Unspoken (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3)(2)

Chase, in a quick swoop, swapped places with her and used his arm to hide her face from Lilly’s view. However, the way he leaned in, his hand on the wall, his lips inches from hers, gave the impression they were making out—swapping spit—in a bathroom. Oh, yeah, like that was something she’d actually do. Everyone knew what kinds of germs hung out in public restrooms.

“What…? Della?” Lilly, her human former friend, blurted out as if shocked. The girl rose on her tiptoes to see over Chase’s shoulder. “Is that … you?”

Della glanced to the side to hide her eyes and canines. “Yeah.”

“Oh, my,” Lilly said. “And who are … you?”

No doubt the question was meant for Chase. Della didn’t glance up at his expression, but she knew he’d put on his charm: all smiles and good ol’ boy innocent eyes. “I’m a friend.” His voice still held on to the tease.

“Looks like you’re a good friend,” Lilly said in a playful tone. “Are you the notorious Steve?”

Chase’s shoulders tightened. His gaze shot to Della, the humor in his eyes fading to hurt, maybe even jealousy.

Not that he had any right to feel it.

Della forced her fangs in, and attempted to calm her inner vamp. “No, he’s just someone I know from Shadow Falls.”

Feeling under control, she nudged Chase back, giving herself a couple of inches, but no more. Not enough room for him to slide out. She focused on Lilly and motioned to Chase. “We need to talk. Can you give us—”

“No,” Chase said. “I just wanted to say hi. I’ll swing by your place later.”

“No.” She cut him a cold glare. He was not getting away. Della grabbed his arm, her grip locked around his bicep. “I’d prefer to chat now.” She slapped a smile on her face for Lilly’s sake.

“Don’t be silly. It’s a girls’ night out.” He gently pried her fingers free with ease.

Then before she knew his intent, he’d planted a quick kiss on her lips. His tongue swiped across her bottom lip, making her knees weak. That taste … That quick taste of him had her breath hitching. Her body humming. Her heart wanting. And she hated her own weakness.

She inhaled, fighting the bond while at the same time resisting the urge to go full vamp on his ass again. But before she could figure out her next move, he’d moved out the door. Gone.

Lilly, whom Della hadn’t even thought about in a year, leaned against the wall. She stared in shock at his quick exit. “Wow, he’s fast.” Then she giggled and shook her finger at Della. “Now, now, Miss Tsang. I think you’re keeping secrets.”

Ya think? Della wanted to scream. The first secret was a real doozy. Della was no longer human. Hence the reason she lived at Shadow Falls, a boarding school for supernaturals. If not for the trouble at home, she’d still be at school—with friends who understood and didn’t judge her for downing a glass of blood every now and then.

She didn’t even understand why Lilly had just shown up tonight. If her mom hadn’t overheard Lilly’s invite, and insisted Della go, she wouldn’t be in this jam. But since her family didn’t know her secrets, it was kind of hard to explain why she couldn’t maintain old friendships.

“No, no secrets,” Della lied. “That wasn’t at all what it looked like. He’s just … a guy.”

“He didn’t look like just a guy.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” Della walked out. She moved down the hall and inhaled to see if she could still lock on to Chase’s scent. She let go of a deep gasp of air. Only the smell of hamburgers and fries scented the air. Still, her gaze shifted left then right, hoping for the off chance he was still around. Nope.

Chase was gone. Why the hell had she let him get away? The answer bumped into her back. Literally. Lilly. If Della had used force to detain him, her old friend would have freaked. Then she might have mentioned it to Della’s parents. And with all the crap going on with her dad’s murder charge, the last thing she wanted to do was give her parents something else to toss and turn about at night.

She faced Lilly, but someone called her name.

“Della Tsang?”

Della turned and saw Mrs. Chi inching closer. She was an older neighbor who co-owned a small jewelry store with her husband, just a couple of blocks away from Della’s house. “I have not seen you in forever, young lady.”

“Hi,” Della said and noticed her neighbor glance at Lilly. “This is my friend Lilly Shay.”

“Hello,” Mrs. Chi said. Lilly barely nodded. She hadn’t even met the woman’s eyes and was already pulling her phone up. Had her mother never taught her manners?

“How is Chester?” Della asked. Before she’d left for Shadow Falls, she’d cared for the Chis’ cat when they’d gone on vacations.

“The same. He brought me dead rat yesterday. I call exterminator out and they say I have no rats in my home or the store. Where does that cat go to find them?”

“He gets around,” Della said, remembering she’d seen the cat snooping around her dad’s shed three nights ago when she’d gone out late to the supernatural blood bar.

Mrs. Chi patted Della’s arm. “I will go and grab dinner for Bojing. He is at store … closing.” She glanced at Lilly. “Have good night. Be careful. It is dangerous for two girls to be alone. The neighborhood is not safe as it used to be.”