’ll know. And she’ll pay the consequences.”

I will rip this guy’s hands from his body. “Are you seriously telling me that you’re going to hurt the girl you’re supposedly dating?”