Page 30 of To Keep A Wolf
“He’s not wrong,” Levi says. “We are pretty dirty.”
My cheeks flush. This is new. Not the banter and the sarcasm. Or the flinging insults. But the sexual references tossed in. It’s not territory we’ve ever covered before. Even in high school, Levi and I hadn’t reached this place yet.
But Levi and Tripp slide right into their roles.
Teasing. Laughing.
I join in, grateful for some semblance of a normal life. Even if it is temporary. Part of me knows I should end this little game of theirs. Stop pretending we’re not fugitives. Or that I’m not engaged to a monster who will inevitably kill them to get me back. I still need to explain what Kari told me before she… before I put her out of her misery. And mine. But I can’t quite bring myself to shatter the illusion. Not yet. Soon.
In Lynchburg, we get tacos and eat in the van, Tripp in the front seat, and Levi and me on the mattress. Somewhere during the process, I sit up and pull away. My crossed legs and tucked body language don’t faze Levi, though. He leans against the far wall with his legs sprawled across the pile of blankets, his calf resting against my ankle.
Subtle.
While Tripp regales me with their hilarious camping stories, Levi catches my eye and sends me flirty winks.
My stomach flutters.
It’s so stupid. That I feel this butterfly-nerves sensation over him. A guy I chose seven years ago as a crush and then a boyfriend and finally a mate. But it’s there, and I find my cheeks heating in a blush and my head dipping in shy embarrassment, which only seems to egg him on.
“All I’m saying,” Tripp goes on, “Is that van camping is one thing, but we really need to make a rule that says bathroom breaks need to be done in public restrooms only—or in wolf form.”
At my expression, he adds, “I’ve seen too much of your boy here, and it’s not okay.”
I laugh and stuff the rest of my taco into my mouth.
“Damn,” Levi says, still flirting. “Impressive.”
“Imagine what I can do with a burger,” I say, except it’s muffled and comes out “Imuja wuh Ikiidoo wifuh buhguh.”
Levi and Tripp both crack up.
“Did you just make a joke?” Tripp asks.
I chew and swallow. “So?”
“Write that down,” he tells Levi. “It’s a big day.”
“I tell jokes,” I say, defensive now.
“Uh, no, beautiful.” Levi shakes his head slowly. “You really don’t.”
“But you’re pretty. And you love tacos. And you can fight,” Tripp says, ticking off the list on his hand. “So, we’ll keep you around.”
“Will you?” I ask before I can stop myself.
They go quiet.
And now it’s too late to take it back. I’ve returned us to the present world. To the pain of our past and the uncertainty of our future.
“Will you keep me around this time?” I ask, my voice suddenly small and unsure.
I feel silly and terrified even asking this question. But Levi and Tripp exchange a look, and then they move as one. Levi chucks aside what’s left of his taco—what a waste—and Tripp pushes to his feet, launching himself across the space toward me in a sort of Superman move.
I shriek as Levi leaps after him and they both land on me in a dogpile.
Arms come around me.
It’s like a bear hug from two toddlers.
