Page 90 of Heimlock

I grab an unopened bottle of water from the fridge. “Hey. What did you not want to text?”

“Well, you know how I had my meltdown at the Weyr reunion?”

Ah, the Weyr reunion. Where it sounded like everyone had fallen apart. Orliana, Fynn, and Trinte went to the equivalent of a Dragon family reunion. Fynn and Orliana pretended to date, but of course, they felt so much more for one another by then.

But when they tried to have sex for the first time, she had a horrible trigger. Fynn was there to comfort her, and it changed their entire relationship for the better.

Trying to open the water bottle with one hand, I say, “Yeah, I remember.”

“Well … Trinte was there.”

I stop fiddling with the bottle. I knew Trinte had attended the Weyr reunion, and that he had his own issues that no one seems to want to talk about. But she’s making it sound like he was there during the worst. “He was?”

“Yeah. When it was truly bad for me, he was there.”

Refocusing on the stubborn bottle cap, I try to twist off the top, but the stupid thing is too slippery. “What did he do?”

“He allowed me to siphon some of myself into him.”

I freeze. Everything I’m learning about him … and he let her add to that? “You … gave him some of those emotions?”

She sighs. “Yeah. I know, I know, but I wasn’t exactly in my right mind. I took some of it back later … but he had a lot of his own.”

“I bet,” I mutter, bringing the water to the chair by my window. Shoving it between my thighs, I try to untwist the cap. “He’s been through a lot of shit, I’m gathering.”

“Um, yes.”

Her tone says a lot more than her words. I pause again, narrowing my eyes. “What do you know?”

“Nothing,” she says quickly.

“Orliana …”

“I can’t break Fynn’s confidence,” she pleads. “Or Trinte’s. But what I do know is that Trinte’s probably the most qualified to help you.” She pauses, then adds, “I mean, if I’m not available.”

I laugh, then crow with delight when the water bottle’s cap comes off. “Ah ha! Got you, you fucker.”

“Huh?”

After taking a long swig, I say, “Nothing, sorry. Was fighting with a water bottle.”

“Where’s Trinte now?”

“He went to grab things. I think he plans on staying here for a few days.” The thought warms my belly.

“Are you dating?” She sounds both confused and curious.

“No,” I say firmly. “I don’t know what we are, but it’s not dating.” Then I add, “Yet.”

She laughs. “We’re gone for the next four days. Am I going to return to a pregnant best friend?”

“Fuck no,” I snarl. “You’re the babies person — not me.”

Orliana laughs harder. “Okay, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

“Uncross them right now,” I demand. “I do not want kids. Ever.”

“Okay, okay. Uncrossed.”