Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Hayley’s POV

“Is everything okay?” Kayden reached across the table and held my hand.

I nodded, desperately trying to hold back the tears. I looked around the restaurant; I had drawn quite a few eyes with my voice.

My breath was still irregular, and my heart was racing. I felt choked.

I put my phone back in my purse and stared at the plate of pasta I was no longer in the mood to devour.

“Hey, I’m right here. Who was that, and why are you so upset?”

I raised my head to look at Kayden’s concerned face. This was meant to be a perfect first date, and somehow the universe had chosen now of all times for Aiden to finally come and stare up at my emotions.

“It’s just someone I used to… it’s no one. I don’t want to talk about it.” Explaining was pointless; how was I supposed to tell him Aiden was my stepbrother, who was also my second chance mate?

“Okay, I won’t push it.” He said it calmly and gently brushed his thumb against the back of my palm.

I felt safe with him, and he seemed to care about me. I didn’t want to ruin tonight, but I had lost my appetite.

I forced a smile and began eating, forcing myself not to throw up and look happy. I guess my acting skills must have been horrible because he sighed and dropped his fork.

“Is something wrong?” I asked sheepishly; I didn’t want to hurt him. After all, he had decided to take me to one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.

“No, it’s fine.” He signed for a waiter, who hurried to our side.

“Can you get me the bill?” He said that, and the waiter walked away.

“We’re leaving?” We had only been here for like twenty minutes, and I was feeling guilty.

“Yeah ”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize; I set up the date for you, but right now you look like you could use some air.” He smiled reassuringly.

We walked out of the restaurant hand in hand and into the busy night.

“I’m still sorry I ruined the mood,” I said, wrapping my hand around his arm as we walked down the street.

“It’s not your fault; whoever was at the other end of that call is to blame. And how can I complain that I got to see you in this beautiful black dress?”

We both laughed; he always had a way of diffusing awkward situations. We stopped by his car and stared at the sky.

“Why don’t we change plans?” He asked.

“What do you mean?”

“We were supposed to have an indoor date, but what if you do something outside?”

“What do you have in mind?” I was willing to do whatever it meant, as long as it meant I could spend more time with him.

“How about a movie at a drive-through?”

“Dressed like this?”

We were both formally dressed; it would be like showing up to church in swimming gear, totally out of place.

“We’d be in the car the entire time; no one would notice, and I know just the spot. What do you say?” He cupped my face in his hands and looked into my eyes.

I thought about it for a while, then shrugged my shoulders. I guess that could work. I needed something to take my mind off Aiden, so I was on board.

“Okay, sure, let’s go.”

We got in the car and drove quite a distance. I spotted the gigantic projection of a movie before I noticed the cars all pulled up in front of it.

“See, no one’s going to see us.” Kayden parked the car, and my eyes were fixed on the screen.

“I’m going to go see if I can get some popcorn or snacks.”.

“You’re leaving me in the car alone?”

“I’ll be right back. A friend of mine set it up; you’re safe.”

I wasn’t afraid that I was in any danger. I just didn’t want to be left alone with my thoughts.

He took off his suit jacket and handed it to me.

“I’ll be right back.” He kissed my forehead and disappeared into the night.

I looked back at the projection, two minutes in, and you could already tell that it was a romance movie-a cheesy one at that.

I looked around at the other cars, and I could make out the silhouettes of people cuddling or kissing. Way to go, Kayden. I was trying to forget my mate, and here we were at a mating ground.

I laughed at the ring of my situation, and I heard a knock on the car door. Kayden was holding two bowls of popcorn. I helped him open the door, and he handed me a bowl.

“You like the movie? he asked.

“By any chance, is your friend a cupid?” I teased

“No, what? You don’t like romance?” He grinned

“You know what you’re doing.”

He moved in closer, our faces just an inch apart.

“Can I kiss you?”

He’d gotten into the habit of asking before he did anything after that time at the club; it was his way of showing me that he respected me.

I nodded, and he kissed me.

“I figured a little romance would cheer you up.”

“Thank you.”

We watched the movie holding hands, and when that was over, Kayden gave me a ride home.

“How did your fancy date go?” My mom asked when I got into the house.

“Great.” My mind found its way back to Aiden.

He had been so angry about Kayden, but the thing was, who told him? It was definitely not his dad. My mom hadn’t told him about Kayden yet, and I doubt anyone from school was still in contact with him.

It wasn’t like he had a drone following me around, so there had to be an explanation; someone had told him for whatever reason.