LILY

The loud noise throbbed through the room—the sounds of teenagers screaming, chatting, and throwing hot gossip back and forth echoed off the walls. I sat glued to a booth in the corner, eyes wide, forcing a tight, polite smile as I stared back across the table.

At Selene.

She had decided we should go out for another dinner to bond more. But once again, she had dragged me right back to the warzone she called a restaurant my type.

I let out a quiet sigh, resting my hands in my lap.

“So...” she drawled, leaning forward and tracing the rim of her glass with a manicured fingernail. “I heard...