Page 26 of Can't Be Love

“First, is it okay with you if I hang out with Sydney? Outside of the bar, of course.” She shot me a wicked grin.

“Sydney’s great, I think that would be fine with her.”

“I wasn’t asking if she’d be okay with it, I’m asking if you’re okay with it. If it’s too weird during our trial period, I’ll steer clear of her.”

My heart expanded at the realization she was worried about my feelings, not Syd’s. In a lot of ways it felt like she’d just punched me again, only this time instead of the gut it went straight to the heart. “It’s not a problem for me.”

“Great. Okay, next, you brought me here first. Does that mean I’m staying here?”

The air sizzled around us as my wolf perked up at the thought.

“I’ll leave that up to you. You’re welcome to have my room at the Alpha house if that’s more comfortable for you,” I said, when really I wanted to beg her to stay. Nothing in my life felt more right than having Lily in my home.

“You’re sure?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine. We can take your stuff over now,” I said, trying not to let my disappointment show.

“No, I meant are you sure it’s up to me? You know, that you don’t want a say in it?”

“Lily, I’d never force you to do anything. Of course it’s your decision.”

“Then I’d rather stay here,” she said simply.

“What? You’re serious?”

“I said I’d give us a chance. I don’t half-ass things. If I’m in, I’m all in. I told you, you have a week to convince me you’re not the douchebag I’ve built you up as.” She said it with a smile on her face for the first time. That had to be progress already, right?

“How am I doing so far?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Verdict’s still out.”

“Any other questions?” I asked as I escorted her back out to the car.

“Just one more. Why do you keep calling me ‘slugger?’”

I laughed. “Why do you keep calling me ‘douchebag?’”

“I have my reasons,” she said.

“Ditto,” I told her, suddenly excited for the week ahead.

Lily

Chapter 11

I was nervous going back to Collier’s Alpha house. I’d just left without giving any real explanation. I knew it was a dumb thing to do, but at the time it felt like the only thing to do.

I fidgeted with the bracelets on my wrist, running them up my arm and letting them clink back together as we drove. Thomas finally reached over and stilled me. He took my hand confidently and my wolf started to settle, as did my nerves. It amazed me, the effect his touch had on my emotions.

We got to the house and I started to get out of the car.

“Wait,” Thomas said. “I know you don’t want a big pack announcement, yet, but don’t you think we need to tell them? Maddie’s going to get it out of you eventually, you know she will. Then she’ll tell Mom, and I’ll have to explain to Dad why I didn’t go to him with this, and . . .”

“We’ll tell them,” I said, watching relief wash over him.

“You’re sure?”

“My family already knows. Yours should too, especially if you decide to go all psycho wolf on me again. Best your dad be ready to subdue you,” I teased him as I got out of the car.

---