Page 25 of Heatwaves

I’m not doing this today. I don’t have time for this. I have to figure out how the hell I’m going to make it through this heat.

“Play music,” I call out, sighing when heavy rock begins to pour out of the speakers in thebathroom. One of the best investments I made in this house was making my house as smart as it can be. I can turn lights on or off, have music play, lock the door, turn the oven on, and so many more things with nothing more than a press of a button or a few words spoken. It makes my life so much easier.

Singing along to the music, my mind finally focuses on the task at hand so I can get clean.

Once I’m finished, I head back into the bedroom, pulling on a light, silky robe. It already feels like too much against my skin, telling me my heat is coming on faster than I thought it was.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I grab my phone off the charger where it’s been sitting since my dad put it there, clearing all the notifications without looking at them before opening Heat Assist.

“Damn it,” I curse when I see there’s no one available on the app. Of course not. Why would there be anyone available for a last-minute heat? Whale shifters know when their heats are coming, so there’s no reason not to plan ahead.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

I don’t have to have whale shifters help me through my heat, which is helpful in this case,but how the hell am I going to find someone who can miss upward of a week of work that’snota whale shifter?

I’m so fucked—and not in the good way, either.

My eyes widen as an idea hits me. I do know someone who makes their own work schedule and would be able to miss a week without getting in trouble. It’s not even the first time he will have helped out with my heat or slept with me outside of it. It’s just the first time I’d be asking him to do it on his own.

I really hope he’s not out of town or anything.

He’s one of my favorite contacts—which only consists of my parents, Haley, and him. I hit the call button and wait for an answer.

“Oh, if it isn’t my favorite whale shifter.”His voice is deep and silky, sending a shiver down my spine even through the phone.“I was beginning to worry when you didn’t answer my texts. Is everything okay?”

I sigh, willing myself not to break down again. “Not really, Wyatt. Not at all, actually. My heat is starting, and I have no one to help me through it. But that’s not even the worst part.”

“Excuse me? Why the hell not? Did someone bail on you? Do you need me?”I can hear movement onhis side, telling me he’s probably already doing what he has to so he can rush to my side.

“I hate to ask you—“

“Nope,”he cuts me off.“Don’t even start with that shit. If you need me, I come—just like you’d do for me. I’m glad you caught me when you did. I just finished up with a client. I have to clean up and cancel my appointments for the week. I should be able to be there in a couple of hours. Are you going to be okay until then?”

And this is why Wyatt Dunn is my best friend—or at least one of the reasons.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Wyatt.” I lay back on the bed, placing a hand on my growling stomach. I definitely need to get some food in me.

Shit.

I also need to put in a food order.

Wyatt scoffs.“Die of boredom.”

“Probably true.” I laugh. “I need to put in a food order. Is there anything in particular you’d like me to order?”

“You know what I like, babe.”Wyatt sighs.“Now that we’ve got that out of the way, do you want to tell me what’s worse than not having anyone to help you through your heat?”

And that right there is one of the reasons I find my best friend so annoying at times. He couldn’t just ignore that part, could he?

I wrinkle my nose even though he can’t see me as I climb off the bed once more, heading to the kitchen. “Can’t we just forget that part of the conversation?”

“How long have you known me, Lila? Seven years? In that time, have I ever given the impression that I would just let something like that go?”He doesn’t wait for me to answer because we both know the answer is no.“Spill it.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “But I’m making food while we talk, so don’t be surprised if I get distracted.”

I tell him the entire story—from my parents announcing they were involved with someone else to meeting Miguel to Miguel turning out to be Carter’s cousin to learning that the four of them reappeared two days ago to them attempting to talk to me. I don’t mention the three days I’ve spent in bed, but I’m sure he’ll work that out on his own, considering I have no one to help me through my heat. Not to mention ignoring his phone calls and texts.

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