Dark as the Night

28

James spent the next half hour on the opposite end of the booth from Odessa, a scowl plastered on his face. Eventually Leila tired of it and sighed, "James, if you're going to mean mug everyone who walks by, we'll never have any customers. Go take your pout to the van." Without a word in reply, he got up and stalked off like a sulky toddler. With the air thus cleared, the remaining three were able to finally relax.

"Has he always been like that?" Odessa asked on a relieved breath. Leila nodded.

"Ever since he was little. I used to babysit him so I saw many tantrums, from both McKenna boys..." She muttered the last part then continued, "He used to get angry and frustrated easily until he started getting serious about martial arts. Fighting became a good outlet for him and now his temper tends to lean more toward consistently moody with the occasional outburst. He and Liam are both known to relieve stress with a few rounds on the mat."

Odessa shifted uncomfortably. "Do you think I should apologize again for yesterday?"

"You can believe him when he says he's not mad at you." Tai said. "For all his bravado, he's surprisingly hard on himself." Odessa sat in pensive silence as she thought about that. Although it had never occurred to her that James might be self deprecating, she could believe it. He could be cold, moody, and teasing, but she'd seen the kindness he hid under his arrogance. That hidden vein of gold likely went deeper than she'd originally thought.

James listened to their conversation from the van. He didn't particularly like that they were talking about him, but he'd given them reason to, and what was more, he knew they were right. Leila and Tai knew him better than anyone, contrary to what Mina believed. Mina. She was the one who'd started this mess, but he wasn't even angry at her. He had been, when he realized that she'd been the one to plant those stupid ideas in Odessa's head, and he'd been angry at Odessa as well for being naïve enough to believe them.

But the blame rested squarely on his own shoulders, and he'd accepted that. He was the one who'd agreed to a relationship with Mina but was unable to make her feel secure in it. And he was the one who failed to realize that Odessa didn't know him well enough to be secure in their friendship.

So for now, he'd have a nice sulk and beat himself up. Later he'd convince Liam to join him in a match and he'd beat him up instead. He smiled. His mood was already lifting.

Liam returned to the booth a little later and Leila gave Tai and Odessa a wide smile. "Why don't you three go get some lunch and have fun? Liam and I will hold down the fort for a couple hours."

"I can't; I spent all my money already," Odessa said and slumped dejectedly in her chair.

Leila fished out a bill and handed it to her. "It's my fault for convincing you to buy so much. Take this and pay me back next week."

"Thank you, but it's ok," the girl replied with a rueful smile.

Leila's face and voice turned stern. "As your healer, I'm telling you it's not ok. You're still underweight and you need to eat. If you don't take it and go, I'll make James carry you." Her lips twitched upward. Odessa grabbed the money and stood abruptly, turning her fiercest glare on the woman. It wasn't very effective, and Tai chuckled and stood as well.

Suddenly, James was looming behind them. "You can't make me do anything," he said with a cocky half-smile. Leila arched an eyebrow at him.

"Remember those pictures I have of the scrawny red-headed kid with glasses, falling on his face?"

James immediately scooped Odessa up and slung her over his shoulder like a rag doll. "Where do you want her carried, ma'am?"