“Well, if it isn't Nina.”
I was out of time to run.
I swiveled my chair, turning to them. I forced a smile, at least knowing I looked nice. I had dressed up to meet Sam and Katie for lunch. I was wearing a pair of pants that fit me like a glove and a blue and cream floral blouse. My hair was in a low bun, but a few strands framed my face.
“Hello,” I said, giving each of them a look.
“What are you doing in a bar?” Hailey asked, a smirk pulling at her lips.
“They have the best brownies I've been told,” I said, keeping my smile in place.
Geneva scanned me like a hawk, and I knew she wouldn't find anything. “How's your marriage?”
I swallowed, refusing to tell them the truth.
“It's great. We're happy. Everything is going really well, actually. I'm spending some time getting to know the town and eventually maybe going back to work.”
Hailey and Carly looked a little impressed by my words. Geneva, however, didn't.
“You're going to work even though you're married to an Alpha? That doesn't look good.”
I gave her a single nod, not letting her words bother me. “Yeah. I enjoy working, but I don't necessarily need to. You'll be surprised by how much spare time you have when someone else takes care of everything.”
I could see that irritated Geneva, and her nostrils flared. I couldn't help but internally smile. She had been nothing but mean to me, so it felt a little good to see her unhappy. I didn't love lying, but they didn't need to know the truth. Why give them fuel to hurt me?
Just then, the door opened, and Frank waltzed in. My stomach flipped as he scanned the bar and spotted me. He didn't bother looking at me long. A couple of guys entered with him and headed towards the back, where a pool table was.
I frowned, knowing that they saw him come in and not bother looking at me. Geneva smirked. “Looks like your husband is here.”
I nodded once. “You're observant.”
I looked at Frank. I watched as he grabbed a pool cue and spoke to the guys. None of them even looked over towards me. It was like I wasn't even here.
“Why didn't he come say hi?” Geneva asked in a taunting voice. “If you're so happy, wouldn't he acknowledge you?”
I watched as the bartender who had been helping me walked over to him. She leaned onto the pool table, her breast nearly busting free from their shirt. She tapped her fingers on the table just inches from Frank's arm. Frank looked at her, giving her a smile and an actual smile. It wasn't forced. There was nothing sinister or painful underneath it. Just a genuine smile, and it hurt.
Frank had never smiled at me like that. Not once. Everything had been forced, or no smile at all. Tears bloomed as she laughed, patting his arm. I pulled myself up and hurried to the door. I wanted out. I needed air.
I pushed the door open, stepped outside, and headed down the road. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the pain away. I hated that he acted like I was the worst thing that happened to him, yet some other woman got another side of him, a side I would likely never see.
What bothered me the most was that I knew he was judging me because I was human. It was that simple. If I had been a shifter, he wouldn't have been bothered, but because I wasn't, he hated me. He treated me differently.
I stopped walking a few feet away and took a deep breath in, but paused when I heard the door open behind me.
“Why are you running, Nina? Is it because you're a liar who told us you have a happy marriage, but your husband seems pretty chummy with the help? He pretty much was eating her alive with his eyes just now.”
I hated her. I hated all of them.
I wiped my eyes, hoping I didn't look like a mess. I turned and looked at them. Geneva quickly noticed I was hurt and went for it.
“You know, Nina, no matter what pack you are in, everyone knows the truth. You're just a loser. Even your husband thinks so.”
I bite hard onto my cheek, refusing to let any more tears break free. I wouldn't cry in front of them.
They walked closer, and I stepped back, having nowhere to run. Geneva crossed her arms, a sinister smile pulling at her lips. “You're just trash at the end of the day. A body that's dragging everyone down. If you truly wanted to be useful, you'd disappear.”
Chapter 8 - Frank
