Escaping Monsters - Rita Stradling Page 0,38
Somewhere between nauseous with humiliation and starving.”
“Can’t do anything about the first one except assure you we’ve all been there. The second one, there’s a solution to.” Ace climbed to the edge of his bunk, but he looked as if he was fighting heavy lids. “There’s a fridge full of food waiting for you downstairs. I can make you something.”
“If you came home from work at 3 AM and then stayed up late helping me, you have to be exhausted. I can figure out my way around your kitchen if you’re okay with that.”
“Are you sure?” A yawn interrupted his question halfway. “Because I’m happy to do it.”
“I am positive.” I peeked over the edge of the bed, only to realize the bunks had no ladders up or railings, and they were at least seven feet up each. “Except, how do I get down from here?”
“Jump,” Ace said as he curled up and hugged his pillow.
“Yeah, maybe for you guys. My legs are a lot shorter.” Sliding off the edge, I shimmied down the side and took the impact with bent knees.
“Or, you could do that,” Ace said as he watched me with one eye. “You sure you don’t want… make you…”
“Yes,” I whispered the word because I was pretty sure the guy was already asleep.
Underneath the bunk was a large mahogany desk with a pair of notes sitting on top. On the first note was the word: Cherry.
With nerves coursing through me, I read the words of the first letter.
Declan didn’t say anything about the ass I made of myself last night, he had only written that he had to head out hunting, but he’d be back before nightfall. He added that he would have loved to spend the rest of the night curled up with me in his bed, but last night was not the right time for that. Jasper had made up a room for me, but I was welcome to stay in his bunk for as long as I wanted.
I bit my lip and laughed, actually feeling a hell of a lot better after reading the sweet flirtatious words.
The second note was from Lucas. He said that he didn’t regret being honest with me last night, but he sincerely regretted his delivery and timing. He wanted to emphasize that no one here expected anything of me. He was needed in the clinic, but he’d drop by for an extended lunch to make sure I was okay.
“Want me to bring you up something to eat, Ace?” I whispered as I folded the notes and stuffed them in my back pocket.
Ace hummed and muttered something unintelligible.
As I descended the stairway into the open living space, a wolf raised their head from the couch. Blue eyes met mine. Halfway down the steps, I froze, thinking it was Jasper. The wolf was a dead ringer for the alpha in lupine form. Like the alpha, he was large with thick shoulders and a gray coat, but there was something distinctly different in the eyes. This wolf’s gaze was softer somehow.
“You’re not Jasper,” I said as I truly took the wolf in.
The beast panted and shook his head.
“That would make you Chad,” I said as I finished my descent into the main area of the firehouse. “And, I guess you’re the real Chad Jameson—the rockstar, back from the dead? According to Declan, I’m not supposed to tell you that I used to be a big fan, but last night threw that possibility out the window. This doesn’t change anything about the other day, though, but I will admit to you that your song ‘Silent Boy’ got me through high school.”
The werewolf hopped over the back of the couch and walked straight into my legs, bumping me and rubbing his muzzle up the side of my calf. It was a forward gesture in wolf form, basically the equivalent of giving someone a big bear hug. Chad’s head pushed into the back of my legs and he started herding me off to the fridge.
“You’re telling me that you’re hungry?” I pulled open the fridge door and gaped at the spotless interior. “My God, are you guys allergic to mess? I can’t believe Declan offered me a job cleaning up after you. I’ve never been this clean or organized in my life.”
The refrigerator literally shone, and the food was as organized as the rest of the loft. The sight made me feel like I was making the space messier with my mere presence.
Chad grunted and