CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) by Karina Espinosa Page A

“Seriously?” I deadpanned. After all this time, did they think I was that out of control? “Well if it isn’t Dumb & Dumber.” I walked back to the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Amy was frozen in a corner while I reached for my mug to refill it. “What do you guys want?”
    “You…you can shift at will?” Jonah asked, he stood in shock.
    “What can I say, I’m skilled like that,” I winked at him and took a sip of coffee.
    “Well,” Amy floundered with what to say. “That is uh…good to know. Definitely a detail you missed.”
    I chuckled. “I’m not some rabid animal that’s been living on the streets and eating out of trash cans. I was very comfortable in my downtown apartment and cushy job. So take a breather.”
    Jackson was the only one who didn’t seem surprised. That made me raise a brow until my phone started to vibrate in my back pocket. I looked at the screen and Roman’s name appeared. I hit the silent button and ignored his call.
    “Are you serious?” Jonah asked. He wore fitted jeans and a flannel button-up. Same ol’ Jonah. I had to recall what we had been talking about. Oh yeah, me living it up in LA.
    “As a heart attack,” I smirked. “So to what do we owe this visit?”
    Amy cleared her throat. “Sorry Kenz that might be my fault. I made plans with Jackson.”
    “Speaking of which,” I glared at the traitorous wolf, “you and I need to have a chat.”
    Jackson scratched at the back of his head, his brown eyes looking anywhere but at me. “Mackenzie, don’t be so dramatic.”
    “Dramatic? You haven’t seen nothing yet, Cadwell.”
    “It’s not like I planned to bone your best friend, it just happened!” he yelled. “Sue me for thinking with the wrong head!”
    I scoffed. “Of course! Blame it on your dick! Real smooth there, Casanova.”
    Amy giggled. “Kenz, relax, we’ll talk about this later.”
    “No way, Aims. He told me he’d look out for you. I left you behind for this specific reason, making my grand gesture moot.”
    “Maybe you shouldn’t have left me then,” she said, still hurt.
    “I see that now,” I mumbled. “Does he at least treat you right?” I turned to her, softening my voice.
    “Yes. He’s a real…gentleman,” she laughed as they eye-fucked each other.
    “Oh gross,” I rolled my eyes. “Get a room.”
    Everyone laughed except Jonah—he was watching my every move. I felt it.
    “You’ve changed,” he cut into the conversation. “You’re not the same as when you left.”
    “Well that is the definition of change, Jonah. It’s been over a year, of course I’m not going to be the same, but I’d like to think I’m still charming,” I grinned. “Now I don’t know about you guys, but I could seriously go for some New York pizza.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Empty pizza boxes littered the living room floor, as I laid on the couch rubbing my very full belly. Amy and Jackson retreated to her room for the night, and Jonah and I had just finished watching a rerun of Lost . He turned the TV off as I glanced over at the clock on the stove. It was two in the morning and I wasn’t even tired. Sleep was going to be a pain in the ass to fix. I was regretting those vampire hours now.
    “Aren’t you tired?” Jonah said as he started cleaning up.
    I sighed. “Nope. Sleep is gonna be a bitch. I used to work nights.”
    “Ah, I see,” he said as he looked away. “Well I don’t mind keeping you company.”
    “Aren’t you tired?” I inquired. “Or are you hoping I’ll spill my guts to you?”
    He shook his head. “No of course not, Kenz, but I did miss you.”
    That dimple peeked out and I couldn’t help the broad smile that stretched over my face. Jonah Cadwell was every girl’s Prince Charming—with a dash of over-protectiveness. And I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t thought of him while I was gone. On the contrary, a day didn’t go by without the thought of either wolf that had tugged at my heart strings. Unlike