Page 43 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

I’d kept up with every book I’d read since my death, and in the middle of the night, I’d finished reading book number nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine from my TBR list. It had given me renewed purpose, and I was focused on hitting four figures before the end of the day.

Unfortunately, Wasabi had woken up that morning and chosen violence.

“Ouch!” I growled when he nipped my ankle. Tucking my feet under me, I glared down at the gray rodent. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Wasabi stood up, balancing on his back feet as he glared right back.

Hang on.

He shouldn’t have been able to bite me or pull my sweatpants. Usually, I had to gather my energy and focus to interact with him. Why was it so effortless this time?

There was the occasional brush of whiskers, but I had to focus my energy to touch him. Had I only imagined the bite?

Slouching down into the cushioned seat, I raised an eyebrow in warning before dropping my gaze back to my book.

Two sentences later, Wasabi scurried up my leg. His tiny paws grabbed hold of the book cover, and his glossy black eyes locked on my face.

Squeak. Squeakitty squeak squeakish squeak.

It was the most Wasabi had ever said, and I didn’t have to speak rat to know he’d just told me off. “You better not have said what I think you said!”

Wasabi bobbed his head as though he wanted me to know he’d meant every word.

“I must be losing my grip on sanity, because sometimes—” I leaned toward him and hissed, “Sometimes I think you understand every word I say. Which is impossible.”

Wasabi didn’t bother to respond. With a plop that would have been cute if I wasn’t annoyed at the interruption, he landed on the arm of the chair. I watched him make his way up the fabric arm before he clambered onto the windowsill. Standing up, he pressed his nose and tiny front paws to the glass.

“Wasabi, I don’t have time to people watch today. I’ve turned the security cameras off, so why don’t you go check the breakroom for snacks? Tilly had a plate of cookies there two days ago.” Reaching out, I touched the tip of his pink tail, then turned my attention back to the sexy wolf pack and the girl they’d just kidnapped.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I ignored the tiny claws clicking against the glass and turned another page.

Tap! Tap! TAP!

Refusing to give in to his tantrum, I reread the last paragraph for the tenth time.

TWACK!

I jumped, snapping my gaze to the windowsill to see what the troublemaker was up to now.

Wasabi’s tail swished back and forth like an angry cat. Using it like a whip, he smacked the window pane a second time.

TWACK!

“Fine.” I closed the book. “Let’s see what has you so worked up!” Letting my curiosity win, I rose on my knees to look out the window.

It was mid-morning and only a few people were out on the quiet street. “I really don’t see why you are so agitated…” My words trailed off as my eyes landed on the source of Wasabi’s bad mood.

Lochlan was eating brunch at the quaint cafe across the street. Sitting across from him was a tall blonde who looked like she’d just walked off a Paris fashion runway.

“She could be his banker, or maybe she’s a realtor,” I offered.

Wasabi growled, and his tail whipped hard against the glass.

“We don’t need to leap to assumptions.” It was best to stay logical in these situations.

I hated the miscommunication trope in books, and there was no way I planned to fall into that trap.

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