In a Badger Way (Honey Badger Chronicles #2) - Shelly Laurenston Page 0,41
her face in her pillow, hiding her smile—and her laughter.
chapter EIGHT
Stevie woke up the next morning feeling better than she had in ages. The meds prescribed by her new doctor didn’t make her feel worn down, but they also didn’t make her feel confused or out of it.
The medications were a compound mix of chemicals and herbs that were based on Stevie’s genetic makeup. Unlike her German doctors, her current doc knew exactly what she was and what that meant. Dr. Morgan was able to give her something made specifically for the human, badger, and cat within.
Bouncing out of bed, she hit the shower and was dressed and ready for action by the time Max came stumbling into the kitchen. Only her sister didn’t come from her bedroom. She was coming from outside, her face and chest covered in more deep scratches and her leg viciously . . . chewed?
“What happened to you?” Stevie demanded, a jug of orange juice gripped in her hand.
Max paused in mid-limp, eyes blinking, before—after several seconds—she replied, “Nothin’. Why?”
“You been in a fight with that stray cat again?”
“She threw the first paw!” Max suddenly exploded.
Stevie held up her free hand. “I can’t, with you. But Charlie’s gonna freak out when she sees you.”
Max stopped again, realizing Stevie was right. Their sister was going to freak out when she saw Max, and Stevie knew that Max did not want to hear it.
Max faced Stevie, looked her over. “What are you doing right now?”
“Shen and I are going into the city. To a gym. To work out,” she finished when Max kept staring. “The doctor suggested it. More exercise.”
“More? How about any?”
Stevie let out a frustrated breath and began to turn away.
“Wait ten minutes,” Max asked. “I’ll go with you.”
“Why?”
Max started limping by, but abruptly stopped again. “What do you mean ‘why’?”
“Why. Why do you want to come with us? Because you want to join a gym in Manhattan or because you want to make sure my meds are working?”
“What if I do want to make sure your meds are working? Isn’t that my responsibility?”
Insulted, Stevie slammed the jug of juice onto the table. “First off, it’s not your fucking responsibility.”
“I—”
“And second, I’m going to a goddamn gym. Not a school for bears trained to startle.”
“It’s not just about your meds, idiot. We’re still in danger.”
“And I’m going with a trained security dude. I think I’ll be okay.”
Max limped close and Stevie covered her nose and mouth with her hand. She had to. It seemed the stray had sprayed Max in the chest.
“Dude,” she said between her fingers while trying to hold her breath. “The funk!”
“Look,” Max went on, ignoring Stevie’s struggle to breathe, “Shen likes you. Maybe too much to protect you the way you need to be.”
“What are you talking about, and could you step back?”
“I have one job, boo. And it’s to keep you alive. Because if something happens to you, Charlie loses it. And if Charlie loses it, no one is safe. Don’t you get that?”
“But . . .”
Stevie shook her head, unable to take another second. She placed her hand against Max’s face and pushed, sending her sister across the room and into the wall hard.
“Sorry,” she said. “The funk. I just can’t.” She took a few steps back for even more distance before she went on. “That being said, I appreciate your protection, but it’s a gym. I’m just looking for something I’ll enjoy.”
“And to spend some time with Shen?”
“Is that so wrong?” she barked.
Max rolled her eyes. “Then I’d better go. Because if I don’t go, Charlie’s gonna go. And if Charlie goes, you won’t get anywhere with that panda.”
Stevie had to admit Max was right. Annoying, but right.
“You’ll bathe first?” she had to ask.
“If you insist—”
“I’m insisting.”
“Fine. Don’t leave without me.”
Max finally made it out of the kitchen and Stevie was able to drink some damn orange juice. She stood by the open window—ahhh, fresh air and funk free—gazing out at the backyard when she saw the stray cat that had probably sprayed her sister in the chest.
Stevie went outside and, with the cat watching, placed a bowl of water and an open can of tuna in front of the animal.
She smirked down at the feral beast. “You’ve gotta work on your aim, cutie. So next time you can nail her in the face.” Stevie laughed, impressed with anyone or anything not afraid to tangle with Max MacKilligan.
She’d started back to the house when the Dunn triplets’ two