“Josh…” I groaned, digging my head into his arm. He chuckled lightly, and squeezed my side.
Currently, our naked bodies were tangled under the thin white sheets. It has been almost two weeks since I was finally home, and just yesterday my heat joined back in.
I sighed, and fluttered my eyes as he kissed my collar bone. “You really need to go and work,” I muttered the best I could. I tried to sound serious, but it didn’t help.
“I am working.” He grinned, and lifted his head to meet my eyes. I felt my face flush red from the stare he was giving me.
“Seriously, Josh. You need to work and I told your sister I will watch Manon.” I pushed my hands against his chest until he pulled his weight off of me. He frowned, but quickly flashed his teeth at me and fell back on the bed.
I got dressed in a pair of shorts and a white tee shirt. I tossed a pair of boxers Josh’s way and exited the room as fast as I could.
As I made my way downstairs I lazily ran my fingers through my hair and hummed some old country song. I wasn’t sure how I ended up remembering it.
Something about it reminded me of Chris. I haven’t gotten much time to talk to him, and I really needed to. I usually went in and say with him, but other than that I had nothing to really say to him.
speak of the devil. Chris was sitting by himself in the front room, watching some old episode of house. His face was completely emotionless, other than the frown that seemed to have been glued there. I nearly broke down right there, seeing my best friend so broken.
My heart ached. Moments later Josh mind linked me, because he felt the same pain. Are you okay? I replied a simple, yes, and brushed him from my mind.
What was it like to lose your mate? My head was pounding with questions, that would never be answered by anyone.
“Chris?” I choked out. His eyes slowly lifted to meet my own, and I watched his lip quiver. He looked so sad.
“I’m watching Manon today, do you want to just…talk?” I just had to get him to say something, anything. He hasn’t said a word to anyone other than Josh. It was really starting to pain me.
He shook his head no. A sudden anger filled me. Why wouldn’t he just talk to me? “As your Luna, I want you to talk to me.” The words came out more forceful than I wanted. He furrowed his eyebrows but sighed. He silently nodded his head and turned back to the television.
An entire hour passed before Manon was out, sleeping in his play pen. I turned to Chris, who was still settled in an uncomfortable position on the couch.
“How are you?” I asked, awkwardly rubbing the hairs on my arm. That’s what people are supposed to ask, right? I wasn’t too good at this comforting thing.
His lime green eyes, which were burned red from crying, raised up to meet my own. He opened his mouth like he was going to answer, but quickly shut it. Instead of what ever he wanted to say, he made it into something it’s not.
“I’m okay.” But are you really? I wanted to ask him, but I knew that I shouldn’t. I’m not the one to pry, but he was my friend and I wanted to know. I was disappointed to know he wouldn’t tell me what was on his mind.
“Is there anything I can do? do you want to go to the movies, or anything?” I didn’t know. Maybe he wanted something to take his mind off of…everything. I wanted to see him smile, and hear his laugh. I wanted some sort of emotion out of him, other than this depression.
“Janet, it’s not something you can just cheer me up with by taking me somewhere…things like this just take….time.”
I stepped closer to him, and sat on the edge of the coffee table. I played with the ends of my hair to keep my hands occupied. “How much time?” The words slipped.
He shrugged, “until I’m ready to get over it I guess. In time.” His eyes were brimming with tears now. My heart ached watching him cry.
“You know” For a long time, I did not mention this to anyone, “My father was dead because of me…” He turned to me quietly let me keep on.
“Two years ago, my father was Alpha of Red Wood, also the best warrior of the pack. No one could ever get him until the day me and my sister was caught. They threatened to kill us, and my father came alone with my mother to save us. Just when he stepped into their trap, a-and…” I chocked up here, tears are running from my eyes, “Never mind, anyway I survived, thanks to Josh, and you.” I was glad he said nothing just waiting for my emotion venting.
“And you’ll be okay, you know?” when I calm down a little, I said.
He stayed silent for awhile, then met my eyes.
“I don’t know, but I will try Janet.”
My eyes were burning now. I looked down at my fingers and breathed out slowly. I didn’t want to cry, but he got me there.
“Chris, just please don’t do anything stupid.” I begged. I’d seen it all before. He took in a deep breath and shook his head, “I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” As the words fell from his mouth, I threw my arms around my friend and fell into a pool of sobs. Chris sniffles into my shoulder, and his body shook as he tried to control his emotions.
“So, have you talked to him?” Chris asked abruptly. I pulled away from our hug, and sat on the corner of the seat. Huh?
“About what?” I was completely confused.
“you want a baby, correct?” I nearly choked on my breath. how did he get such an idea. My eyes scanned his face, to see if he was put up to some test or something.
“Did Josh put you up to this?” I asked. I didn’t know what to expect. Of course he did. He might not want to ask me himself. I don’t know.
Chris shook his head, and I almost saw a grin on his lips. I was such an air head I guess. My eyebrows furrowed up in confusion.
“it’s obvious, I mean your always offering to watch Manon around your busy schedule, and your always so excited to see babies and things like that.” He finished, “and, I mean I watched you for an hour with Manon, and it was pretty obvious. So, am I right?”
I ran hands under my puffy eyes and hesitated. Did I? “I mean, yeah, I do, but I’m only 18.” I muttered.
“Age is just a number, and you’ve been through enough to know when your ready.” He sighed, and pulled on his hair.
“I guess……” I looked at my fingers, which seemed very intriguing at that very moment.
“It’s up to you, but honestly, I think it’d be cute. I mean, as long as it looks like Josh and not you.” He laughed as I punched his arm. He raised his arms up in defeat.
“Can’t help how good looking he is.” He laughed. He laughed.
I smiled widely, and threw my arms around him again. My nose cringed in laughter as we laughed about how he had a crush on my mate.
“So, your going to talk to him?”
“I’ll talk to him.”