Page 9 of Change the Plan
“Good.Thank you. It wasn’t in the plan!”
“It wasn’t in the plan,” he echos.
“We said five years. We’re not even halfway since we decided that.”
“Exactly.”
“Good. Will you take me to the chemist in the morning?” I’m a confident driver, but right now I just want someone to take care of me.
“Yes, of course. What do you think I’m going to say? No, order an uber in the middle of nowhere? Baby…”
I pout. “Don’t tease me.”
“I wouldn’tdare.Can I hold you?”
I nod, stepping into his arms. “You say that as if I’m dangerous,” I mutter against his shoulder.
“Yes.”
I poke at his furred chest. He nips gently at my shoulder in return.
“I love you,” he says quietly, scooping me back up and carrying me inside. “I’m sorry this night turned to shit. I’m blaming the eclipse.”
“Oh, sonowthe eclipse changes things! That’s what I’m going to tell my GP when we get back to Motuwai.‘Give me a new IUD please, because the lunar eclipse made my husband’s giant werewolf dick scoop out the last one.’She’s going to judge me so much.”
“She’s a werecat, isn’t she? If she gives you shit for it, send her my way.”
“Are you going to threaten my doctor?”
“I will threaten everyone in both realms who upsets my wife.” He carries me down through the house to the main bathroom. “But first, let’s run you a bath. I didn’t want to say earlier and get my head bitten off, but you’ve still got twigs in your hair.”
He’s right. I stare in the mirror at my red-rimmed eyes, picking out bits of leaf litter from among the blonde strands, leaving a neat little pile on the vanity counter. “I feel like that’s the least of my worries.” I catch his eye in the mirror — even in his werewolf form, he’s started getting the bath ready, adding in my favourite bath salts while on his knees.
“I’m sorry,” I say, pushing the straps of my linen dress off my shoulders. It drops to the floor in a puddle, leaving me standing naked.
“I told you not to apologise.”
“I mean for raising my voice outside.”
“I think you can be forgiven for feeling panicked, Ellie. But thank you.”
I take his hand, allowing him to help me into the bath. It’s hot and calming and smells deliciously fresh. I sink back, closing my eyes. Van cups my head in his hands, claws put to use as he gives me a gentle scalp massage, and I hum with satisfaction.
“What a night,” I mutter.
“It was fucking hot until it wasn’t,” Van chuckles. “I did not expect to find your fucking IUD just sitting in there.”
“Yourface,” I say. “I’m going to laugh about it so I don’t cry.”
“Good. It’s not worth stressing about.”
I yawn, keeping my eyes shut as he washes my hair. The rest of my bath passes in companionable silence until Van eventually says, “It’s time to get you to bed.”
I’m wrapped in a huge towel and carried once more, deposited in the centre of our bed. Van disappears and returns a moment later with my hairbrush, giving me a mock snarl when I reach for it. “I’ll do it.”
“This feels like a strange sort of fairy tale,” I whisper once he’s done, as he tucks me in. “The garden fairy and the werewolf with the best aftercare routine.”
“The garden fairy with the pussy so loose her Mirena fell out.”
