Chapter 117: An Evening Out

Michael’s POV

My phone vibrated against the table. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Alaric.

"Just landed in Boston."

I typed my reply.

"I’ll be there soon."

I put the phone away and looked across the table at Emerald. She was still finishing her meal, apparently in no hurry to leave.

Since she had come with her Jeep, there was no reason for me to take her back to the dorm.

When she finished, we left the café together and walked toward the parking area.

"I need to head to the airport," I told her once we reached our cars. "Adrian just arrived."

She nodded. "Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Yes."

She opened her Jeep door, then paused. "Don’t forget our breakfast."

"I won’t."

She smiled before getting into the Jeep. I watched her drive away, then got into my Aston Martin.

The drive to the airport was uneventful. Boston traffic was heavier than I would have preferred, but I had no difficulty making my way through it.

By the time I reached the airport, Alaric was already waiting outside.

I spotted him before he noticed me.

He turned when the Aston Martin approached, and a smile appeared on his face as soon as he recognised the car.

I pulled up beside him and unlocked the doors.

He opened the rear passenger door first and threw his small hand luggage inside. He shut the door, then opened the front passenger door and climbed in.

"Lucien," he called. "You sure took your sweet time."

I pulled away from the curb. "Of course." Then I spared him a glance. "I had more important appointments to keep than picking you up from the airport."

He placed a hand over his chest and looked at me as though I had wounded him. "That’s how you welcome your best friend after he travels across the country to visit you?"

I gave him a sideways glance. "Why didn’t you find your way to my condo like the last time you came?"

He chuckled and settled deeper into the seat. "Because I don’t have the energy today."

I looked at him again. He looked tired, although I knew better than to mistake exhaustion for weakness.

Alaric had spent the last several days moving from one operation to another, dealing with the consequences of our campaign against the shapeshifters.

A few days away from Los Angeles would probably do him some good.

He was quiet for perhaps half a minute, then he leaned towards me. I continued driving.

Alaric sniffed once, then again, before leaning back into his seat with a knowing expression.

"I can see you were out with Miss Hugo."

I kept my eyes on the road. "She had lunch with me."

He smiled. "I didn’t ask what you were doing."

"You were going to, so I had to answer ahead," I said to him.

"I already know what you were doing."

"Then there was no need to ask."

He laughed quietly. I ignored him and continued driving. But I knew that expression.

He had noticed her scent the moment he got into the car, and now that he knew she had been with me, he was probably going to be insufferable for the rest of the afternoon.

I had made one mistake. I should have picked him up in a different outfit.

The silence between us lasted for several minutes before Alaric broke it.

"We’re going to a club tonight."

I glanced at him briefly before returning my attention to the road. "Didn’t you fly all the way to Boston because you wanted to get some rest?"

"I did," he replied without hesitation.

I looked at him again, waiting for an explanation.

He simply shrugged. "Rest does not mean I have to sit inside your condo all day. I want to see what the most prestigious club in Boston feels like."

"You’ve been to Boston before."

"That doesn’t mean I’ve experienced everything the city has to offer."

I shook my head. "You could have gone to sleep."

"I could have," he admitted, with a faint smile. "But you never take me anywhere when I visit. The last time I came, I had to find my own way around."

"You seemed to manage perfectly well."

"Of course I managed. I’m simply saying that this time, you are taking me out."

"I don’t remember agreeing to that."

"You will."

His confidence made me smile despite myself.

Then he added, "Besides, you live here. You should at least know where people with money go when they want to have a good time."

"I know enough places."

Alaric turned toward me with a grin. "Apparently, you don’t go to any of them anymore."

I already knew where he was going with that. "Don’t start."

"I haven’t said anything."

"You were about to."

He laughed quietly. "Fine. I won’t mention Miss Hugo."

I said nothing, keeping my attention on the road. A few seconds passed before he spoke again.

"I am curious about one thing, though."

"What?"

"Is she coming tonight?"

"No."

The answer came out faster than I intended. Alaric noticed immediately. Of course he did.

A knowing smile appeared on his face, but, to his credit, he didn’t pursue the subject.

"Good," he said as he settled back into his seat. "Then we can actually enjoy ourselves."

I glanced at him. "You make it sound as though having Emerald around would prevent us from enjoying ourselves."

"It might."

I gave him another look, but he only smiled. Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.

We had stopped at a traffic light, so I glanced at the screen and saw that Emerald had sent me a message.

"Are you with your friend now?"

I typed a quick response with one hand. "Yes. I’m taking him home."

Her reply arrived almost immediately.

"Okay. Don’t forget tomorrow morning."

I smiled faintly before answering. "I won’t."

When I put the phone down, I noticed Alaric watching me. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to.

I started driving again and shook my head. "I suppose you’re taking me to this prestigious club after all," I said.

He smiled. "I knew you would come around."

"I haven’t promised anything."

"You just did."

I glanced at him. "Don’t mistake tolerance for enthusiasm."

He laughed. "Whatever you say, Lucien."

I accelerated as the traffic cleared, already regretting agreeing to spend the evening with him.

However, there was little point in changing my mind now.

Alaric had come to Boston claiming that he needed a few days away from Los Angeles to rest, and somehow, within less than an hour of arriving, he had already turned his visit into an evening out.