Page 39 of Bony Bony
“Easy, man,”Lucaswarned with a gentle settle-down motion. “That’sa bit much.Afterall, it’s his mate we’re talking about.”
“Iknow.It’snot easy,”Diegosaid. “Butenough of this brooding.”Hegrunted at me. “Youseem more like me.”
Iopened my mouth to snap at him, but he was right.
“Youcould try couples’ therapy,”Lucassuggested.
Diegogave him the side-eye, showing how he felt about confiding to strangers.Heturned back to me. “Youdeserve to know why she’s had a sudden change of heart.Eithermake her talk to you and figure things out or move the hell on,” he added with a raised fist.
“Ican’t believeI’mgetting marital advice from two guys who look like they perform in a circus,”Igrumbled.Ina lower tone,Iadded, “Andwhat you’re suggesting isn’t that easy.”
“Iknow,”Diegosaid in a gentler tone and slid the glasses up his nose. “Butyou’ve got to take a risk and do something about it.Ifit doesn’t work out with her, oh well.”Hebrushed his hands together.
“Ohwell?”Irepeated in a skeptical tone, eyebrows reaching for the ceiling.
“No, not like that,” he clarified with an abrupt shake of his wig and top hat-covered head and adjusted them back in place. “I’msure it will suck.Likeit being a brutal breakup amped up on steroids.”
“I’dbe a shell of myself.”Ifrowned. “Awolf who’s lost their mate never recovers.”
“Bullshit,”Diegocountered. “Mypoint is that you will still beyou.You’llrecover.You’reSebastian, our friend, and not a cautionary tale told to all the shifters in the world—a bloody saga about a rejected wolf.Andyou’ll have us to help you get through it.”
“That’sright,”Lucasadded with a nod. “Weknew you before you had a mate, man.Andif things don’t work out, we’ll pull you out of that dark cave.”Hestretched his arms out and imitated a tug-of-war motion.
Ilet that simmer for a bit.WhileIwas dwelling in my misery,Ididn’t consider whatIhad now, whichIhadn’t in the past whenIfelt like an outcast with my former wolf pack.Inow had my strange, found family with my weirdo brothers. “Nomatter what happens, you’ll help me get through it?”
“Yes.”Diegodropped his head back with a relieved sound. “That’swhatIwas trying to say.”
“Ratherpoorly,”Lucasmuttered under his breath.
“Butyou have to do something,”Diegourged. “Becausewhat you’re doing is less than living.”Hepointed at his chest. “Andthat’s coming from the undead.”
“Goon,”Iurged. “Havefun at the party.I’llbe fine.”
Afterthey left,Ipaced the living room, considering what they’d said.Maybethey were right.Ishould talk toGianna.Wewere married, mated.Didn’tthat warrant an explanation if she didn’t want me anymore?
Iwas done brooding.Ifshe didn’t want me, fine.ButIdeserved to hear it and the real reason why.
GIANNA
“Greatidea for a party,Gianna,”Kyliesaid as she filled a glass with draft beer.Shelooked super cute in a pink-and-black costume, resembling an adult size version of aMonsterHighdoll.
“Yeah, looks like it’s going to be a smashing night,”Brunoadded from the other side of the bar, dressed like one of the skeletons from the band in theHocusPocusmovie.Hecame up with the idea after staring atMr.Bonesand then convinced other staff to join in.Wehad bartenders, servers, and barbacks all dressed as skeletons.Perfect.
Brunoslid over to me and added, “Ka-ching,” in a lower tone, not that anyone nearby should overhear him over the music playing.
SpeakingofMr.Bones, where was he?Hewasn’t in his chair near the cemetery scene, but by now,Iwas used to him being moved around the club.Infact,Iwouldn’t be surprised if he made it through the night without someone having too much to drink and accidentally destroying him or bringing it home with them as a party favor.
Afteradjusting my blonde wig,Isipped my champagne cocktail and scanned the club.Itwas already filling up with people arriving in costume.Havinga costume contest encouraged that.Plus, we’d sold out of tickets ahead of time, which helped ensure we’d have a lucrative night.
Novastrode in withDiego, butIdidn’t recognize either of them at first, not untilIspottedLucasandZoewith them.Lucaswas dressed asBeetlejuice, and he already had a wide grin on his face as if he couldn’t wait to ham it up.Zoewore a black dress and a black wig with bangs and pulled off a perfectLydiaDeetz.
Asthey approached me,Lucasburst forward with pinstriped-arms spread wide. “It’sshowtime!”
Zoechuckled. “Howmany times do you thinkI’veheard that tonight already?” she said in a wry tone.
Hegave her a sly smile. “I’llsay it once more in private later, just for you.”
Zoenudged his arm and hushed him, her cheeks turning pink.
