Page 34 of Bony Bony
“Heloves it,”Lucascountered. “Lookat his face.”AsLucasrubbedShadow’schin, his cat tipped his head back, eyes almost fully closed.Hispurring grew louder as if he relished the affection. “Watch.IfIpull away, he’ll nudge me.”Toprove his point,Lucaspulled his hand back.Shadowindeed head-buttedLucas’shand. “See?”Thenhe patted the spot between us. “Comeon up,Shadow,”Lucassaid in the higher tone that only came out when talking to his cat.
Shadowjumped up and pressed himself againstLucas’sside.Lucascontinued to rub underShadow’schin.Howa dragon shifter and cat bonded like best buddies was yet another one of the strange interspecies relationships in this house.
“CanIcrash here for a bit?”Iasked.
Mywolf protested with a moan.Hewanted us to go back toGiannaand get her back.
“Ofcourse.”Lucaspatted my shoulder. “Wecan catch up with some bro time.”
“Youcan sleep in my room,”Diegogestured up the stairs.
“Thanks,”Ireplied. “Itwon’t be long.”
Inside, my fear wormed around another word—permanent.Itook a big gulp of water and clung to the cool glass with both hands.
ToobadIhad the night off work.Icould use the distraction with something to do with my mind and hands.
“Comeon, let’s go jam downstairs,”Lucassaid. “Itwill help you get your mind off things.”
“Okay.”I’dleft my bass guitar down in the basement with our other instruments and amps.Diegoplayed drums andLucasguitar.
Oncewe were down there,Ipicked up my bass and ran my fingers over the strings.Iinhaled deeply, hopingLucaswas right.
Lucassuggested starting with aCarssong, one we’d learned to play semi-decent together.Webegan, and soonIwas relieved for the reprieve.Thatwas the thing with music—it could get you out of your head or keep you in it.
Afterwe played our usual songs for about half an hour,Diegostood from the drum set. “Ineed to head into work, butI’llsee you later.”Hepaused as he started up the stairs. “You’llbe okay,Seb.Don’tworry, this will all work out.”
“Thanks.”
Hebounded up the stairs and disappeared.
“Iknow it’s not easy,”Lucasadded with a confident nod. “ButDiego’sright.Youtwo will get through this.Iknow you will.”
Igroaned. “Ihope you’re right.”
Ifnot…
No,Icouldn’t think about it.Wecouldn’t be over.Therewas no one else for me butGianna.
LucasandIpracticed some more.Oncewe finished, we returned to the living room where we played a video game.Althoughwe gave each other crap and talked shit throughout the game,Iappreciated him being there for me.
Severalminutes later,Novawalked in from the shared kitchen. “Hey,Sebastian.Howare you doing?”Thesympathetic note in her voice indicated she knew what was going on.
Igrumbled, “Diegotold you, didn’t he?”
Novaaverted eye contact. “Hemerely mentioned you andGiannaneeded a little space right now.”
Whenshe finally brought her gaze to meet mine, she had a sheepish expression, which was one of her tells.Igave her acome-on-I’m-not-buying-itlook.Onething about our friend group was that we were so close, we’d inevitably know everyone’s business.
“What’sgoing on with you two?”Novasat beside me, giving up the innocent ruse to get more information.
Ipaused the game and put down the controller.Lucasturned and gaped at me as ifI’dbetrayed him.Thenhe caught on and said, “Oh,” before putting his down on the coffee table as well.
Ihad to be careful with whatIrevealed because no doubtNovawould talk toGianna.Still,Ineeded to know what was going on, and maybeNovahad some insight.
“Ihave no clue,”Iadmitted. “AmIsmothering her?”
Shebit her lower lip. “Youknow howGiannagets.”Shegestured in my direction.
