Page 47 of Pack Scratch Fever
“Sure, you can.”
“I’m already behind as is. I can’t fall more behind.”
“Or what? It’s not like anyone will fire you.”
“Or, I piss my clients off and don’t havebusiness,” I snarl.
He rolls his eyes, and I want to throttle him. It’s not as simple as he makes it out to be—yes, these past few months have been killing me, but I’ve accepted that it’s part of the job.
“You could always decrease your workload,” Maddox adds knowingly. As if it’s that simple.
I know my best friend wants what’s best for me, but sometimes he just doesn’t listen.
We’ve had this conversation at least ten times.
“I can’t,” I insist.
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
I grit my teeth. “Stop.”
He picks at the chipped black polish on his thumb. “You sure you can’t go out? Avery and I are going to the store.”
I frown. “What do you need me for?”
He gives me a knowing, shit-eating grin. “To turn the guest room into anestingroom.”
My jaw drops. “Are you out of your mind?” I growl. “For whom?”
Maddox stops fidgeting with his fingers and glares. “Who do youthink, Poe?”
I open and close my mouth, unable to find the words to say. Instead, I stare at him incredulously.
“It’s been less than a week,” I finally spit out.
“Yeah,” Maddox says slowly, as if I’m a child, “and Avery has already been out with her. Kissed her. Scent marked her. Where the hell have you been?”
I knew that, of course, but the days have flown by. I’ve been locked in my office at home or at the firm, drowning in paperwork.
We’ve never prepared a nesting room for anybody before.
The implications are huge.
“Don’t say no, because it’s happening,” Maddox adds, stepping into the office and leaning his hip against the desk, glancing at my computer screen. “Sweet fuck. I would kill myself if this were my job.”
The words sting, but Maddox has never been one to keep his opinions to himself.
“Do me a favor,” I growl, “and try not to say the first thing that pops into your mind all the time.”
He hums. “Are you coming or what?”
Anesting room.
“She may not even want it,” I mutter. “She’s mad at us.”
He scoffs. “No, she’s mad atyou,” he confirms. “And yeah, it’s pretty bold to assume she’d want to use it, but at least the option will be there.”
Piper has done a lot for us, and I’ve been ungrateful.
