“Man, none of you are any fun anymore,” Quint grumbles as he heads back to his seat.
“Just you wait,” Zane says.
“For what?” Quint asks, throwing an M and M up into the air and catching it in his mouth.
“Until you find your mate. Then it will be payback.”
Quint just grins. “My mate is going to make all yours seem so dull.” He’s suddenly pelted with three water bottles and a few apple slices. He ducks, laughing. “I’m just kidding. Man, you guys are so easy to rile up.”
“Just wait,” Zane says again.
The movie starts, and we settle in to watch. I find my mind wandering, and I have a hard time concentrating. My mind plays over the events of last night. I play the scene in the office over and over again, wondering if I could have done something differently, if there could have been a different outcome. I also wonder how he worked his way in. I’ve been friends with Peter for at least this past year. I wrack my brain to think if he’d been at our school before then. I can’t remember. I went to a fairly large school, and I didn’t know all the students.
You seem lost in thought,Reid sends me.Is the movie boring you?
I manage to contain my sigh.No, I just keep wondering if there’s something I could have done to have a different outcome last night.
You’re not talking about me, right?I hear the humor in his question, but I turn to look at him and catch the seriousness in his gaze.
No, that part I wouldn’t change. You’re stuck with me as your mate, Reid Marshall.
His eyes don’t leave mine.Good.
I glance back at the movie, feigning interest.I just keep thinking that I could have done something to stop his death.
Whether it was last night or later on, it would have happened either way.Reid’s voice is hard.
I know.
His hand touches mine, surprising me, and his warm hand wraps around mine.But I am sorry you lost a friend.
Chapter 15
Riley
One movie turns into two, then three. About halfway through the third movie, I give in to the temptation to close my eyes. I figure nobody will even realize I’m asleep.Just for a few minutes,I tell myself. When I wake up later, I blink and try to remember what day it is and if I’m late for classes. It takes me a moment to remember it’s a holiday, and I fell asleep watching a movie. I realize I’m in Reid’s bed, and I frown at that. I don’t remember walking back here. I reach out without thought.Are you here?
Hey, I’m out in the living room. Did you have a good nap?
I did. I slept so hard; I don’t even remember walking back here.
That's because you didn’t walk. I carried you; you were out cold.
My insides heat at the thought of Reid carrying me, quickly followed by disappointment that I missed it. I push away those thoughts quickly before he catches on through our connection.Sorry.
Don’t be. I’m glad you got some sleep; you needed it after your shift last night. Speaking of your shift, how are you feeling?
I take stock of my body.Everything feels achy but okay.He doesn’t respond for a moment.Reid?
Sorry, Quint was being an idiot.
What did he do now?
He was calling me out for talking to you instead of watching the movie.
I laugh to myself.He's just jealous.
Exactly. He wishes he had a gorgeous mate to converse with at all times.
