Again, he looks at Reign — who’s come up to his feet now — as if expecting something from him, but Reign is weirdly silent and I think broody. I wonder if it’s because he’s thinking what I’m thinking, that this new guy did interrupt us.
Then the guy looks back at me and jerks his chin. “I’m Lucas.”
“Oh, um, I’m Echo,” I say automatically because it’s only polite.
But then I freeze because I hear an honest to God growl.
Agrowl.
And I swear it’s coming from Reign.
But before I can confirm it, the new guy — Lucas — says, “Echo.” Then, smiling, “Pretty name.”
Okay, this time I’m sure there’s a growl. But I’m too polite to switch my focus back to Reign and ignore Lucas’s compliment. “Thank you.”
Still I glance over at Reign from the corner of my eye and notice that his fists are clenched.
“You have to forgive him,” Lucas says, shrugging, stealing my focus again. “Reign and good manners don’t mix well. I’m used to it by now though. I’m this asshole’s best friend.”
“Best friend?”
“Yeah. I know it’s hard to believe.” Lucas chuckles. “Seeing how charming I am.”
Well, he is charming, I guess.
Also easy-going and friendly.
But my mind is too much on Reign to really appreciate that.
My silence doesn’t deter Lucas though. “So I’ve never seen you around before this. Who are —”
“Let’s go.”
Those are the first words Reign has spoken since Lucas got here. And even though they’re curt, I can’t help but breathe in a sigh of relief.
That he spoke. Maybe now I can figure out what’s wrong.
Why is Reign glaring at his own best friend?
“But I’m having a conversation here,” Lucas protests good-naturedly, smiling.
Not that it affects Reign in the slightest. His mysterious bad mood doesn’t thaw at all. In fact, it becomes worse and he growls, “Yeah? I don’t fucking care. Come on.”
With that, he moves.
He starts to walk away and I’m not going to lie, every step that he takes away from me, my chest grows tighter, my breaths faster.
Where is he going? We haven’t finished our talk yet and we were in the middle of the most important part. Shouldn’t we finish that?
Also, when am I going to see him again?
Iamgoing to see him again, right?
I’m not even sure how long he’s staying here for and…
I’m about to call out to him but Lucas gets there first. “Jesus, what’s your problem? I —”
Reign comes to a halt then, his shoulders tight and his back moving on a wave of a breath. Turning around to face Lucas, he goes, “She’s no one.”