Page 19 of Altius
But some tiny tic, a micro expression only Wyatt would have noticed, gave me away.
“Worthless fucks.” He slammed a fist into the mat. “I’m glad you suppressed your pheromones. Because it’s kept you safe.”
I nodded. “You’re the only one who’s ever… Who knows what I smelled like before.” Eyes fixed on the laces of my sneakers, I forced myself to ask, “How bad is it?”
Wyatt rubbed a sleeve across his face, then cleared his throat. “Better controlled than mine. A lot less gross, too. Therusty smell weirdly helps. And now and then, when you’re sleeping or less agitated, when you forget to think, you come through. Just like I remember.”
Wyatt placed a tentative hand on my knee.
“I told you before—it never stopped for me.” He continued at a rapid-fire pace, not giving me a chance to object. “But I know we’re not there. Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. Can’t talk like we used to.”
His pleading touch burned my skin.
“Please, Morgan, let me help you through these next few weeks. I won’t push you. And you won’t ask me to step back. Okay?”
“But the university—”
“Cal can help me draft an email to our bosses. I’m an old friend helping until you’re cleared to drive again. Give them a doctor’s note. Offer to sign a form if they want. We’re both professionals.”
Wyatt gave my knee a lingering squeeze, then got to his feet.
“And while I respect the shit out of you, if I have any reason to talk to a doctor during a gymnastics meet, I’ve got bigger problems to worry about than your designation.” He offered me a hand. “No offense.”
“None taken,” I said as he helped me up.
“So,” he asked with a weak but boyish smile. “Truce?”
“Truce,” I agreed.
As we walked toward the door, I cemented our agreement by briefly pressing our shoulders together before slipping past.
Turning the corner, I found Cal sitting at the kitchen island, his hair still damp from the shower, wearing a black sweater. An extra-large mug of coffee was within easy reach. He added freshly hole-punched printouts to the binder housing my hard copy medical record between sips—taking yet another labor of love off Kelsey’s plate.
I sidled up and gave Cal’s cheek an appreciative nuzzle. “Going to take a shower.”
“Sounds good.” Cal kissed me good morning, unbothered by Wyatt’s presence or the healthy dose of his pheromones on my clothes. “What do you want for breakfast?”
I was about to say I didn’t care, so long as it was food, but then I thought of all Cal’s forgiven but not forgotten infractions at the hospital.
“Eggs Benedict, rye toast, pomegranate chia pudding, and an iced London Fog latte.”
A frown pinched his brows together, but he still tried to bluster through. “Uh, sure. I need to check if we’ve got the ingredients for…all that. And, um, look up some recipes.”
Wyatt’s chuckle echoed my amusement. “Two choices, man. Give her two sensible choices when it comes to food, or default to something you know she likes. Oatmeal with fruit. Scrambled eggs with hot sauce.” His hand trailed along the small of my back as he slipped behind me to sit next to Cal. “Right?”
“Wise words indeed.” I poked Cal in the extra flesh at his waist, taking a little too much pleasure in watching him squirm. Anything to ignore the tingles Wyatt’s touch sent through me. “And Wyatt has a favor to ask.”
As I stepped into the bathroom, I felt the pull of the maroon cardigan Cal had left unguarded on the bench by the soaker tub.
I snagged it, rubbing the silky soft wool against my cheek as I slipped through the hidden pocket door into my nest, placing the cardigan beside the cream sweater he’d already given me—another sacrifice on the altar of untouched tributes from my boyfriend and almost-boyfriend.
While revenge may be a dish best served cold, Cal’s payback came best in cashmere.
***
“What do you do for fun around here?” Joaquin asked late Sunday afternoon, sprawled across the living room couch while Tenny slept on his chest. Kip sat perched above his head, tapping his tail against Joaquin’s shoulder.
I wasn’t surprised the man was a secret cat whisperer. Like recognizes like, even among domesticated wild creatures.
