Page 96 of Howl for Me
“Cassidy,” Reggie grins. “Man, that’s one cool chick. Real down-to-earth. I like her.”
I glance over at him. “Yeah… forgot you’re the reason she works with us now.”
Reggie grins wider. “Yup. Don’t let her fool you, either. She can get wild, bro. We met at a party. She was with Lori, and we got her high for the first time. Next thing you know, she’s dancing like a maniac and laughing so hard she snorted. Shit was hilarious.”
I feel that brief flicker of warmth in my chest again. Pride, maybe. I’ve heard that little snort, too.
“Yeah… she’s really something.”
Teddy lets out a low whistle, all stoner-slow. “Ohhh shit. I saw that look. You got it bad for her, don’t you?”
I scoff. “What? No. She’s basically my babysitter, thanks to Hector.”
He raises a brow. “Yeah, I wanted to bone my babysitter too.”
I chuckle despite myself. “I don’t want to bone her. It’s professional.”
“Sure, man. Whatever you say,” Reggie throws in, voice lazy and teasing.
I look down, picking at a stray thread on my jeans. “She’s sweet, though. I like her.”
Reggie nods, more serious now. “Well, if you like her, why don’t you date her? She’s a good catch, man. Could be real good for you.”
“I don’t date,” I say, automatic, like muscle memory. “I don’t get attached. Never have. You guys know this.”
Reggie shrugs. “People change.”
“I can’t change,” I say, sharper than I meant to. “I’d ruin her. She deserves better than me.”
Teddy leans back, blowing out smoke. “Then why are you here at home, watching cartoons with us. Seems to me she’s got youtamed. That’s not something you do for someone you don’t got it bad for.”
I crack a smile. A slow, helpless, fuck-you smile. “Touché.”
Reggie leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s alright, man. Everyone settles down eventually. Especially when they find the right one. I wish we could find that.”
I stare at the TV but don’t see it. The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.
“That’s the thing, man. The minute I saw her, I realized she’s my fucking mate.”
Silence.
Then Reggie’s eyes go wide. “Like… mate mate? Like that werewolf, soul-bound, cosmic kind of love?”
I nod slowly, jaw tight. “Yeah. Like that.”
Reggie lets out another low whistle and claps me hard on the back. “Damn. Congratulations, man.”
I flinch. “Don’t congratulate me. It’s not good. It’s a curse. I’ll destroy her.”
Reggie looks at me, all calm stoner wisdom. “Fate doesn’t lie, man. Let it do its thing. Enjoy the ride. She’s good for you. Don’t be a pussy.”
I stare at the swirling smoke overhead, trying to imagine what it’d be like to stop running for once. To let someone in. To stop pretending I don’t already belong to her in every way that counts.
I smile, because I’m too high not to.
And because maybe… maybe they’re right.
Chapter Eighteen
