Free Shattered (the Spellbound Series Book 2) by Rene Lanausse Page A

everyone’s curious stares.
                  The minute I push my way out through the front entrance, I try to breathe as deeply as I can, hoping I’ll be able to keep my food down. I don’t know why the mental image of a long dead vampire effected me so much; gore has never really bothered me before. And I never actually saw what happened to him, so it’s just my imagination that’s making my stomach turn. After a few minutes of deep breathing and ignoring the stares of countless people walking by, I’ve stopped sweating, and my insides no longer feel like they’re trying to climb out. I breathe a sigh of relief; my gag reflex has been far too easy to set off lately, and I’m starting to get sick of being sick.
                  Once I’m confident that lunch won’t be making a reappearance, I turn around to head back into the restaurant. That’s when I spot Lily near the entrance, leaning against the window with her arms crossed. “Are you alright?,” she asks as I approach the entrance.
                  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just started feeling a little sick. I guess I can’t handle dairy like I used to.”
                  “It happens to the best of us.” Lily reaches into her pocket and pulls out a carton of cigarettes, one of which she offers to me. I shake my head; the one time I did try smoking a few years ago, I coughed until I saw spots. I took it as a sign not to get into the habit. Lily shrugs, and lights one up for herself, then exhales a puff of smoke as she says, “I’m sorry the claws came out a little when we met on your birthday. I’m not normally that bitchy, honest. I just didn’t feel like being in the same breathing space as you when I was so jealous of you.”
                  “ You were jealous of me ?”
                  “Yeah. Allie may be dating me, but we both know at least a tiny piece of her heart will belong to you forever.” Lily flicks some ash onto the ground, and continues, “Now that I know you a little better, I’m not as worried. You don’t seem to have any interest in my girlfriend, so we’re cool.”
                  If only she knew. If only I knew; I’m never sure exactly how I feel about Alyssa. The one thing I am sure of is that for the most part, I’m happy with Nick. So I smile at Lily, and tell her, “Don’t worry. She’s all yours.”
                  “Good.” There doesn’t seem to be anything more to say, so I try to make my way to the door. Before I get very far, Lily asks, “How do you actually feel about Nick?”
                  “What?”
                  “You seem like you’re tired of him, even though he’s clearly got it bad for you. I’m just wondering, are you as invested in your relationship as he is?”
                  That’s a hard question coming from a near stranger. But I mull it over for a moment, and answer, “Yeah, I’m invested in it. Things have just been rocky on my end lately, and most of it has nothing to do with him. But… I dunno, you ever just wake up one day and realize that someone isn’t as perfect as you thought they were?”
                  “No yeah, I get that. Don’t get me wrong, I love Allie to death, but sometimes she drives me up the fucking wall.” Lily takes another drag from her cigarette, and says with a smile, “That’s the thing, though. You don’t fall for someone because they’re perfect. You fall for them because they’re broken in all the right ways.”
                  I shove my hands in my pockets, and walk a little further from the door. “Yeah. Doesn’t mean loving them isn’t a challenge sometimes.”
                  “Depends. If they’re worth fighting for, it’s most important to love them when it is a challenge.”
                  “I guess that’s true.” I’m about to try making for