And then a voice sounds directly behind me.
“He’s not a fucking circus animal for you to play with.”
Tyler and Chadwick stiffen as Brody holds up his hands. “Bruh. Chill. We’re not being dicks. We like him.”
A familiar arm wraps around my shoulders, and I don’t need to smell him to know that it’s my Dante. But the familiar scent of his soap and his skin is almost overwhelming, and it takes everything I have not to lean in and lick him.
“Well, he’s busy tonight,” Dante says. Then he stops and looks down at me before pulling away and lifting his hands. ‘Sorry. Do you want to have dinner with them?’
‘No. I wish to be with you for the evening meal.’
Dante’s entire body softens. “Good,” he says aloud, then turns back to the guys. “Like I said, he’s busy.” His hand curls around my wrist, and although he has no real ability to strong-arm me into doing anything, I get up easily and allow him to pull me away from the other humans.
We make it several feet before I hear footsteps, and Brody reaches out, tapping my shoulder.
Dante and I both stop as Brody meets my gaze.
“Hey, if we did something shitty, we’re sorry,” he says.
Chadwick nods furiously, and Tyler blinks at us behind those glasses. “Yeah. Seriously. We liked hanging out with you. You’re a cool dude.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Dante’s lip quirk, but he says nothing.
I suppose I’m meant to handle this conversation.
I take a step away from Dante and put into practice everything I’ve learned from Everest. I collect Chadwick, Tyler, and Brody against my chest and squeeze them in a hug.
“Friennnnd.”
They gasp before I let them go, and Brody clears his throat, adjusting his hat and then rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. We’ll be here tomorrow at this same time if you want to come back.”
I look down at Dante. I know I’m free, but it feels like I need permission.
His eyes go wide when he realizes I’m searching his face. ‘Of course! You need friends.’
Ineedfriends? Is that a human thing? Vyastil do not normally need the company of others to survive, but I must admit that I have felt so…so different since Everest came into my life.
Maybe it is one more thing those in power have lied to us about.
“Yes,” I say.
Brody offers his fist, and this time, I bump it the way he’d done to Chadwick, then his friends and I do the same. Theyseem happy, which is…odd. I don’t know that my presence has ever made anyone happy before.
“See you!”
Dante takes my hand, and I’m careful to keep my claws tucked away so I don’t harm him. He tugs me out the front door, and when we make it to his car, he wraps me tightly in a hug. This is different than friend hugs.
This is more.
My entire body seems to relax at his touch.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs against my chest.
I pull back and frown, but he’s not looking at me, so I use a single, carefully placed claw to tip his chin up. “Whhhhy?”
“I was jealous,” he murmurs. “Which is ridiculous. I just got home after work, and you weren’t there, so I was a little worried. Thankfully, I know the only places you’d really go are the coffee shop or here. But it got me in a bit of a panic. And then I saw you with those guys… You’re totally allowed to have other friends, though. You can even go on dates if you want. I mean, I don’t know if monsters date, but…” He freezes. “Sorry. Vyastil. Shit, I need to not call you a monster even when I’m alone. I know you’re not one.”
I tilt my head to the side as I take in the flush in his cheeks and the way his eyes dart back and forth. “Dannte,” I say, clearer than ever.
