Page 117 of Fangs
We didn’t speak until we stepped outside of Nemo’s house. It was darker than I’d expected outside. We’d been there for a while. Sam sucked in a breath and let it out in a gust.
“Well, that was… a lot.”
“I don’t know if I can do dinner, now,” I said shakily.
“Honestly, me either,” he muttered.
“Can we go home?”
“Yeah,” he took my hand and squeezed it. “Let’s go home.”
When we entered the clinic, Tuck glanced up from where he was sitting by the woodstove, paging through a book. His eyebrows raised as he took in our slightly disheveled, tear-streaked faces.
“Everythin’ alright?” he asked cautiously.
“Why aren’t you at dinner?” I blurted out, startled to see him.
His eyebrows raised even further, glancing between the two of us. “Wolf set up a rotating guard to make sure somebody is always here watchin’ the clinic.”
“Oh,” I mumbled, hoping I didn’t look as confused as I felt. “Well, we’re goin’ upstairs.”
Tuck stared at me for a second but then smirked and got to his feet. “I think I’ll sit outside. Get some fresh air.”
I didn’t understand the look he gave me, but I headed for the ladder. Sam followed me up, and he spoke as soon as we heard the door shut.
“Yeah, he thinks we’re fuckin’.”
I almost tripped over my own feet. “What?”
Sam grinned. “Tuck. He thinks you just told him to get out so we coulddo it.”
“He does not!”
“I’d bet you anything he does.”
I gaped at him. “Well, we’re… we’renot.”
Sam laughed out loud. “Iknow that.”
The uncertainty that crashed over me made my stomach twist, and it must’ve been written all over my face because he quickly sobered.
“It’s alright, Shortcake. I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page.”
“What page?”
“Well, I’m not gonna lie, you’re beautiful and kinda mean, which is my type.” His grin was cheeky as I glared at him. “But I feel like we’ve fallen into… I dunno, something more like siblings, I guess? Like me and Raven. I love her, I’d do just about anythin’ for her, but the thought of kissin’ her makes me feel…” he made a face “...kinda queasy.”
Relief made me dizzy. “Yeah,” I got out, unsure if I wanted to laugh or cry. “We’re on the same page.”
He gave me a dramatically outraged face. “How dare you feel queasy at the idea of kissin’ me!”
I sat on my mattress, pulled off one of my boots, and chucked it at him. He caught it easily, grinning.
“I’m gonna tell Raven you said the idea of kissin’hermakes you queasy,” I threatened.
“Trust me, she probably feels more queasy than I do about the idea.”
I snorted, pulling off my other boot, and he plopped on the mattress next to me.
