Page 46 of The Wild Charge

Fox’s expression turned thoughtful; he studied him a moment. And then said, not unkindly, “Why does it bother you so much that you do?”

“I…” He trailed off.

Fox locked his phone and set it on the table, fixing him with a direct, no-nonsense look. “Does caring about somebody make you a less effective fighter? Does it erase all of your skills and knowledge?”

Tenny opened his mouth to respond, anger tumbling over uncertainty in his chest, giving him heartburn, but this time he couldn’t even get out a single syllable.

Fox’s expression became almost pitying, and Tenny glanced away from it, grinding his jaw. “Caring is only trouble if the other person doesn’t care back. And that’s certainly not what’s happening here.”

Tenny hated the hot flare of hope in his chest; the flutter of wanting.Hatedit.

(Hated that he couldn’t get his head on straight and justtalkabout it.)

A knock sounded at the door, and Fox got up to answer it.

Reese’s voice was sleep-rough and low, when he said, “Good morning.” The sound of it sent chills rippling down Tenny’s spine.

He braced himself, before he turned in his chair, but still wasn’t ready for the sight of Reese, haloed in sunlight, in boxers and a wrinkled white shirt, his hair tousled from the pillows, the imprint of a fabric seam on one sleep-puffy cheek.

He turned back around, heart lurching and stuttering in his chest, and let Fox’s order to shower and pack wash over him. Palms prickling, stomach constricting.

The door shut, and Fox returned. He sighed, when Tenny didn’t meet his gaze. “Take it from someone who’s been there, kid. What you’re doing right now? Beating yourself up and trying not to care? It’s worse.Thatmakes you stupid. Better to love and live, than to pretend you don’t and fuck shit up, you know?”

Tenny didn’t respond. But…

Love and live. As soon as he figured out what that meant, what it entailed, maybe he could get his head out of his own ass.

Twelve

Headed back, Fox’s text read.

Ride safe,she texted back, and hit send before she could do something incredibly stupid and type anything else.

The low growl of a strong engine out in the driveway heralded Axelle’s arrival. A moment later, the back door opened, and slammed shut, and wooden bootheels clicked down the hallway toward the office. Eden heard the crackle of a plastic bag as she spun her desk chair around.

“Do you know they keep these things under lock and key now?” she asked, pushing her shades up into her hair with one hand, and tossing the bag with the other. Eden’s hands went nerveless, and she nearly dropped it.

“I had toask for it.” Axelle made a face and shuddered dramatically. “The pharmacist had to get out his little key, and he gave me this look, like, ‘sorry you’re such a slut,’ and I wanted to die. ThankGodI ditched Albie before I went in. He was all pouty about it, too. Gave me the puppy eyes.” She demonstrated – or tried to; she wasn’t capable of looking as pitiful as her boyfriend when he got moony over her.

At another time, Eden would have laughed. Now, she tightened her fingers until the bag crinkled, and managed a tense, “Thanks. I owe you one.”

Axelle’s eyes widened. “Shit. You’re serious, aren’t you? You really think you are?”

Eden swallowed around what was fast becoming a permanent lump in her throat. “Do you think I’d have asked you to pick these up if Ididn’tthink I was?”

Axelle blinked at her a moment. “Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you not on–”

“Obviously.”

“Then, how–”

“I ran out,” Eden admitted. “I’m due for my annual, but with moving over here, and everything that’s happened. I…I forgot.”

It wasn’t possible for Axelle’s eyes to get any wider. “Youran out?”

---