We looked at the lonely toothbrush in the lonely cup by the sink again.
“For singulars, you mean.”
They shook their heads and reached for our hands. “No, hive. This is true for all of us.”
twenty-five
I’d had my mind blown. I knew that was what had happened, but the high was exquisite and clung to me like a second skin.
“Where is the rest of you?” I asked the hive.
We were back downstairs in the kitchen, there was coffee and tea, and I was sitting on one of their laps while another fed me those chocolate-covered strawberries. The only reason I was letting this go on was because my legs were still kind of wobbly on account of that mind-blowing sex.
“We’re at the interview at the yoga studio. For the accounting position.”
My eyes flew open, and I looked at one of them who was sipping his tea, a small smile on his face.
“How’s it going?”
“Good, we think. The werewolf said something about a supportive and nurturing work environment and that you’re welcome to come to a class there. His name is Xander, and he’s a Star-Garbed Wolf.”
I’d heard about that pack. They had their fingers in real estate, and a graduate of Instructor Arick’s class had started working for them. That had been some two months after I had joined the class, and I’d listened to him talking about all those opportunities he was looking forward to while all I had been able to think was, Werewolves are fucking real. It felt like a very long time ago.
“Huh. Yoga.”
“What does that mean?” They sounded amused.
“I don’t know much about yoga. Is that where you get fed candied fruit during? Or is that just sexual afterglow with your hive?”
The one whose lap I was sitting in picked up another strawberry and kissed my cheek when I turned toward it.
“We’re not sure yet ourselves.”
“Hng. Aah gah goh coo caws,” I said, my mouth full of deliciously ripened fruit.
“You’ve got to go to class?” the one drinking tea asked.
I nodded. “Orc.”
“And work,” the three of them said together. “Although perhaps it’s best if you rest for today? The werewolf says we can start tomorrow. We can head straight to St. Auguste and pretend we are you while organizing your new desk.”
I chuckled. “You’re in a good mood. But that doesn’t mean you can pretend you’re me. Look at you. You’re way more handsome.”
They snorted. “We’re not but thank you.”
I stretched, yawned. “What time even is it?” I reached for my phone which they had brought downstairs with me although I’d not felt any inclination to look at it. And to be fair, the hive had distracted me by waiting on me hand and foot. That was really only okay because I’d finally left the virgin lane and was headed toward sexually experienced at high speed.
“Barely noon. We’re touring the yoga studio now, and it looks nice. Very bright and warm. Yoga is good for your posture.”
I groaned. “You want to do yoga?”
There was some shrugging. “Maybe. If you want to.”
“If I don’t have to wear those skin-tight pants, I’ll consider it.”
My hive was a scheming one. I could see the disappointment spread out over three faces, and the one holding me actually sighed into my ear.
“Did you just try to get me to go to yoga for the pants?”