Page 34 of Wolves Always Bite

Inever wore the same clothes two days in a row, butIsupposeIcould.Myjeans, even with a hole, would be okay.Iwasn’t as keen about wearingAdrian’sshirt over and over, but in the name of being a team player or taking one for the team or…Idon’t know.Sportswere never my thing;Idon’t know why my brain offered up sports-related sayings.ButIcould try for a day or two.Butthen what?Icouldn't do three days or four or…Ishuddered.Justno.

"Howlong do you thinkI'llhave to hide fromBabette?"

Adriangrimaced. "Idon't know."

"Ineed to go back to the city,"Isaid. "Imean,Iknow trying to get to the city didn’t turn out so well earlier, butIneed clothes andIhave library books to return and… oh myGod…Ihave a cat to feed."

Myeyes burned and my vision went blurry.HowcouldIhave forgotten aboutClawie!Iwas the worst cat owner in the history of cat owners.Sure,I’dfilled both his water bowl and his food bowl this morning likeIalways did whenIwent out of town, in caseIwas delayed, but that would only last for so long.Icouldn’t be here for a week.

Adrianmoved so fast across the room toward me that my brain stumbled to catch up.

"Heynow."Adriangrabbed my biceps as if to steady me.Herubbed those big hands over my arms slowly, soothingly.Upand down. “You’reokay.”

“Mycat will starve to death.”

“Canyou call someone to take care of your cat?”

Mychin trembled asIshook my head.ThenIrememberedMrs.Kozak.Ifumbled for my phone.Ifound her in my contacts.

Thephone rang a few times before an elderly sounding woman with a heavyEasternEuropeanaccent answered.

“Mrs.Kozak?It’sJeremyfrom 11A.”

“Yes, yes.Isthere problem?”

“Yes.I’mso sorry, butIgot stuck out of town unexpectedly.Canyou check on my cat whileI’maway?”

“Tak.Whenyou back?”

“Idon’t know.Soon,Ihope.Iwill call you.”

“Verygood.”

Shehung up beforeIcould tell her where the food was or how much to feed him.Mrs.Kozakwasn’t one for long conversations.Butit wasn’t like the food was hard to find.Thelarge, labeled plastic tub was right besideClawie’sfood bowl.

Ilet out a long exhale.He’dbe okay for a few days.

“Aneighbor?”

“Iforgot she asked to exchange keys.Icared for her fish when she went toUkrainea few years ago.”Istared at my phone.Istill wanted to go and getClawie.Mrs.Kozakwould feed him, butIhated he would be alone in the apartment day in and day out.Hewas going to destroy what was left of my sofa.

“We’llget your cat as soon as we can,”Adrianpromised. "Iknow this is a lot, but we'll find a way to keepBabetteaway from you so you can go back to your normal life, okay?"

"Right.Mynormal life."Isnorted. "Theone whereIwork for a green monkey creature?Yeah.Idon't think that's possible anymore."

Isqueaked in surprise asAdriantugged me closer, pulling me up against him.Myface mashed up against his lovely muscular chest as the big guy hugged me.Oh.Thiswas nice.Isank into the embrace and leaned into him.Itwasn’t an exaggeration to say my life was a little topsy turvy right now, but being inAdrian'sarms made it seem manageable.Theguy had already proven he'd fight to defend me.He'dtaken care of me.Protectedme.Answeredall my questions without getting annoyed.Promisedto save my cat.

Allthe best stories had romance.

AndAdrianwould make the perfect love interest for a plucky twink.

Okay.Itwasn't super healthy to start thinking of myself as a character in a story.Orin the third person.AndIwas pretty sure we’d already decided to have sex, but romance too…?Wehadn’t really talked about that.

"Whatare you thinking about?"Adrianasked.

"Why?"

"Becauseif you keep up with what you're doing, we aren't going to make it to the mechanic's place before it closes."