“You’ll get cold,” I tried to refuse but Taylor just shook his head.
“I still have my button-up on,” he pointed out, “and I’m not out walking in the weather. We have the class bus out in the parking lot. Take the sweater and I’ll come by after school to get it, okay?”
I knew he was going to be expecting the explanation that he couldn’t ask for in front of the kids but, honestly, I could use someone to talk to.
Having my best friend’s scent wrapped around me helped to center me until I got back to my apartment and realized I lost the first picture of my baby.By the time Taylor gave up on knocking on my door and let himself in with the spare key, I was a snotty, tear-stained bundle of blankets and regrets on the couch.
“Oh, honey.” Taylor bypassed me to wet a washcloth with cold water before stooping to wipe my face and kiss my cheek. “What’s the matter?”
I stuttered and cried my way through the story, telling him how I accidentally ran into the Alpha who didn’t want to be my soul mate and not only had I run, but in the process I lost the precious picture the doctor had just given me.
Taylor listened with the patience of a saint, letting me vent. Letting me get out all of my hurt and disappointment over the man who didn’t want me and my grief over the loss of the memento before patting my back and pulling me into a hug. When I finally ran out of tears, he left me long enough to rewet the washcloth and bring me a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Drink this,” he instructed, gently wiping the tears from my face again. “I promise everything is going to be okay.” Before I could argue, he narrowed his eyes at the water bottle I was holding and I raised it to my lips. “That’s better. I don’t know what we’re going to do about Otto, but all we have to do about the ultrasound is call the clinic. They’re digital images and they will have a copy saved. We’ll ask them to reprint it, okay?”
“It’s not gone forever?” I asked, feeling more than a little stupid when Taylor shook his head.
“No, honey, I promise they can reprint it. In fact, why don’t I call and explain the situation while you finish that water and then we’ll see about getting some food in you?”
I nodded and sipped obediently while he called the clinic and confirmed that, yes, they could reprint the picture for me, and I could pick it up any time.
Disconnecting the call, Taylor gave me another hug. “Now, do you think you can eat?”
I thought for a minute and nodded, suddenly famished. “Still don’t know what I would do without you, Tay-tay.”
Taylor shook his head with an indulgent smile. “Since we’re best friends, you’ll still never have to.” Leaning back, he released me from his hug and settled onto the sofa next to me, opening the Dinner Dash app on his phone and passing it to me. “Now, sushi is off the table, but anything else you want, we get.”
“Anything?”
Taylor sighed. “We’re having McNuggets, aren’t we?”
I nodded seriously. “We’re absolutely having nuggets. Lots and lots of nuggets.Allthe freaking nuggets until everything is better with the world.”
Taylor snorted. “I think you’re expecting an awful lot from some shredded, pressed mystery meat but here’s hoping you’re right!”
~*~
Otto
I went back and forth in my mind during the walk home and long into the evening, weighing the best time to return Dex’s coat. He was too agitated for me to follow him when he ran, obviously, but surely the hours that passed gave him enough time to calm down, right?
But since I couldn’t be sure, maybe it would be better for me to wait until morning when a good night’s sleep would have hopefully restored him? What if he needed it before morning? There could be a fire or other emergency that forced him out into the night and then what?
The evening news droned on in the background as I paced from the front window to the kitchen and back, wearing a path in the carpet. It wasn’t until the weather forecaster’s overly chipper voice broke through theshould I or shouldn’t Ibattle in my head that I made a decision.
“With lows in the mid-twenties, the wind chill could get as low as five below zero before the sunrise begins to warm things back up. Stay warm out there!”
Stopping abruptly, I stared at the multicolored weather map on the television screen, frowning at the cartoon image of a shivering robin with a worm scarf wrapped around his neck.
“I can’t wait,” I grumbled out loud, glaring at the screen as it transitioned to the introduction for the local sportsshow. “Dex can’t be outside in below zero without his coat. He’spregnant, for fuck’s sake!”
Pulling my fleece pullover on, I shoved my feet into my waterproof hiking boots in case the weather brought moisture with it and retrieved Dex’s coat from where I’d hung it in the closet. Don’t judge me but I totally brought it to my face to draw in the briefest inhalation of his scent before heading out into the night.
The combination of the late hour and chilly temperature kept most of the town’s residents tucked into their warm homes, making the dark thirty-minute walk to Dex’s apartment peaceful.
Even though it was convenient that I didn’t have to buzz Dex to get in, I frowned slightly when I found the building’s security door blocked open with a large rock. Kicking it out of the way, I pulled the door firmly closed behind me and headed for the elevator.
I hesitated in front of Apartment five-twenty-two, my hand raised to knock and worried again that, coat to return or not, Dex probably did not want to see me.He’d run from me earlier which was why I had the damn coat in the first place, so why would I think he wanted me to bring it to him?
