Page 71 of Pen Me

“And– she thought I was a snake that wasn’t worth Octavia’s time.”

“The truth alas,” I teased, nodding my head. “Besties have a way of knowing what's best. Except for mine, who puts photoshopped images of your friend’s bike in my pictures. Wait until I see Maelyn again.”

I smiled and he relaxed.

“I don’t care about your past. You’re mine now, and you haven’t done anything to betray my trust, or snake me around.”

“I wish I could talk to my brother.”

“You need to talk to your brother,” I agreed.

“Huh?”

I stared at him like he was slow to catch on.

“Octavia isn’t doing so hot,” I pointed out the obvious, before thinking out loud, “I hope her friend convinces her to see a doctor while they’re out. You need to convince her to let you call Henny, so he can support his daughter and her while they go through this. My mother’s brother died of a terminal illness. I don’t know if it was cancer or not, but I understand most peopleare in and out of the hospital in later stages of such diseases. We can’t go there with her and Rumi, but maybe Henny can?”

He slowly nodded his head in agreement, and I let the matter die for now.

“I’m gonna go for a walk,” he announced, after he finished his food.

He kissed the top of my head and left before I could say a word. I watched from the window as he disappeared into the woods, and I’d be a liar if I said a little part of me didn’t panic at the thought of him not returning.

I’d gotten used to his presence and I could feel myself falling for him a little more each day. It was bad enough when we were just writing, but now that he was here and I’d looked into his eyes, I knew there was no going back.

I’d ride with him until the end. Thankfully, he returned with a better mood.

“Did you know it’s mushroom season?” he asked, flopping down onto the sofa with me.

I raised a brow and slowly shook my head, “You like mushrooms?”

“I like hunting them,” he admitted, taking up my foot and planting it in his lap.

He slid his fingers along my sole, massaging attentively while we spoke.

“I saw a few while I was walking. I left them to grow, though.”

The door popped open and Auggie stepped inside, locked her eyes on us, and sniffed like she was unimpressed.

“Octavia was admitted for fluids and I.V. antibiotics. I’m taking Rumi with me. Thought you two should know.”

I glanced at Menace, nervous that there might be a confrontation. Rumi was his blood niece after all, Auggie could have at least worded it better.

“Does Henny–?”

“No, Henny don’t know, and it’s gonna fuckin’ stay that way.” Auggie raised her brows, waiting on him to take the bait.

“Great. Thanks for letting us know. She needs to get home so Rumi can get her rest for school tomorrow,” I pointed out, hoping to keep Rumi at the front of Menace’s mind. She was probably in the car outside.

“Mhm. Sure do.” Auggie nodded and slammed the door behind her.

“Fuck, I hate that bitch,” he grumbled.

I teased my fingers through his hair, giving the short strands a little tug. He cut those deep-blue eyes toward me and smiled, “Sorry.”

I straddled his lap and lazily wrapped my arms around his neck. He gripped my hips, making them sway in his hands as he stared up at me.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours, Menace?”

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