Leopard Moon

Chapter Sixteen

Cormac watched Kess move the tiny portions of food around on her plate. The easy banter of previous encounters had been lost as soon as they entered the restaurant. It had been an awkward first date so far and they weren't even through the appetizers yet. He had taken her to one of the fancier restaurants trying to make it memorable but it didn't seem to be working out that way.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Kess was subdued, even for her.

"Nothing." Her forced smile was unpleasant to look at.

"You're totally not comfortable here, are you?"

Kess made a face. "What gave it away?" Cormac laughed, reaching a decision.

Kess shrugged. "I guess I'm more used to serving people in restaurants like this, not eating in one." She kept her voice soft, as if afraid of disturbing other diners.

He motioned their server over and asked for the check. Kess looked shocked, but he smiled at her. He paid the bill then helped her into her coat. "Then let's get out of here."

"Thank you."

He took her to Spanky's. It was a college eatery that specialized in enormous sandwiches, beer specials and epic milkshakes. It was also loud and busy, so there would be no way Kess could feel self-conscious or like she didn't fit in. You could be wearing a muumuu, a hat made of live marmosets and leading in a penguin and nobody would look at you twice.

They were tucked into a small booth along one of the side aisles of the restaurant. Kess looked immediately happier and more relaxed. "Much better," she breathed, a small smile on her face.

He rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. "Agreed." He smiled at her.

She looked up from her napkin. "Thank you for thinking to take me to such a nice place. Unfortunately, it's wasted on me."

He frowned. "Why do you talk about yourself that way? Nothing is wasted on you."

She didn't answer him, instead opening up her menu to take a look at what was offered. It was an effective way of changing the subject. She was good at that. "This is much more like it. What's good?"

Cormac told her what he usually got, with the warning, "It's pretty big." At her look, he grinned. "Right. I keep forgetting. You've got an appetite like I do."

"And I'm starving."

They placed their orders, which included a chocolate milkshake for him and a strawberry one for her. The talked of this and that until their food came and then Cormac asked her what he'd been wanting to know since he'd found out she was a were.

"So what's it like for you?" He put his sandwich down.

"What's what like?" she asked around a mouthful of roast beef sandwich.

"You know. Being a cat."

She shrugged and he was beginning to learn that it was what she did when she either didn't want to answer or didn't have one. "I don't know. I've never had to explain it before. I would imagine it's a lot like what you feel when you're a wolf."

"Do you have to change at a certain time?"

Kess nodded. "No moon. But I can change any time, just like you. Are the legends true about werewolves? Do you go at the full moon?"

"Yeah. But we're weaker when there's no moon in the sky. You?"

"Same with us, except at full. I guess we come at the change from opposite sides." She took a sip of her milkshake and wound up sucking in her cheeks. Cormac smiled. The drink was so thick, Kess needed to use her spoon.