River squeezed me hard and long. He understood.
“Funnily enough,” he whispered in a tone that suggested it wasn’t funny at all. “Everything about what Benji represented to me was unsafe. Scary. Yet I couldn’t stop wanting to get close to him.”
“Then tell him.”
“I think he’s straight, Lake. I think he…” He exhaled loudly as he stepped back. “I know you have to work with him and he’s going to be here for a while. I’ll try to figure it out, okay?”
“If you need to, I’ll tell him you need more time before you can actually explain. Just…until that, try to chill?” I grinned a little, teasing him a bit to cheer him up, hopefully.
He chuckled and blushed. “I’ll try.”
“Okay. Now shoo, go make me coffee while I shower.”
He saluted me and left the room.
* * * *
To say breakfast was awkward was an understatement. River was uncomfortable as fuck, Rey seemed confused and worried, and poor Ben sat there, digging into his bacon omelet, occasionally glancing around like an animal who anticipated an attack from direction.
“So, I think Seb is coming soon to check on the kittens and the other newbies,” I said as I finished my meal. I leaned back and held my mug in both hands. The good coffee. I hummed happily. “River, are you going to the clinic today?”
He cleared his throat, the picture of awkwardness. “Uh, yeah. Dr. Cobb wants to go over stuff with me before he makes the decision whether or not he wants to hire me.” Before I could ask, he shook his head. “It’s not about me. I guess it’s more about how he runs the business. I should know if I’m hired by the end of the day.”
“If you are, what kind of cake do you want?” Rey asked, peering at us, happy anticipation for baking shining in his eyes. He was really starting to pick up cooking and baking. I’d been worried about bringing him here with us, but he was already more lively, more interested in things.
“Lemon blueberry,” River said. “But don’t start baking before I tell you I got it, okay?”
Rey glanced at me and raised a brow. I smirked.
River saw it and groaned. “Okay, whatever. Bake if you want. I just…”
“Don’t want to jinx it,” Ben said quietly. “I get that.” Then he flushed deep crimson which looked epic on his pale complexion. “You always liked blueberries.”
River was so taken aback, I quickly continued. “And Ben and I are going to start on the book stuff. River will be gone all day, so we’ll handle dinner, but for lunch, whichever of us gets there first?” I addressed the question to Rey.
He nodded quickly. “Sure, I can handle that. All I have on my schedule is hanging out and feeding the kittens and Seb’s visit.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
That gave enough time for River’s soul to return to his body, and he awkwardly glanced at the time on his cell. “I’ll clear these and finish getting ready,” he mumbled.
“Were the kittens loud during the night?” I asked Rey to take attention off River again.
Rey beamed. “Yeah, a bit. But like, cutely.”
Even Ben smiled at that. “I never had pets, so this place is weird and fascinating to me,” he confessed quietly.
“If you want a tour, let me know.” I smiled. “We have horses, donkeys, goats, dogs and cats.” I frowned. “Am I forgetting anything?”
“I don’t think so?” Rey said thoughtfully. “I really want to go see the barn animals.”
Ben glanced at him, but didn’t ask anything.
By the time River had left and Ben and I were in the kitchen making our coffees to sustain the workers, Sebastian walked in.
“Morning!” He smiled happily, holding his bag of veterinary tricks and a small paper bag in his other hand. He shook it, and the tinkling sounds from inside told us it was likely cat toys. “Presents for the kittens.”
“You’re going to bribe them because you’re about to jab them with needles or something, aren’t you?” I smiled.
