for the very first time...” He rubbed his face, sighing. “Sorry. I get weird when I’m wigging out. I’ll try to get over this really quick. I’d rather stay with Mouse.”
His reaction was so ridiculous Jessica had to smother a laugh with her hand. “Sorry. Okay, just… be nice to her, please? Hell, out of anybody here, she’s the least likely to back you into a corner. Just don’t drag it out forever so she doesn’t turn into a PMS machine.”
She paused, then grinned again. “Besides, I’ve still got $20 on three weeks.”
Christoph rolled his eyes. “Okay. Smack me upside the head if I’m an ass again—I don’t always know.” He got up. “Thank you. That was a big help. I’m going to go pick pieces of door out of my arms and back now.” He paused. “Who do I tell about this sort of thing?”
“You got it. And… err… I’ll take care of it. I don’t think now’s a good time for you or Ashi to be talking to John.”
* * *
Analie smiled at Mouse. “Trust me. Or, hey, next time you meet him, just shoulder-bump him. Like this.” She made sure Mouse wasn’t holding hot tea before tilting sideways and thumping her shoulder against the vampire’s. “Since there’s a height difference, you’re probably going to want to go for his side so you don’t hit him in the gut or the kidney.”
She grabbed a third cookie and headed out of the kitchen. “I gotta finish my homework. Think about it, okay?”
Mouse blinked at the shoulder-bump thing. There was a familiarity to it that made her smile, just a little.
With a sigh, she relaxed and reached out to ruffle Analie’s hair. She nodded, then paused, considering something. Soon her hands were fluttering, then scrabbling for her pad. She gestured frantically for Analie to wait, then rapidly scribbled down something else. Which she frowned over, crossed out into a big, black smudge, and wrote something else. Also crossed out until it was completely illegible. Frustrated, she put down just a few words, and finally handed it over.
Should I let him go?
While obviously unhappy about it, she shifted her weight impatiently from foot to foot, waiting anxiously for Analie’s answer.
Analie frowned. “No, I don’t think you should. Honestly, Mouse, I think you’re the coolest person here and I don’t want Christoph getting bitten by anyone else. Just sayin’.”
Mouse was so surprised at Analie’s answer, she didn’t react right away. As soon as the shock wore off, she snagged Analie up in a fierce hug, more reassured than she’d been by hours of “girl talk” with Jessica last night.
Analie immediately hugged Mouse right back, giving her shoulder a quick nuzzle. It was the closest pack-like gesture she’d received since leaving home, and for a Were used to constantly being in physical contact with friends, it meant quite a lot to her.
Mouse beamed at her, though Analie couldn’t see it.
Maybe things would turn out all right after all.
Chapter 15
Ashi woke up at 6:00 AM sharp and immediately showered. Washing would dull his scent. It also gave him time to go over his plans. After the shower, he dressed in his old but freshly laundered sweats, a light shirt, tied a jacket around his waist, and put on his shoes. Then he prodded Christoph awake.
“M’go ‘way,” Christoph mumbled into his pillow. “Mus ‘as claim…”
“Get up or I’ll haul you downstairs and throw you into John’s apartment,” Ashi hissed.
Christoph lifted his head and blinked slowly. “What do you want?”
“I’m getting out of here. Get dressed. You’re coming with me.”
Christoph put his head back down. “Mmmm—no.”
“What?” Ashi prodded him sharply. “Why not?”
“Knee hurts,” Christoph mumbled. “And Analie is bringing home some lamb tonight.”
Ashi grabbed one of Christoph’s shirts and stormed to the kitchen. So much for having Christoph along to draw the vampires away from himself. He packed bottled water into the shirt and tied it into a makeshift backpack. He drank a glass of milk with eggs in it and headed down to the first floor. He hoped no one was up and about at this odd hour.
Unfortunately for Ashi, there was always someone on guard duty.
One thing was in his favor. It was Lisa’s turn to take the late evening through mid-afternoon shift. She was bored out of her skull. She’d been on watch since one in the morning, and had a number of hours to go. She was in her apartment with the door open, reading a paperback instead of keeping watch in