Page 23 of Novice Girlfriend

I blinked at him. “Why? You’ve never said it. You’ve always said it’s cool. You were jealous you couldn’t hear Teddy. You only said it was hard to wrap your mind around. That’s all completely fair. That never upsets me.”

“I’ve said it a lot and I’m really sorry,” Clare whispered, sounding crushed. “I can’t break out of being an evil Shaw bitch no matter how hard I’m trying.” She turned around and walked away covering her face.

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” I grumbled.

“Hey, you don’t hurt people by being honest about their mistakes,” Winter said gently. “They feel it because they’re seeing themselves in the mirror. And they deserve it. It’s better than letting it keep hurting you.”

“Thanks, Sir Winter,” I whispered as I stood on my toes. I liked him even more when he gave me his cheek because of who was around.

People accepted what I said, but several were going to be close just in case because their familiars were with me and could let me know if there was a problem. That was fine. More than fine even.

Perfectly reasonable. A good compromise and I said it like that. Tracey gave me a wink and said she was proud of me before she walked off with Taylor and his parents. Wow, I was pretty sure this was the first time she was seeing them both since I’d let it slip they were involved.

I’d really need to apologize for that later.

Repeatedly.

I didn’t so much talk to the familiars nor really listen. They talked to each other, and it was sort of background noise as I worked. They were catching up and just enjoying the chance to hang out?

I kept going until I realized they’d all gone silent and finished the skein I’d been on. Then my eyes went wide as I glanced around and saw they were all sleeping. I sighed and texted Tracey to come back… And be quiet.

I simply shrugged when everyone returned with a range of shocked looks. I was hugging my knees to my chest and then put my head down, tired of the crazy and never knowing what was going on.

Link knelt down in my view with kindness in his eyes. “Loki’s still standing, Bev. It’s just a nap then, not a deep sleep. You basically comforted them into a Sunday afternoon nap. It’s all good. Really.”

“It’s exhausting to always be so fucking weird,” I whispered.

“Yeah, fair, but you’re not the only one. I know that doesn’t really help, but it kinda should too?” He said it more like a question, like he maybe hoped it would but wasn’t sure.

I nodded and took his hand when he offered it. I hated to basically double-check him, but Wyatt knew more about this and I was relieved when he nodded. He raised an eyebrow though because it was obvious there was something else I wanted to talk about.

He scooped up Quinn and plopped him in my arms, the sleeping fox instantly giving me comfort. Then he led me off to the side, but all I had to do was tap a huge tree I stood by a few times to get his attention before looking off in the direction of the willow tree where the key worked was.

“We’re going to check out a few things and be back for the results if you want to scan her real quick first, Mrs. Reid,” he said easily.

This was why he was the right choice to be my priest. He completely understood how to navigate so much seamlessly which was amazing for me… When he listened and didn’t just take over.

She did and ignored that we were up to something, fully understanding and letting it go. “This worked better. You were right to include the familiars. You are much lighter.”

I thought about that a minute. “Or I know it works and that is a confidence booster in the plan. It could be the location. I wasn’t talking about things I needed to handle. I handled a lot at the meeting. It could be an array of options.”

Her lips twitched. “I won’t be offended if your ideas are better than mine, Bevin.”

Tracey snorted. “She won’t care if anyone is ever petty like that. She’s too smart to deal with shallow people, Laura. She’s just being honest so we have the knowledge and factor it all in.” She blinked as people slowly looked at her. “I apologize. I need more sleep.”

She turned and walked away, and I was very sure if I could see a blush on Tracey’s dark skin, that would have been the first time ever.

And Taylor looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh.

“They’re both adults and she’s not here as a councilman’s wife,” I defended. “Mr. and Mrs. Oliveria call me ‘poppet.’ Clearly, this is super relaxed. Loki told me Link needs new boxer briefs and is super cheap with his clothes.”

Everyone could see me flush when I blurted that out.

“Defend Tracey, but don’t dunk on me, thanks,” Link drawled.

“Yeah, fair, sorry,” I mumbled and focused on Quinn.

He sighed and glanced at his aunt and uncle. “They’re fine, a bit frayed at the waist, which he saw when I changed shirts. It’s not like there are holes. They stopped selling the ones I like and I haven’t had a chance to figure out a new type. I’m fairly busy.”