Page 107 of Toy No More

We’re approaching the apartment. Slowly, I roll my head to the side, just staring at Kobe and his perfect profile. His strong jaw and slightly curved nose. More than that, I watch the way the sun reflects in his eyes, and against his shiny hair. He feels exactly like the warm sun to me. Radiating goodness, inside and out.

I close my eyes briefly, drawing in the faint scent of wet pine cones. He hasn’t taken suppressants since being in the hospital after everything that went down. After being discharged, he never resumed taking them. Said he doesn’t need it anymore.

I’m glad. I love being able to sense his pheromones. And it makes his heat that much more entertaining.

When I open my eyes again, he’s studying me. “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks with a faint, uneasy smirk. Just as he says it, we park.

I lean in and brush one of his curls out of his face, softly grazing his cheekbone with my fingers. “Mhm…the beard really suits you, you know? You should keep it,” I say, maintaining intense eye contact as I do.

I feel his breath hitch through the touch and watch him gulp as he widens his eyes. “This…isexactlywhat I was talking about earlier,” he mutters, averting his gaze in that astonishingly adorable way. “You better not praise people’s looks after you do their make-up with a tone like that.”

The smile I’ve been restraining takes over. Playfully, I press my teeth into my bottom lip and brush that strand of hair behind his ear, waiting for Kobe to collect himself and look back at me. When he does, I lean in closer. “Don’t worry. That tone is reserved only for you, sweetheart.”

Seeing him so flustered is a balm on my soul.

Kobe pulls me in for a deep kiss, clearly pleased with that answer. When he moves away, that responsible mask is back on his face, reminding me we can’t just make out in the car. We have things to do. Adult, mature things.

“Come on,” he says, opening the door. “We have time to have something to eat before I’m taking you to work.”

“I can walk there, you know?” I remind him. “You should stay at home and rest.”

“Iwantto take you,” he argues. With a smile, I relent, accepting his hand as we walk up the stairs.

The apartment building right by the beach is still something I hardly believe we scored. It’s lovely. Not lovely in the luxurious way Jasper’s place was, but in a completely mundane, comforting, everyday sense. There are a lot of students living around, since it’s a short distance to the university campus. They always greet us like we’re just regular people.

They make me feel like all of that shit that happened never did. Like the life Kobe and I have lived, the one these kids can probably hardly imagine, didn’t mark or ruin us.

And the sound of the waves crashing against the sand is so peaceful. It helps me fall asleep almost as well as the white noise machine.

I’ll never stop feeling grateful that the feds didn’t takeeverythingthat was mine in the house. Many of the expensive gifts Jasper has given me over the years—the meaningless, soulless tokens of power—helped cover the cost of this place for quite a few months ahead. That way, we can focus on building our new life together, hopefully doing what we enjoy, without stressing about making rent payments.

We step into the apartment and the smell of paint hits me in the face. Kobe and I share a knowing smile. After passing through the hallway and into the living room, I see Marci on the other side by the balcony with a canvas and all her colors spread out on her station.

“Painting again?” Kobe asks lightly.

She turns to us with a grin. “Moving here has seriously been the best thing that could happen for my inspiration,” she says joyfully.

It’s good to hear. Kobe felt so guilty for ripping Marci and Skyler from their home and their lives. But it turns out we all thrive here, though Skyler still has trouble getting used to the new environment. And some of the new people in his life, including me… His school might be great, even better than the last, but the level of special education, activities, and the professionalism of the staff don’t exactly make this move easier for him.

Raising her brows, she glances at me. “Weren’t you supposed to be out?”

“The hospital appointment schedule wasn’t running late for once, so we had some time to stop here and eat,” Kobe says while he walks toward the fridge. I lean into the bar and study Marci’s painting from afar. It’s a sort of galaxy slash ocean inspired swirl…thing. I like it.

“Well, I made a bunch of sandwiches for Sky to have after school. There’s enough for you to have some.”

“You’ve been productive today,” Kobe notes, impressed.

“Thanks, M,” I say.

“You’re welcome, sugar,” she responds, turning to me with a wink. It’s strange each time she calls me that. I feel a little jolt of discomfort when she does, but it quickly gets replaced by a warm sensation in my chest. As warm as her words are. She’s a beta. She has no idea about my scent. Because of her, I might even get used to people calling me that, and think of her instead of all those men in my past.

Kobe and I share a brief glance, acknowledging that fact. When he looks back to her, a plate of sandwiches covered by a foil in hand, he pauses. “Oh, you’ve been swimming again?” he asks, only now noticing her damp hair put up with a hair claw.

Marci sways her hips and nods, showing off the energy surging through her. “Yep! I justlovewhat the sea air does to me. And when I’m in the water…sometimes it’s like I don’t have MS at all,” she muses in a light, sing-songy tone.

I’m glad to see her happy. Because when Marci is happy, so is Kobe.

“Never too late to become a mermaid,” he says, making Marci laugh. She turns back to focus on her painting and I feel Kobe wrap his hands around my waist from behind, kissing me gently on the neck. “Come on, let’s go eat on the balcony,” he whispers into my ear.

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