"Something is wrong," he said. “My mind is different, I can’t think clearly, I get confused. And…the doctors might be right. What if it’s all in my head? I get so paranoid and think people are after me. I think something’s there when it’s not. I see things, hear things, smell things,everythingis malfunctioning. God, you must think I’m nuts."
"No."
He barely let me answer before he kept going. "The only reason I even went to the gas station was because I thought people were out to get me. And now they really are. I’m sorry, I should have told you sooner. I have zero credibility. I’d understand if you do pawn me off this time."
"I believe you," I said firmly, trying to break through his worries.
"Full disclosure, I also thought the free sample person at the grocery store was after me and it turned out, you know, they only wanted to give me a free sample."
"Hey.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. Maybe he needed something to ground him. “I believe you."
He looked at our hands as if that might be part of the trick too. "How? I don’t even believe myself."
"Look, something is obviously going on. Even if it’s just your mind playing tricks on you, that’s stillsomething. Something that shouldn’t be happening. Something you don’t have to deal with on your own, not anymore.”
"Okay." Lucas nodded.
He slumped against one narrow wall, our hands unlinking, emotionally drained after sharing all the stuff he clearly needed to get off his chest. But the ghost of a smile lingered on his face. He didn’t need any further assistance from me. So any desire to pull him to my chest and hold him, that seemed like a reckless impulse, one best left alone.
~
Chase
Lucas thought he was losing touch with reality. His latest plea might support that theory, though I suspected he had a clear understanding of the situation. He was just shameless.
“Nope. Not Happening. No way.” I punched a button, not even bothering to face him.
“Chase, come on.”
Where were the Doritos? Oh, F5. I pressed the next button for our chosen vending machine snacks and heard the mechanical whirring as it dispensed the chip bag.
Lucas poked me in the back. "When will I see my dad again? You really don’t want me to say goodbye?”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
“Hey!” He slammed a hand on the vending machine glass, appearing at my side and refusing to be ignored. “You can’t tell me to shut up… Can you?”
My no-nonsense expression lacked the same severity my older brother’s held, but I gave it my best shot anyway as I turned, my back leaning against the glass behind me. "The only part I’ve got a problem with is athirdpitstop and you know it, so shut up.”
"This is the last stop.” See, he just kept trying. Shameless.
"What if your dad isn’t there either?"
"I’m running out of places to check anyway, so I swear this is it."
"Didn’t you say this one was the last one?"
"I’m not sure I swore?" Lucas bit his lip, totally aware he had no leg to stand on yet not ready to admit defeat. Normally I’d applaud all the stubborn shamelessness but—huh.
Our position finally registered. He had his arm out, hand near my shoulder, essentially crowding me in against the vending machine. With those pleading eyes and our intimate position…are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Milton?Dammit, it was probably my job to be responsible and put distance between us.
Being responsible sucked.
“Damn.” I shook my head and had to laugh. “I don’t know what you’re worried about. You’re definitely playing with a full deck.”
My wolf and I enjoyed a good chase and hunt as much as the next alpha. I also appreciated some variety and those bold enough to chase me instead. I opened my mouth to congratulate him because this definitely would work on me off duty and only then did it register none of my thoughts were appropriate to share, so I ended up just wetting my lips with my tongue which… did not help the situation at all.
Lucas watched the motion intently—while I refused to breathe, too afraid I’d smell delicious arousal—until everything clicked for him. He jumped back quickly and stumbled, crashing into the break room table behind him.
