An older woman with a tray full of drinks strides over, her presence commanding as much attention as her booming voice.

“Oh! You boys actually brought company? How’d you manage that? You smell like a locker room that hasn’t seen a mop in a year.”

I stifle my giggle, but Kylie doesn’t even try—her laugh bursts out, unfiltered. I already love this woman.

Devin clutches his chest in mock offense. “Hey! I smell manly—all testosterone and hard work!”

Martha snorts, entirely unimpressed. “Manly? No, sugar, you smell like gym socks and regret.”

Ryan bursts into laughter and points at me. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s her. Our ruthless little trainer over here dragged us through four hours of training this morning. If we stink, it’s her fault.”

Martha’s sharp gaze locks onto me, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “You did this, dearie?”

I nod, unsure where this is going. She narrows her eyes for a moment, assessing, before breaking into a wide grin. “Well, you eat for free today. I don’t know what magic you’ve got, but keep it up. These boys haven’t looked this wrecked since their dads dragged them through warrior training.”

Kylie and I dissolve into laughter as Martha winks at us, and even the guys chuckle. But Devin looks genuinely affronted.

“Martha!” Devin cries, placing a hand on his heart. “We’ve been coming here for years and not once have you let us eat for free. I thought what we had was special.”

She pats his cheek in mock sympathy. “Oh, you’re special, sweetheart. But us girls have to stick together. And I’m betting this is the first time a girl has been able to keep her pants on around you five, hmm?” She smirks. “And I know none of those ‘bed warmers’ you bring around have ever sat at this booth.”

I choke on my water, coughing uncontrollably as my cheeks blaze. What did she just say? Ethan and Aaron immediately lean over to pat my back as I sputter.

When I finally recover, Martha looks at me knowingly. “Oh, sweetheart, didn’t you know? These boys never bring girls here. That means you two are special.” She smiles, her words landing like a grenade in the middle of the table.

The guys sit up straighter, their expressions ranging from shocked to slightly embarrassed. I glance at Kylie, who’s biting her lip to keep from laughing, while I sit frozen in disbelief. Are these guys actually blushing?

“We bring girls here… sometimes,” Ethan protests, though he sounds unsure.

“Yeah, all the time,” Devin chimes in, though his voice wavers. He glances at Kylie, clearly realizing how weak the defense sounds.

Martha arches an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Sure, you bring groups of people. But how many girls have sat in this booth, hmm?” She waits, letting the question hang in the air. “Exactly. None.”

Ryan and Aaron exchange glances but say nothing.

Martha smirks knowingly. “I’ll go grab your food, boys. Ladies, do you want to pick off their plates or should I get you your own menus?”

Kylie grins. “Definitely a menu.”

I nod eagerly. “Same here.”

Martha beams. “Girls who eat and make their own decisions? See, told you—special.” She winks before sauntering off, leaving us all flustered in her wake.

Burgers and Battles

When the food arrives, it’s enough to feed an army. I don’t hesitate to dig into my waffles and fruit, while Kylie devours her burger and fries with a grin. The guys exchange amused glances, but they’re smart enough not to say a word.

As we graze through the rest of the meal, passing plates and sharing bites, the atmosphere feels warm and relaxed—until Stacey’s voice cuts through the chatter like nails on a chalkboard.

“Oh, wow! We didn’t know you boys were here,” Stacey chirps, her eyes wide with feigned surprise. “If you’d told us, we would’ve joined you!”

She struts up to our booth with Jeanie and Marnie trailing behind, all three of them glancing between Kylie and me with barely concealed disdain. Stacey’s eyes narrow when she notices how close the guys are sitting to us.

“You never have extras at your table,” Stacey says, her tone sugary-sweet but loaded with venom. “You changing things up now?”

Ethan, his arm casually draped across the back of my seat, smirks. “Yeah. Change is good.”

Stacey’s eyes darken. “You’ve never brought us here before.”

“That’s because we’re fine as we are,” Ethan replies, leaning back like her presence is an inconvenience.

I shrink a little in my seat, feeling the weight of Stacey’s glare. I can already tell she’s calculating ways to make my life miserable. Meanwhile, Kylie—bless her soul—just pops another fry into her mouth, completely unbothered.

Stacey’s gaze flickers to the burger in front of me, and her lips curl into a cruel smile. “You’re really eating all of that?” she sneers. “You know, calories like that will ruin your figure. No one wants to be with someone who looks lazy and sloppy.”

Her words land like a slap, and I place the burger back on the plate, suddenly self-conscious. I’ve never worried about what I eat before, but Stacey’s tone makes me feel like I should.

Before I can sink further into embarrassment, Ethan’s voice cuts through the tension.

“Are you kidding me?” His arm tightens around my shoulders slightly, a protective gesture that makes my heart skip. “After the way she trained this morning, I’m surprised she hasn’t eaten more.”

Devin grins, nudging Kylie playfully. “I like a girl with an appetite. Means she can hang with the big boys.” He shoots me a wink, and I manage a grateful smile.

The rest of the guys murmur their agreement, making Stacey’s face twist with frustration.

“You all trained together?” Stacey huffs, her tone sharp. “What is this, some kind of ‘guy code’ for hooking up? Is that why you left early last night and haven’t called me?”

Her hand goes to her hip, her eyes narrowing on Ryan and Aaron. “Are you cheating on me?”

Ryan looks like he’s about to burst out laughing, but Aaron holds up a hand, trying to keep things civil. “Stacey, we’re not dating. So no, there’s no cheating happening here.”

“And who we hang out with,” Ryan adds, “is none of your business.”

Stacey’s face flushes with anger. “It is my business when we’re supposed to be mates!” she practically screeches.

The entire diner falls silent, all eyes now on us. Stacey glares at me, her voice dripping with venom. “And you better stay out of it, little home wrecker. They’re not yours.” With a dramatic flip of her platinum hair, she storms out of the diner, dragging Jeanie and Marnie behind her.

Devin leans back, exhaling deeply. “What the hell was that about? Please tell me she’s not going to be our Luna.”

“I might shoot myself if she is,” Ethan mutters, shaking his head. “And we’re only 16. How the hell would she know who her mate is already?”

Kylie snickers, biting into another fry. “Good luck with that, boys.”

And as they exchange exasperated looks, I can’t help but feel a strange warmth bloom in my chest. Because for the first time in a long time, I’m not fighting my battles alone.