Althena

21. Took Out The Trash

Conner takes me shopping the next day. We spend 4 hours shopping everywhere in the city center district. Then he takes me up in a skyscraper so I can see the view.

He watches out the window with me. "Would you want to live here?"

"No. It's a beautiful view. But the outside seems so far. I would feel like a prisoner here."

"It takes a certain type of person to live in a penthouse. Let's eat dinner and head home." He takes me to a fancy restaurant inside the same skyscraper. "People never even have to leave the building. Everything they need is here."

"It's too much for me. I need space and people to talk to. Everything is so fancy and formal here."

"There's Darmon."

We notice each other at the same time. I smile and wave at him.

He comes over and shakes Conner's hand. "Nice to see you in the district. How are things in the market district?"

"Everything is perfect." Conner smirks. "How are things here?"

"Kind of boring today. You two enjoy your dinner." He goes back to his table. He's with some alpha's.

I scratch my head. "Why did he pretend he didn't know me?"

"He's an ass."

I roll my eyes. "I'm sure there's a reason."

"Yea, he doesn't want people to know he talks to us. He's treating us like complete strangers. Must be hiding something."

I think about it for a minute. He's only ever showed up at night. Nobody has seen us together. Even on the boat we were completely alone. He really doesn't want people to know he likes me. He must be ashamed of me. What an asshole. He could have just left me alone.

We get back to the shop. Conner's happy and Chris stares at me. "What happened?"

I tell him all about it and we agree, I should just be done with him. He didn't make the cut. I'm nothing to be ashamed of.

Darmon shows up that night. I try to shut the door in his face and he comes in anyway. "I'm sorry."

"You want to pretend not to know me? Just go back to not knowing me. I'm tired of sneaking around anyway. I want something real or nothing at all."

He shakes his head. "You don't know who they were. I can't let people know I like you. You would be a target. I feel bad enough about demontail. I can't let that happen again. So many people would be stalking you if they knew we were dating. We have to keep it a secret. I'm sorry for what happened today, but I couldn't explain it there. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. I knew you were upset but I couldn't do anything about it." He hands me a little box.

It's kind of shocking. "I never thought about it like that."

"It's to keep you safe." He kisses my cheek. "People can't know who the prince dates. It would cause so many problems. Please forgive me."

"I'll think about it."

He takes the ribbon off. "Open it, pretty girl."

I smile and open the present. "Beautiful." It's sapphire teardrop earrings with diamond accents and a matching bracelet. They're a match to the necklace. "Thank you."

"Forgive me please." He gives me a kiss. "I'm sorry I didn't explain it before. I should have. I never wanted to hurt your feelings. I ran over to your table and thought about it on the way. I couldn't show those alpha's who I like. Then I mumbled stupid words. I had to say something. I was confused. But I didn't mean to hurt you."

I rub his cheek and give him a little kiss. "I forgive you. I know now."

"Thank you, baby." He gives me another kiss and holds me against him. "You are amazing. Beautiful and sexy. So perfect."

I roll my eyes. "Now you're laying it on a little thick. I forgive you though."

He chuckles. "Thank you. I need to get out of here quickly. I had to make sure you were ok. I'll be in the south district for a couple of weeks. There are territory disputes down there."

"Have a good night. Thanks for checking on me. I'll see you when you get back."

"Yes you will, beautiful." I get one more kiss and he's gone.

I stick to my shop for a few days. Chris helps me cook and Conner runs the place. After lunch rush a lady comes in. I am shocked to see the queen.

"The queen is in my store."

Chris looks so fast, he falls over.

I smile at her. "Welcome, how can I help you?"

"We're having a party in a week and I would like one of the crystal balls. But huge. I want it to be a centerpiece for the dance floor. Will you make it?"

"I'm sorry but I only have a mold for this size. And my ovens aren't that big."

"I will have a mold crafted and you can do it at the party location. The ovens are plenty big. My mate is also requesting some of the cottage cheese salad. Where do I get that?"

Conner hands her a couple packaged bowls. "On the house."

"Thank you, sir. And the crystal ball?"

Chris nods. "We can go there and make it. Can we get a room for 2 days? I don't know how long it will take to cook."

"Perfect. I will have the mold and see you in 4 days. You'll be staying at the party venue. It's a nice place."

"Thank you."

She walks out and I about fall over. "I can't believe she knows where I live."

Chris nods. "I wonder why Darmon didn't come?"

"He's busy. Maybe he'll be at the party."

Conner smirks. "He can ignore you again."

I throw a towel at him.

Chris nods. "You should still call it off with him. He's going to ignore you and buy your forgiveness forever. You don't want a relationship like that."

"I don't know. What he said did make some sense."

"Just don't get serious with him."

"I won't do that. It seems like he's trying to buy me. It's weird."

"That's exactly what he's doing." Conner grabs a sandwich. "You should have fun making the huge crystal ball though. I'll send Moonlits credit card with you. You can shop in your down time."

"Are you coming?"

"No. I'll keep the store going. A big fancy party is not my style."

Chris laughs. "You have plenty of suits you could wear though."

4 days later, Chris and I leave for the city center. It's a 4 hour drive. We have fun with the music and snacks. We brought so much clay and the wood that turns to smoke in the balls. I'm hoping everything works out.

We get to the venue and the queen is there. She helps us get the room and shows us the kitchen. Then she invites us to stay for the party.

Once she leaves our room, Chris and I jump up and down. "I can't believe we're going to a royal party."

"We have to be fancy."

He runs for the phone. "I'll make appointments for our hair and your makeup. I'll get a fancy shave."

"We'll need time to shop for fancy clothes too."

"It's 2 days away, we'll be fine." He makes the appointments and we go to the kitchen. Nobody is cooking here yet.

We spend hours working with clay. We make 2 to be sure. Then we leave them set and put them in the oven in the morning. They take nearly all day to cook. They come out perfect though.

The day of the party, we shop all morning. The afternoon is hair and makeup. After that, we get ready in our room.

"I am so excited." I tighten the dress around me.

"Have you seen Darmon at all?" He gets his shoes on.

"No. Maybe he won't be here. I don't know. He said something about the south district before he left."

"I was hoping to get ignored. I would like for him to buy my forgiveness."

I crack up laughing and hook the strap on my shoe. "I'm ready."

"Me too." His phone rings. "I'm right behind you."

I walk down the hallway and hear him yell, "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

I shake my head. Always with the rumors. I step into the party room and it's beautiful. My crystal ball is near the door. It's at the start of the dance floor. I guess she changed her mind. She said it would be in the middle at first. I touch it and smile. It came out perfect. The colors swirl together inside it.

Chris grabs my arm. "I have news. Let's go."

"What's wrong?"

"We need to go."

"But the party." I look at the dance floor. Darmon is standing there with his arm around a girl. We make eye contact and he freezes. The color falls out of his face.

Chris pulls me. "It's his engagement party. They're announcing it."

"But." I look back at Darmon. I can tell in his eyes, it's true.

"Come on."

I turn around and walk out with Chris. We pack our stuff and get out of there so fast. I sit in the passenger seat and stare out the window. I feel embarrassed and humiliated. No wonder why he kept us a secret. Never let anyone know he was talking to me. "I'm stupid."

"No. You're not. He was good with excuses but you weren't serious anyway. You can do better than him. Just let go and keep your head up. We were trying to get rid of him anyway. She just took out the trash for us."

I giggle. "That's kind of true."

I feel a little better already. It is embarrassing but I wasn't really into him and I hated the way he would make me feel. I think about Conner. Always helping me.

"How did you know?"

"Conner called. I guess he heard a rumor and called me right away. He was trying to prevent you from seeing it. But he was 4 seconds to late."

"At least he tried."

Chris slams on the brakes. "What the hell is this?" We watch a helicopter land in front of us.

Darmon jumps out and runs to the car. "I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you. I have to have a luna. It's you..."

I take the box out of his hand and hit him on the head with it.

Chris dives over me and grabs the box. "I'll work on getting her to forgive you. You should probably go back to your party though. Congratulations on your engagement."

I roll my eyes and Darmon steps back.

"Drive around it, Chris." He goes around it and we keep going home. "He's an idiot."

"Yea, but I got the box. What did you get this time?"

I crack up laughing and open it. "Ring. It's a matching ring." We have the best laugh about it. I don't know why it's hilarious. But it really is.

"You got a ring and the trash took itself out. This just worked out for the best."

I nod and think about Mike. I can't help but smile. He's always been there for me. "I think I'm ready to visit woodland again."

"Going to claim your man?"

"He's not my man. We're not like that. It was a promise he made."

"The way he looks at you, isn't a promise."

I spend the rest of the drive thinking about everything he's done for me.

4 hours later, we pull up to the shop. Chris watches me walk in the door and set the alarm. Then he heads home.