The Not So Lonely Lone Wanderer Book 1

Chapter 15 - Reveal Pt. 2

As usual, her head was down over a book and tablet, stylus tapping out an impatient tune. Hunter slid into the booth across from Arianna, giving her a playful kick under the table. "You ever get bored with all that?" It had been a week since the incident in the fitness center and things had quieted down again.

Looking up, it took a moment for the 'who' to filter in, the slightly absent minded professor air fading just a touch with the welcoming grin flashed his direction. "No, population genetics are really pretty fascinating." She paused and took a sip of the tea at her elbow. "Something you should be more concerned about."

Hunter frowned and peered at her work, nearly unreadable considering it was upside down and mostly numbers and statistics. "Why should I be worried?"

A free hand waved to encompass the entire diner, thinly populated at the late hour. "This place is dying. Not enough people to keep the gene pool viable." Hunter just looked confused so she continued. "Think about it, dwindling numbers, fewer live births because of increased pairings between related individuals, including close inbreeding. It's reducing genetic diversity and affecting individuals at several life stages." The air of confusion on his face just increased and she laughed. "What don't you get?"

"All of it." He would have said more but a slightly unsteady approach drew his eye. "Damn..." Hunter tried to wave the approaching disaster off.

"You can't be happy with taking one, now you have to come after the other?" Maryanne, obviously well into a second or third bottle of something spoke from behind their position.

Arianna looked around, trying to see just who the comment was directed at as Hunter glowered and started to slide out of the corner while Maryanne kept going. "That's right, you get away from that teenaged slut." The affronted stare from rapidly narrowing eyes made him attempt a speed up that just tangled the long legged security guard up more. He finally extricated himself from the booth and grabbed the other woman's arm in a none to gentle press of fingers. "Come on Maryanne, let's get you back to your quarters." Problem was, it wasn't fast enough.

The comments had brought Arianna's back up. "Really? First, you've given the men in the vault more rides than a giddyup buttercup so don't pretend you have a moral leg to stand on. Second, you're drunk. Come back and make your point when I don't have to decipher the muddled crap coming out of your mouth."

Hunter looked stunned. "Raina!" Chris, who'd come up from behind a few seconds before echoed the aghast exclamation. Maryanne, for once, was completely speechless.

Arianna glanced around and spied Alice, waving her over from the table that her detractor had probably started from. "Hey Alice, can you get her home? Before she does something regrettable?" While the pair started to stagger off, she waved at Chris with the sweetest smile. "Hey." Sensing the drama was over, most of those who'd been watching the exchange began to wander off, leaving the trio pretty much alone except for three of the older residents drinking coffee at a corner booth far from their section of the diner.

Her lover took a seat next to her with a reproachful stare but she already switched her gaze to Hunter. "Makes battin' clean up look a bit less attractive hmm?"

"No shit." It took a moment for her remark to sink in as he reclaimed his seat. "Hey! You and that mouth are..."

Hunter didn't get to finish the comment before Arianna laughed and interrupted. "Speaking the truth?" The momentary hilarity faded and she reached over to cover his hand with hers. "Really you deserve better."

Hunter yanked his hand back and cut her off. "Right now it works. Don't you have to go do something we don't approve of?"

Looking confused, Arianna settled back, then began to gather her things. Chris, who'd been quiet up until then ruffled her hair. "Her mouth always gets ahead of her." Blue eyes went from the female to the male. "But I'm sure she means well. And I happen to agree. You deserve better."