Page 58 of Just Dare Me
I nearly fall off the log. “Me?!”
“Better get used to it. It’s part of your inheritance.”
“You?!”
“If it helps, you can call it an intense loyalty rather than love, same as the thing between me and Nora. Doesn’t change anything. I’m still your boss and you’re still annoying, and that’s all we’ll ever be to each other. I can handle this, trust me.”
“Okay, well…” I stammer for a moment, fighting off a blush and a bit of panic and a lot of confusion. “Should I be sorry, or what?”
“Sorry?”
“Yeah, for the way I used to throw myself at you.”
“Oh, that. Gimme a break. Ancient history.”
“It is, I swear. I’m married now, and I…but besides, Irespectyou too much now anyway, since we’ve been working together.”
“Oh,respect. Good, yes, thank youso muchfor letting me down easy, Shayne.”
“This isn’t a joke, Nick. More like a curse.”
“What can I say? Maybe the reason dragons have such thick scales is to make up for glass hearts.”
I have no comeback for that, so we just sit there for a minute, listening to the sounds of crickets and owls, and the constant gurgle of the creek.
And then he says, “Just do me one favor, Shayne. Please.”
“Okay, I’m scared, but what?”
“Well, you see, there’s going to be a night—and it’ll probably be a lot like this night—when I’m back here, sitting on this same log, waiting for another last supper, this time to celebrate you. Your life. Your passing.”
“Geez, dark much?”
With a sideways glance and a sad smile, he says, “Just make sure that night doesn’t happen for a long, long time, would ya?”
“Oh,thatI’m happy to do. But seriously, Nick, you’re the one who needs to be careful. All East Side needs now is a vessel, and you’re at the top of their list.”
“Meh. Let ’em try. In fact, we should use me as bait. Trust me, Nora would justlovefor it to be my turn.”
“You think it’ll come to that?”
“No. What I think is that you’ll think of something.”
I pull myself to my feet, ready to flee this terrible, terrible conversation. Chalk it all up to a bad dream.
“I’m sorry all this was dropped into your lap, Shayne. This kind of dominance…everything will be different now. People will listen when you talk. They’ll want your opinion, look to you for an example.”
“I know. It’s so stupid, isn’t it? That it takes this kind of power just to matter?”
With those bitter words, I turn to leave, only to turn back when I remember my errand. “Oh, shit. The whole reason I came to find you was to give you this. You know our traditions—Bunica can’t pass on until all her possessions are given away. So this beauty is yours now.” I hand him a folded paper.
Unfolding it, Nick stares down at his own photoshopped face on the body of a shirtless model popping out of a volcano. Ren’s masterpiece.
“You know, boss, I would ask if Bunica loved you back, but I think it’s obvious—she never stopped.”
The supper goes smoothly andwithout drama, a miraculous first for the wagon train. The bonfire is low and warm, the food comforting, and the company a pleasure.
Ray is here, smiling through cuts and bruises and broken ribs. His arms are both bandaged, so Randy fills in, lifting food and drink to his daddy’s mouth while Blanche watches them with bursting pride. Maybe there’s hope yet for my nephew, the future alpha.
