Wolf Girl (Wolf Girl, #1)(22)

“And I mean, I just love to cook and clean all the time, is that a bad thing?”

Another joke, I didn’t even know how to boil an egg.

His smile widened. “Oh my mother will love that one. What else?”

I was enjoying the banter until a dark thought slipped into my mind.

Rape.

It happened just like that; when I was having fun or enjoying myself, my little inner demon liked to remind me that I was tainted. What would perfect Sawyer think of me if he knew that a gang of vampires took my virginity? My face fell as I tried to think of another fake flaw, and he noticed, his eyes clouding over and brows drawing together.

“I’m food motivated, so I should probably take my seat. That chicken smells divine.”

He nodded, but there was a strain between us. He’d sensed my mood change, and now I felt stupid.

I turned to leave and then remembered something. “Oh, thanks for the camera…” I faced him. “And for changing my major to the one I wanted. That was really sweet.”

He gave me a smile, but it wasn’t as big as before. Something danced behind his eyes like I was a puzzle and he was trying to figure me out. “You’re welcome, Demi.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek, sending a warm pulse of heat down my spine as his soft skin brushed against me.

There was no denying we had sexual chemistry. It felt like we were magnets constantly being pulled toward each other. It took a lot of effort to pull myself away from his center of gravity.

Sawyer wasn’t the bad boy alpha that I stereotypically thought he would be. He was nice, so fucking nice that I wanted to fight all these bitches for him.

When I turned to walk back to my seat, every eye was on me, lips curled and scowls in place.

Oops, my bad.

My gaze flicked to Sage and she was grinning like a fool.

I had just reached my seat when Sawyer handed his mother a piece of paper. Walking over to the podium, she smiled.

“Meredith Pepper, would you please join Sawyer as his first date?”

A sharp pain sliced through my heart and my face fell. Meredith made sure to look back at me with a smirk before she walked up to join Sawyer at his table, her dress tight and clinging to her perfect thin frame.

Sage leaned over. “His mom probably made him pick her first. She’s best friends with Meredith’s mom.”

I put a fake smile on and nodded. “Yeah, whatever.”

The waiter set a tray of food down before me and I forgot all about not being picked first. I served myself the smoked chicken with a honey glazed sauce and wild rice with a side of garlic potatoes while the other girls at the table ate salads.

“Is there dessert?” I looked around after eating my second bread roll. Sawyer was on his third date. Spoiler alert: I hadn’t been picked yet, but whatever, we were just friends. He brought me here to save me from Delphi hell, not to date me. I was already over it.

Sage snorted. “Menu says low-calorie gelato, but I know the chef and we can request chocolate cake if you want.”

I rolled my eyes. “As if that is even a question. I want!”

She got up and went to speak to the waiter while I watched Sawyer talk to Priya. He looked bored but she was insanely gorgeous, so how bored could he really be?

Ten minutes later, I patted my food baby as I licked the chocolate off my fork. “Holy yum.”

“You haven’t started the etiquette classes yet, have you?” Sage observed as she neatly cut a piece of chocolate cake before sticking it into her mouth.

“Hey.” I punched her arm playfully.

“Is Demi Calloway here?” Sawyer’s mother’s voice called loudly from the front of the stage.

Shit. I wiped the last vestiges of chocolate from my mouth as my attention snapped to the front and I stood, heart beating in my chest.

“You are Sawyer’s last date of the evening.” She gave me a sweet smile, but I could tell she didn’t look crazy thrilled about her son choosing me. I was regretting the “Hell no” comment on my compatibility form right about now. As I walked up to the front of the room, Sawyer’s gaze tracked me like he was stalking his prey, face void of any emotion, so I couldn’t read what he was thinking. When I reached the table, he stood and pulled out my chair like one of those fucking fancy guys in movies.

Maybe I did need the etiquette classes.

I took a seat and he slipped in next to me, moving his chair closer. “You smell like chocolate,” he whispered, causing a grin to pull at my lips.

“While you were enjoying your low-calorie gelato, Sage snagged us the good stuff.”

Another grin pulled at his lips and my entire stomach dropped out. Sawyer was one of those guys who got hotter when they smiled, like a rare gift you weren’t prepared for. And bam it came out of nowhere.

“I think I have the good stuff right here.” He winked at me.

Holy shifter babies, it took me a second to realize he was talking about me. Maybe we weren’t just friends…

I gulped and gave a nervous laugh. “Yeah, you totally pick the good stuff last,” I jived. “Makes perfect sense.”

He leaned in, bringing the heat of his body with him. “I saved the best for last. That way we can sneak out of here and no one will expect to see me anymore.”

I froze as a devilish smile played at my lips. “Sneak out?”