The Sickened Luna's Last Chance novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

+25 BONUS

“There’s a lot you don’t realize,” I said, then immediately regretted it as a nearby couple glanced our way. We were supposed to be playing the happy couple, not bickering in public. I forced a smile and pretended that I hadn’t said it at all.

Alexander didn’t respond to that, not that he had time to. The waiter returned a moment later and set our plates down with a smile.

“One turkey club for my favorite Luna,” he said with a wink. “And a chicken salad for the Alpha. Can I get you anything else? More water? Another napkin? A smile, perhaps?” The last was directed at Alexander, who looked like he was busy chewing on a piece of glass.

“We’re fine, thank you,” Alexander said stiffly.

The waiter raised an eyebrow at me, and I gave him a small smile that I hoped conveyed both apology and gratitude. He nodded slightly before heading off to another table.

“Your waiter is awfully familiar,” Alexander said once he was out of earshot.

I picked up my sandwich. “He’s friendly to everyone.”

“He called you his favorite Luna.”

“It’s just how he talks.” I took a bite of my sandwich, the familiar flavors of turkey, bacon, and avocado a welcome comfort. “The food here is really good. Better than a granola bar, right?”

Alexander took a bite of his food. His mouth twitched, almost forming a smile before he caught himself. “It’s acceptable,” he muttered. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

We ate in silence for a while. I tried not to stare as Alexander methodically worked his way through his salad, making sure each bite had the perfect ratio of lettuce, chicken, and dressing.

Had he always eaten like that? So… carefully?

He probably had. I’d never really seen him eat before. Even at banquets, he wouldn’t really enjoy the food. He was always too busy mingling while I would sit alone at our table.

Five years of marriage, and this was our first lunch date. The thought made my chest constrict painfully.

Around us, the cafe continued to buzz with conversation and laughter. A couple at the table next to ours fed each other bites of chocolate cake, giggling between kisses. I looked away, focusing on my sandwich instead of the pain in my heart.

As we ate, I tried to think of something to say, some topic of conversation that wouldn’t lead to an argument or more awkward silence, but my mind was blank. I didn’t even know where to begin, or if it was even possible to elicit the same smiles and laughter that the other women

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Chapter 49

+25 BONUS

coaxed from their partners.

Maybe this had been a mistake. I’d thought lunch in a real restaurant would be better than eating granola bars in the woods, but at least out there, we’d had the patrol to focus on. Here, there was nothing but us and the empty space between us.

Suddenly, I felt my neck prickle. I glanced out the window, wondering if the paparazzi had followed us here.

Sure enough, I spotted a man with a camera partially hidden behind a newspaper at an outdoor table across the street. He was trying to be subtle but I spotted him right away.

Great. So not only was this lunch painfully awkward, but it was going to be documented for all the world to see. “Alpha and Luna’s Disastrous Date” would probably be the headline

tomorrow.

Unless…

I glanced back at Alexander, who was still eating with that precise, methodical approach. The cafe was full of couples being, well, couple-y. Holding hands, sharing food, laughing together. And there we were, sitting in utter silence like strangers who had been forced to share a table.

No wonder the paparazzi was interested. We weren’t doing a very good job of appearing in love.

I needed to do something. Something that would look good in photos, something that would support the narrative we were trying to create. Something that would make us look like a real couple.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I speared a pickle from my plate with my fork and held it out to him. “Open wide…”