“Guess you’ll have to figure something out—not my problem, McKinnon.”
Not my problem, McKinnon.Fucking asshole.
“What about when I stink to high heavens on the bus ride home?” Smells like that permeate.
“Guess no one will want to sit with you or touch you. Shame.”
He was thinking about Bender. Fuckingjealousasshole.
I kind of like hating his guts over his dastardly ways and bitching about it, even though I wouldn’t change a thing. Only in my head, of course—no one knows about our arrangement—but bitching about it is half the fun.
Smiling to myself, I dress in my gray Armani suit, with my lucky blue tie from Mom to match my eyes. Luke had to meet up with Coach to discuss a few things, but that bastard knew I was sexually frustrated and ready to murder him. He enjoyed every second.
There’s a text from Dad to tell me to bulldoze Portland and about seven other texts I’ll deal with later. Things were tensebetween Dad and me over the summer. Our usual camping trip was kind of a bust. We had the same fight we always have about Mom.
He thinks charging forward is what she would’ve wanted. Smiling through the pain, building a future. But I can’t, not like him. He moved on so fast, it felt like he was trying to erase her. I want to remember everything. I want her in the little moments—from when I’m taping my stick like she showed me to the songs I won’t delete from my playlist, even though they wreck me. Dad calls it emotional quicksand. I’ll sink if I don’t start moving.
Fuck, I should tell Luke about our family camping trip. Oddly, I could picture him there. It would be just my luck that Mom liked him. He’d impress her by chopping all the firewood, something she claimed not to like doing, but really, it was because she loved watching Dad do it. Then she’d teach him her never-fail fishing lure combination and they’d be fucking besties.
Of course, they would.
Luke walks onto the bus. I stop breathing.
I don’t know where the suit store is, the one that makes clothing for werewolf men, but he found it, and I might pass out. The navy blazer strains across his shoulder girdle and arms where his biceps meet his massive deltoids. He’s done something with his hair, put product in it. I didn’t know he knew that hair products existed. It’s artfully styled on top, with a lone, dark curl dangling to the middle of his forehead. His facial hair’s trimmed close to his jaw, defining it. I’d be fooled into thinking he was a civilized werewolf if I didn’t know him better.
The bastard doesn’t look at me, which is a good thing, I’m already doing too much staring.
Eyes back in your head, McKinnon.
It’s too late, though. My cock has fallen in lust with Professor VanCourt. If he doesn’t do something about my boner soon, all my other organs will fail from lack of blood to them.
Shep snags the seat beside me this time, and Bender gives him a dirty look but takes a seat behind us.
“What’s his problem? He doesn’t own you,” Shep says. If Bender hears him, he doesn’t say. I punch Shep in the arm hard enough to bruise, but can’t help thinking how Luke would agree with him.
It’s not unlike Shep and Bender to fight over me like we’re in fucking grade school. They both have their own issues, though, so I don’t judge, but it’s still fucking annoying. I try to be there for them as best as I can. Shep’s not snuggly, though, because he has a boyfriend. Don’t think they share.
The bus hasn’t left the hotel for the game yet, and already my phone’s buzzing. Fuck, what now?
I pull it out to check. A smile almost breaks free, but I catch it in time.
Wolf Daddy
Not gonna comment on the suit? I’m disappointed.
Me
Yeah, curious where they sell size circus tent.
Wolf Daddy
Me
Oh, c’mon that was funny and a compliment. You’re the size of a werewolf, and I fucking love it. You look fucking edible in that suit.
“Who’re you texting with?” Shep asks. “Someone I should know about?”
Nosy fucker tries to see what’s on my phone. “Get the fuck out, Shep.”
