Rising Storm (Westin Force #2) - Julie Trettel Page 0,33
I liked them.
“For now, we’re going to leave these with you. It’s just some clothes and things to help out. I really do hope you’ll decide to stay in your skin. I really like you,” Shelby said.
They left and I went to the kitchen and pulled out food for dinner. Fortunately, Painter seemed to eat raw for the majority of his diet, so I was able to put together a meal. If it had required use of the stove or oven then I’d have been screwed.
Painter came out in the same pants he was wearing before his shower. He looked around. “Did they leave already?”
“Yes. They said I should come to girl time tomorrow. I don’t know what that is. They said you could have a drink with the guys. Do you know what they’re talking about?”
“Did they say who was coming?”
“Their sisters?”
He groaned. “I mean this is good. They must like you if they want you to come to ladies’ night. Taylor will probably be there, and you already know Clara and Shelby. They’ll introduce you to the other women. I will warn you that they will probably all be wolves and it will be inside pack territory.”
“Kyle Westin’s territory?” I asked just to be sure. I knew he was High Alpha of Westin Force, but I’d heard mention of Westin Pack as well and assumed that was also his.
“Yes. He’ll be fine with it. I just want to make sure you’ll be comfortable.”
Painter was always caring and protective. He would make a good leader in those regards.
“I’m not worried about being in Westin territory, but a place full of women sounds very intimidating.”
“What? I thought you were the leader of the female troupe.”
I suspected he was teasing me, but I wasn’t certain.
“Human females are cruel. I haven’t had the best experiences.”
“Hey, look at me. Were Clara and Shelby cruel?”
I shook my head.
“Their friends and family aren’t either. If you don’t want to go, don’t go. But don’t refuse to try something because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”
“You don’t know what it was like growing up different from everyone else.”
He seemed to think about it and gave me a sad smile. “I understand enough.”
“I haven’t been in my skin for a long time. I don’t know what I’m doing or how to act. I don’t know what’s acceptable. I certainly don’t know how to fit in.”
“Emma, you’re perfect exactly the way you are. You don’t have to change for me or anyone else. If they can’t see that, then that’s on them, not you, and maybe taking a chance on making new friends is hard, and maybe it won’t work out, but at the end of the day I’ll still be here to make it all better.”
I hugged him because it felt right. He didn’t seem to mind that I was awkward and probably more than a little naïve. He had never once complained about me staying in gorilla form even though I knew at times it frustrated him.
“What if I can’t do it and I go back to just being a gorilla where life is simple?”
“It didn’t look so simple when I found you.”
“That was different,” I whispered. He was right though. Shifting into my skin would have caused me a lot less physical pain and made my life easier in a lot of ways. I was too stubborn for my own good sometimes.
“I don’t keep a complicated life. I like things simple too.”
“You go to work and get shot, that’s not exactly simple.”
He kissed my head and pulled back with a chuckle. “Touché.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I took it to mean he agreed with me.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
“One branch at a time, sweetheart.”
“I made dinner.”
“I see that. I’m starving.”
“Me, too.”
I finally released him, and we sat down to eat as we continued to chat. It was nice and simple, just what I needed.
When it was finally time for bed, Painter went to remake the nest of blankets on the bed.
“I don’t think I need it,” I told him.
“You’re sure?”
I nodded.
He kissed me and looked down at the nest on the floor. He was really going to go back to sleeping there. I grabbed his hand and scooted over to the far side of the bed pulling him down with me.
“Are you sure?”
“I slept on that thing, remember? It’s horrible. Why would you sleep there for all those nights?”
He shrugged. “I’ve slept on worse. Besides, you made it for me.”