“Um….” Jared blew out a breath and shrugged. “I have absolutely no idea.”
“Great help you are.”
“Fuck off.” Jared punched him on the arm, laughing. “If I’d known there was going to be a quiz, I’d have prepared.”
Seb grinned back at him and they lapsed into silence again, until Jared kicked Seb’s shoe.
“I do know that shifters can bond with other shifters, and obviously they don’t need the bite.”
“Can they?” For some reason, Seb had never thought about that.
“Yeah. I’m sure I remember Nathan saying it doesn’t happen all that often, but it can.”
The idea that Tim could suddenly be bonded to another shifter left a nasty taste in his mouth. “They’d still have to have sex, though, right?”
Jared shrugged again. “No idea. I assume so.”
Seb hummed to himself. “Well, at least Tim’s in no danger of that happening.” He didn’t realise what he’d said until he caught Jared smirking at him. “What?”
“Just making the most of things, eh?”
He gave Seb a knowing look, and Seb scowled back at him.
“Oh, fuck off.”
His phone chimed, distracting him from saying anything else. The text was from his sister.
Just been picked up. Thanks for sorting. X
He replied withNo problem. Call me when you get home. X
Will do
Jared was grinning at him when he looked up.
“That was from Kelly, before you say anything.”
Jared perked up at that. “Oh, how is she? Back from her hols?”
“Yeah, just got picked up from the airport. I booked her a taxi.” He knew what was coming even before Jared glanced down at his cast and frowned.
“Me or Nathan would have picked her up, you know.”
“Yeah, I know, but—”
“You wanted to keep her out of it?”
Seb nodded. Out of everyone, Jared understood how he felt. “Yeah.”
“Fair enough. But let me know if you want a ride over to see her. That goes for anything else too. I know we don’t see each other as much these days, but I’m always here if you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Seb smiled, and a rush of warmth filled his chest as Jared put his arm around him and hugged him close.
About half an hour later, they had firmly pushed aside their earlier conversation, mainly due to Seb’s refusal to discuss it further. Jared’s phone chimed, and he glanced at it as Seb paused their game.
“Shit. Forgot all about my laptop.” Jared glanced at Seb sprawled out in the corner of the sofa. “I wouldn’t go, but I need to do a bit of work this afternoon.”
