The Expiring Series Bonus Chapters (Expiration Date, Expired, Exported, Exposed)

Bently~~

Two things:

One: Never, and I mean never, let the Beta of Elleany take you out for waffles at three in the afternoon.

Two: If you ignore that illustrious advice, never under any circumstances accidently drink his coffee over your own.

Colton's eyes narrow, his fork with a skewered piece of waffle hovering in the air. He clamps down on the metal fork, probably imagining it's my tongue.

And I quite like my tongue. I can do a lot of things with it.

Like taste coffee that doesn't belong to me—not very good coffee mind you.

And, also, it's good for talking myself out of . . . er . . . non-preferable situations.

"I'll order you a refill."

His glare tightens.

"I'll buy you a coffee machine." I signal for our waiter. "Your very own coffee machine."

His eyes flick down to the cup. "It has your germs."

"We're family. My germs are basically the same as yours."

"No, they aren't. You kissed her."

I wince, heat working its way up the sides of my neck. "I—"

"What can I get you, Digamma, Beta?" The waiter bows to each of us.

I push down the unpleasant emotions clambering up in me. "A refill of your"—disgusting—"coffee. In a new cup."

"Right away, Digamma."

Once the waiter leaves, I take a bite of my waffle, a slice of banana stacked on top of it. Colton's still staring at me like I broke his favorite toy.

I let out a sigh and wipe my mouth with my napkin. "We didn't know." I've been over this with him, with Jonas. "I thought I was dreaming. I thought it was Abella."

"It doesn't change the fact that you still kissed her and now her germs are on this." He points to the mug.

"You've had a girlfriend for how long? If you think that's how an indirect kiss works, you apparently need some growing up to do."

He stabs his fork into his next bite. "Says the man who's never had a girlfriend. And besides." He leans forward. "We both know you love her."

My throat tightens, and I know I won't be able to take another bite. "What does that—Why are we here, Colton?"

"Because you've been moping about the Estate, and Jonas notices."

All Colton can focus on is the part about Iris, not what I went through, what I witnessed in the catacombs. "So you stole me away so I don't cockblock Jonas?"

He rubs the bridge of his nose. "Vienna gave me a list of suggestions for places to take your mind off France. Waffles was at the top."

"And second?"

He shrugs, raising the fork to his mouth. "Fire."

Colton's idea of fire is a candle shop apparently. Mine would have been explosives.

In the middle of the Westerton candle shop is a metal table in the shape of a U with stools placed along one side. Most of the stools are piled with bags and jackets. A few seat guests who converse with the staff members wearing gray aprons on the other side of the table. Along the table are placemats, trays, and some strange looking tools that seem fitting for a doctor to shove in you.