Page 31 of Stuck with my Frenemy
Chapter Twelve
Cherry
The minute we hopped in the car, I called Squirrel and Bird, telling them exactly where to meet me and what was going on. They were having a grand time lounging around at the house and weren’t happy about moving, but I told them it was go-time.
And I meant it, so they better get their behinds in gear.
As Bernie drove the car, I focused on Ash’s energy. Anger radiated off him in waves, and it slammed into me, making my heart beat way too fast in my chest. I hated my anxiety so much, but there wasn’t much I could do to change it except learn to deal with it.
More than anything, I wanted to break the tension and tell a joke, but for the first time since I’d arrived in the human realm, I couldn’t think of one. My mind was a blank canvas, the only thing marring it the thought of who could be behind this ploy and why? Ebony was quite capable of killing whoever it was where they stood, but I hadn’t been blessed with the courage to fight and a sexy glare like hers.
Beauty and love were my forte, and while I had no problem flirting or looking good, the whole fighting thing made me nervous—as nervous as the pressure to be the best at seduction simply because my mother was Aphrodite. And no matter who we found at the end of the trail, I knew there would be a fight. Ebony and Ash would make sure of that much, not that I blamed them.
The thought, however, made me want to jump out of the car window and run like my life depended on it.
My goofy head being in serious-mode like this didn’t bode well for me. The happy, chirpy Cherry needed to fight her way free and fast. It would help me keep my mind off everything else. What better way to avoid issues than to bury them?
The problem was they always clawed their way to the surface.
Sighing, I let my eyes wander through the window, although I couldn’t focus on anything but the yellow line separating the lanes on the road.
Ebony tapped my palm gently, but I didn’t turn to her. “What’s the matter.”
“Stuck in my head. Don’t worry about it, it’ll pass,” I told her, and I meant it. It always passed. Eventually.
She gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Get it to pass fast, Cherry. We need your head in this.”
I nodded because I knew that. What was wrong with me? It was hard to pinpoint exactly why I’d fallen into my thoughts like this, especially when I’d been so excited about being a hound dog.
Oh! A hound dog. Focusing on what the guys’ faces would look like when we got to the warehouse helped, and before I knew it, I was back in all my glory, all sullen thoughts evaporating like water on a hot summer’s day.
Perfect timing too, because we just pulled into the parking lot.
Tearing my gaze away from the window, I grinned at Ebony when she gave me a questioning look.
“I’m right as rain now.” Softening my gaze at her, I touched her hand where it rested on her leg. “Thank you, though, for trying to be there for me when you thought I needed it. Even if I didn’t really wanna talk about it.”
With a nod, Ebony shoved the door open the moment Bernie parked by the entrance, and I followed the others until we all stood in a cluster eyeing the building. My whole heart brightened when Bird barreled toward me, climbing my leg and stomach until he stood on my shoulder, the excitement making him bounce as he wrapped his little squirrel arms around my neck.
Running an index finger down his head, I kissed his cheek. “Bird. I’m so glad you came. Where’s Squirrel?”
“What the fuck?” Ash breathed out. “You have a squirrel named Bird?”
Before I could reply, Squirrel flew down from above, landing on my other shoulder. A decent-sized glob of birdpoop fell from his ass, barely missing me to plop on the ground. “The gang’s all here now!” I exclaimed, pecking Squirrel’s beak.
“What do you need us to do, chicky?” Bird asked, and I beamed. I’d done such a good job at teaching him manners.
“You two just stay with me and help me sniff a magic trail.”
“Okay. Let me get this straight. You have a squirrel named Bird and a bird named Squirrel?” Ash kept at it, and I could tell he needed to hear the story. Then he would understand.
Turning to him in a swift move, I tilted my head up ready to enlighten him. “Actually, Squirrel came to me first, and I loved squirrels so much back then because—”
“No,” Ebony cut in, “just no. Not listening to this. If you want to tell your idiotic story again, do it when I’m not around.”
I rolled my eyes. Always raining on the parade, that Ebony. She really needed a ride on Ash’s sausage stick so she could lighten up. Sexual tension was no joke, let me tell ya.
Laughing out loud at that one, I had everyone’s eyes turned on me. “What’s funny?” Bernie asked.
