Page 56 of Wolf Bane
“Bingo.”I smirked.“So how long have you two been a thing?Since Colorado?”
“Oh God, no,” he growled.“We’re not athing.I mean.I wouldn’t sayno.I don’t think.He’s just nice, you know?He comes by and visits pretty often.And Mariska loves him.But—” He glanced to make sure she was still asleep and no one had wandered out of their own hiding places yet.“But back in August, I tried to, you know.Let him know I’m down, you know?”
“Er, I think so?And please don’t give me details.I really don’t need those mental pictures eared into my mind’s eye.”
Mal laughed softly.“Just tried to kiss him is all.I thought we were having a moment, but I was wrong I guess.”He took a long pull of his tea, avoiding my gaze.“Message received and all that jazz.I mean, I get it, you know?He’s busy.I’m kinda busy.He’s seen me at my literal worst…” He finally met my gaze, expression crumpling around the edges as he said, “And he’s a real were, not some lab grown freak.I get it.”
“Dude.”
Cheeks flagged with red, he rocked back, annoyed.“What?I mean, I get it!I really do!He loves Mariska, so I know it’s not the fact I’m a dad that’s making him uninterested.Unless it’s my sparkling personality,” he added with a wry twist of his lips, “it’s the fact I’m what I am.”
“Mal…”
“But hey, that’s like the least of my worries, huh?”He pushed his tea aside and pulled out his phone.“I’m gonna start calling some of the parents now that it’s after midday.Figure they’ll be done with, I don’t know, church and shit by now.People here seem very into church.”
He got up before I could stop him, heading for the front porch while Ethan stalked the back.
Welp.
“As far as Sundays go,” I muttered, “this one kind of sucks.”
Ethan let himself in through the backdoor while I was putting away dishes a bit later.“Good news and bad news,” he announced.
“Is there much of a difference at this point?”
He huffed softly, stepping up behind me to wrap his arms around my waist.I leaned back into him and closed my eyes, feeling the rise and fall of his breath and the steady thrum of his heart.
“Cullen worked his magic and got me rescheduled.I don’t have to fly back to Chicago till Tuesday.”My happy wiggle made Ethan chuckle, squeezing me tighter.
“I’m gonna assume that’s the good news.”
“Yeah.”His arms went slack though he didn’t let go of me.“Talked to Benoit.Three more in the clan are sick.Two passed this morning.Not,” he added quickly, “Zero.They’re still hanging in there, but apparently their fever’s back and they’re showing signs of unintended shifting.”
“Shit.”
He was quiet for a long moment then, “The council’s arranged for a temporary clinic building to be set up over by the old Quick Shop, in the empty lot.Just a mile from the current site.They’re setting up two t-shacks.Cullen will be in contact later with details.”
It was me that broke his hold, twisting free of his arms to lean against the edge of the counter.“So, what happens until then?I just kick my heels?Not to be mercenary, but am I still getting paid?The mortgage isn’t going to see to itself.”
“You’re still on the payroll.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
With the timing of a bastard, Tyler and Justin finally emerged from my office just in time to head off the brewing argument.
Which I knew was going to be entirely my doing; I could feel the annoyance bubbling inside me, and as much as I wanted my questions answered truthfully, I didn’t really want to take it out on Ethan.
He deserved better than that.
“Good news,” Tyler cheered, obviously pleased with himself, “we’ve got a lab!”
Justin beamed.“It’s in Houston so we’re leaving this afternoon.Tyler knows a guy.”
Tyler blushed just a tiny bit.“Knewa guy.We’re, um, old friends.”He avoided Ethan’s pointed gaze, instead turning to me.“It’s best you don’t know details, but it’s a legit lab.Myfriendis the lab manager and is arranging things for Justin to be on site for forty-eight hours.After that, we’re locked out.”
“Tyler,” Ethan warned.
“It’s on the up and up.Mostly.Just trust me, favorite brother.”
