Page 24 of Squatch Out!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
OLIVIA
W e’re quiet when we leave Clive’s house, each of us thinking about what he said. In fact, I’m so far into my thoughts, I forget why we’re stopping when Owen pulls into an inconspicuous strip mall.
It’s not until Sean opens the door and I see the sign in swooping script.
Bella Italia .
My heart leaps in my chest, and my excitement returns. I’m really going to eat here!
I give up trying to hold back my grin as Sean helps me down from the truck. When my feet hit the ground, he leans down to whisper in my ear, “You’ll have to tell me everything you want, so I can keep that look on your face permanently.” Then he presses his lips to my temple, and my heart flutters.
We’re seated quickly in the back by a window that looks out over the quiet street. Sean and I sit together with Owen across from us as the hostess hands us menus and takes our drink orders. I open the menu and do a cursory glance through it, but I already know what I’m going to order.
A few minutes later, the waitress arrives with our drinks, a Pino gris for me and beer for Sean. Owen opts to stick with water, since he’s driving.
“Are we ready to order?” the waitress asks, pulling out a handheld device.
Owen and Sean both turn to look at me.
“Oh. Um, yes. I’d like the—” I feel my cheeks grow hot, “—the mushroom ravioli please.”
Her head snaps up, and she looks at me for a moment before her red-painted lips spread into a knowing grin. “Excellent choice.” She glances over at Sean and then Owen. “And is this a Team Edward or Jacob situation?”
I turn to Sean, and before I can stop myself, I say, “I guess I’m Team Jacob.”
Sean, Owen and the waitress burst out laughing, while I want nothing more than to crawl under the table.
After she’s taken the guys’ orders, and we’re left alone, Owen leans across the table and asks, “What’s Team Jacob?”
“Um, so, in the books, Jacob shifts into a giant wolf.”
“Better than a glittery bloodsucker.” Sean grins down at me and lifts my chin with his finger to kiss my lips.
It’s at that moment my cell phone suddenly starts buzzing in my pocket. It’s such a habit to carry it around, I always keep it on me, even though I haven’t had much service—until now.
Pulling back from Sean, I glance down at the screen and apologize. “It’s Tony. I need to take it.” I swipe my thumb across the screen as I lift it to my ear. “Hey.”
“Oh, thank god!” Tony’s voice is all kinds of relieved.
Suddenly, I’m on high alert. “What’s wrong?”
“I was worried about you,” Tony says, “so I came down to the lodge to check on you, but the front desk said you left early this morning and haven’t been back.”
“I’m sorry I worried you. I didn’t think to leave a note for you or a message on your phone. I’ve been… out. Doing some sightseeing.” I glance up at Sean and shrug. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
There is a long pause, and I can hear Brian in the background before Tony asks, “Have you heard from Darren, by chance?”
My blood turns cold. “As a matter of fact, I have. Why?”
“He took off last night, and we hadn’t seen or heard from him since.” And just like that, all my anxiety is back. “You haven’t left, have you? You’re still coming back to the lodge?”
I glance at Sean again, who nods—because of course he has super hearing and can probably hear the whole conversation. “Yeah, I’ll be back later tonight. I’m in Port Angeles right now, having dinner.”
“Brian and I are at the lodge. We’ll wait for you; we really need to talk.” There is another pause, and then Tony asks quietly, “Are you okay? The way you left, I feel awful that I didn’t stick up more for you.”
“I’m okay, Tony. Thank you, but I’m a big girl, and I can handle myself against bullies.”
“Okay, good.” I can practically hear the relief in his voice. Then he adds, “Enjoy your mushroom ravioli, and we’ll see you when you get back.”
“Thanks, I — wait! How did you know?”
“I’ve known you since we were teenagers. You think I forgot how into those books you were?”
“Nice. Speaking of… my dinner just arrived,” I say as I catch sight of the waitress heading our way.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I shove my phone back in my pocket just as my dish is placed in front of me. The savory scent of the parmesan and earthy mushrooms has my mouth watering and helps to blot out the stress of my phone call.
“Thank you again for bringing me here,” I say to Sean after we’re left alone once more.
His dark eyes roam over my face as his lips twist up into a smile. “You’re welcome, baby.”
The way he calls me baby, like he did when he was inside me, sends heat rushing to my cheeks…
and lower. Forcing my attention back to my plate, I scoop up a steaming ravioli and blow across the top before taking a bite.
My eyes roll back, and I can’t stop my moan as the rich flavor bursts across my tongue.
“I will never get tired of hearing you make that sound,” Sean whispers in my ear before he picks up his hamburger and takes a giant bite.
Across the table, Owen is shaking his head and trying to ignore us.