The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

28. Hot Pink Flamingos

Kaitlin:

Two very sugary donuts later and a second coffee in hand, I went grocery shopping in the silly ripped jeans Javier bought me. He'd whined the other day about me never wearing it out.

Sethan's wolf, Quinn held a large cup of coffee too and stood an aisle over cross from me by the apples. I pulled my cart up along the banana section and reached out an for the slightly more brown ones. He raised his brows and lifted his coffee to cover the judgement that was likely on his lips as I selected the oldest looking bananas. Little did he know that those tasted the best fried and caramelized.

I let him think what he wanted and went to check out the apples. Quinn scratched his beard and didn't budge, that prick. He was likely testing me somehow. I decided not to let him stop me. I was baking that apple pie and I didn't care where he decided to stand. I said nothing when I reached around him, careful not to touch him.

I grabbed the best ones and bagged them.

I couldn't help it, "Aren't you supposed to be ducking behind aisles?"

Quinn took another careful sip before answering, "He didn't specify." He continued stalking me through the dairy section and to the deli. I went straight for the wings. 

"Fried or grilled?" I quizzed him. He'd been getting a few looks from the other shoppers and they seemed to be putting the extra effort of going around us. Quinn didn't look particularly scary but the permanent scowl on his face wasn't exactly welcoming. 

His response was nearly instant, "Grilled."

"Hmm." I commented because I planned on frying mine. I don't know why I thought I'd find common grounds with a werewolf. They ate healthy, who knew. I went off to grab what I wanted and had to backtrack to grab eggs which I'd forgotten. Quinn paused near my cart when I did and we ventured quietly through the rest of the deli until he got weird.

"We're having a barbecue tomorrow." he said dryly. It wasn't an invitation exactly. More of a statement. Was he trying to be friendly or did he think I was going to crash it and decided to warn me?

I left my cart and him beside it to check out the salmon.

Quinn's boots enter my peripheral vision and I let my eyes travelled up to met his blue eyes that looked hazel in this lighting. He didn't smile or frown. He simply observed me.

Was he trying to figure me out? Had that been an invite?

Hold on, was he flirting with me?

I tried to keep my eyes from bugging out and spotted the subtle twist on his lips.

Yup.

He was messing with me.

I took my salmon to my cart and feigned interest, "Are you inviting any demons?"

"Not that I know of."

I grunted, faking disappointment and caught sight of his cowboy boots, "Ride any horses lately then?"

"Yes." he answered and I gaped at him like a weirdo. I'd meant that as a joke and never thought he'd say yes. Quinn blinked back at me with blank eyes and I couldn't look away. 

"Did he ask you to creep me out?"

"No." he replied and pressed his lips together firmly, catching my drift. It was his wolf. Quinn's wolf was having difficulty placing me on his annoying hierarchy scale. It was stupid but it was his nature. Quinn though, was trying to hold back. Sethan was still naming me off limits. 

"Then why are we having a staring contest?"

"You tell me." he grumbled. 

I looked up to the ceiling and waved my hands dramatically, mimicking a crazy woman who needed saving. I kept short from screaming though. Quinn stepped back and watched curiously. He didn't comment which made things worse. He'd started a dominance battle with me for no reason. I wasn't a wolf so why did he care? He shouldn't even be following me.