Page 31 of Bonded

“Okay… so um, is this your way of telling me you’re seeing someone else?” He beckons her towards the nearest bench to sit.

“Actually, I don’t know what I’m telling you and I don’t exactly know if I am ‘seeing’ someone else. It’s kind of complicated, the situation. Probably more than it should be. Sorry, it’s so difficult to explain, and to be honest I don’t understand it myself.”

“Then tell me and we’ll try to understand it together.” He smiles but unable to resist the temptation he leans in for another kiss. “So, who is he? Is he one of the guys from your team? I mean… it can’t be all that serious, not if you don’t know how you feel about him?”

“It’s… it’s not like that,” she sighs. “Riley, there’s not just me to consider.”

“Oh… Oh sorry, I didn’t realize. You have children with him? Because you know I’d be totally cool with that. If you have kids, it’s fine. I love kids—”

“No! Oh God, no!” she laughs. “No, I don’t have any kids. God, perish the thought. I have enough problems with my life and career without throwing little yappy pups, I mean kids, into the mix. No, it’s more complicated than that and I don’t think it’s something you could understand. Even I don’t understand it half the time. Riley, I’m… well, I’m kind of a freak. Sorry, that won’t make any sense.”

“Kat, trust me, there’s not much I haven’t seen or things I don’t understand. My family… they’re pretty messed up, so I understand complicated.”

“Yeah, well this is slightly more head-fuckery than a mixed-up family.”

“Oh trust me, unless you’re going to tell me you can change into a unicorn, then it doesn’t get much weirder than my family. By the way, you can’t change into a unicorn, can you?”

“Unicorn? Um, no. No, I can’t change into a unicorn and I’m pretty sure no one can actually do that.” She laughs loudly, watching as his cheeks flush red with a blush.

No, that’s true, Quinn tried.He coughs. “Well then see, there’s nothing you can tell me that would shock me.”

“Yeah, there might be. Really, I’m not talking about ‘normal’ stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter, just tell me. What’s so weird and wonderful that you think it’ll mess with my head enough to put me off you? Because I can’t think of anything. Kat, I really like you.” He takes a breath. “See… now there’s nothing you can tell me that will be scarier than me saying that. I’ll be honest with you, I’ll settle for friends but… I’d rather be lovers. Oh…” he laughs, “now I sound a complete douche for saying that, especially as you’re seeing someone. But I don’t care. I still want to see you. Oh God…” he sighs. “I can’t believe I’m saying these things. Trust me after my last relationship I hate cheaters but for you, well I’d become that kind of asshole.”

“What, you’d share me? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Um… yeah. Yeah, if I had to—if it means I can keep seeing you, then I could become a sleazeball for that.”

“No, I don’t think you could.” She smiles, stroking his cheek. “You don’t seem the type of guy to be a sleaze. You’re much too nice. Trust me, I’ve been around a lot of sleaze and you don’t fit that criteria.”

“Yeah, too nice. Hmm… Quinn always tells me that’s my problem and why I’m always such a loser in love. ‘Be more alpha. Riley girls like it when you treat them badly’is his advice.”

“Well I think it’s sweet you’re a nice guy, there aren’t enough nice guys, and it makes a change. In my world, sometimes there’s a little too much alpha.”

“Yeah, but us nice guys never get the girls, right? Doucheyshifters do.” he sighs. “Just a pity I’m not special like my brother, he always gets the girls because he… well, he just does.”

“Wait, what did you say? ‘Douchey shifters’Riley, why did you say that?” she frowns.

“Oh… um, sorry, what I meant to say wasshifty… my brother, he’s so shifty, and a douch bag. He’s also weird and an idiot that treats women like crap. Sorry, it was a slip of the tongue. Kat, please I need to see you again.”

“You will see me again. Riley, I told you, I enjoy having you as a friend. I don’t have many friends, in fact, I don’t have any, so it means a lot to me to have at least one special friend. It means more than having sex. Do you understand? I can get a million guys for sex, but I can’t get someone to be my friend… and listen to me. Okay, so maybe that was an exaggeration,” she laughs. “But do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“Yeah, it’s me being friend-zoned, right?”

“No, I’m not saying we can’t have sex… possibly. I just don’t wanna rush and spoil our friendship because trust me, it’s way more important. Please, I want you to understand.” She leans forward and gently brushes her lips on his.

“Yeah, I guess I do. Okay, so friends—for now. But I still want to know what I’m getting involved in. What makes you think you’re such a freak?”

“I can’t tell you that, and it’s not really important right now.”

“Kat… I’m gonna ask you something and if it’s not true, well then you’ll think I’m totally crazy, but if I’m right, then I want you to know that you can be honest with me because it doesn’t matter.” He takes a deep breath and stares into her eyes. “Are you like my brother?”

“Am I like your brother?” she laughs. “Sorry, what does that mean? Like your brother Quinn? A pharmacist? No, I told you I’m a military medic.”

“No… no, I don’t mean like his job, I mean like him—what he is. He’s strange, ‘a freak’… different, whatever you wanna call it. He… he can change, into otherthings—animals.”

“Oh my God, what?” Her mouth drops open as they stare at each other. For a moment he nervously wonders if he’s done the right thing telling her when she’s so obviously shocked. “Wait… Are you saying Quinn’s a shifter?”

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