“Rudolph?”
“Mm-hmm?”
I fiddled with my fingers.
“I’m sorry we made up that profile with your number,” I admitted, and his deep laugh wrapped around me.
“It’s okay. Innovative way to get my attention, smart bunny.”
I rolled my eyes, ready to retort. “Nah, the truth is that you suffer from a severe form of male idiocy and are in desperate need of a lesson.” I paused, basking in the sound of his laughter.Is this guy never offended by anything?“But hang in there. One day, we’ll find a cure for your condition.”
He made some noises of protest. I shook my head and covered my mouth for no reason.It’s not like he could see me smiling.
“What’s your real name?” I blurted out. “I’d like to know the person who knows so much about me.”
He didn’t reply, so I kept going.
“You know I’m not a stalker. Or some crazy girl obsessed with you. The opposite. I’m just…an older sister trying to accept the fact that I’m going to outlive my little brother. Trying to save other kids and comfort other families who can also understand this pain. So why won’t you tell me?” I bit my lip. “Or are you afraid that I’m going to judge you? You know, I do that already,” I teased. “And I’m sure I don’t know you anyway.”
Dark Diamond was a massive pack, with over ten thousand members, and it was quite far from Comet. I’d only heard the nicknames of the most eminent wereball players.
His breath shifted, uncertain. I didn’t understand why.
After a silence that stretched on longer than it should’ve, he finally said, “My name is…Lucien.”
“Oh…okay.” I tilted my head, puzzled and surprised that he’d actually told me his name. It didn’t ring any bells, as expected, and my wolf didn’t stir. Besides the wereball crew, I’d only heard a few other names anyway—wolves Makena had hooked up with, or ones Tiziano had insulted.
But Lucien wasn’t one of them.
“Nice name, but I’ll stick with Rudolph.”
He growled playfully, and I laughed before a question pushed its way past my tongue.
“Do you think we could, um, maybe stay in touch?” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt. “Not asfriendsfriends. Frenemies.”
“How about frenemies with benefits? Benefrenemy?”
“Platonic.”
“You’re missing out, but sure. I’ve never been platonic friends with someone I really want tofuc—um, fucking annoy.”
“I’m serious! I kind of like talking to you…” A blush crept up my cheeks. “Just once in a while, though. I couldn’t survive your cyber-pervert jokes on a daily basis, and?—”
“Sure, Bunny Doc.I’d like that.”
And that was how I got my new nickname, and a new friend.
Bunny Doc and Rudolph.
CHAPTER 14
YVAINE
Sunlight was cascading down through gaps in the gray clouds, like hope daring to give it a try. I hurried through the revolving doors of the pediatric cancer center, though my shift wouldn’t officially start for another hour.
I liked waking up the children, checking their vitals, and chatting a little. They were always so cheerful in the morning, as was their innocent nature. At night, or in the late afternoon, hope was stolen by a fear of loneliness and the remembrance that they were sick. They were living their nightmares.
Just as the early morning light spread hope within me, for those kids, there was no difference.
