I mean he smelled good, but the scones smelled better. Good enough to eat. Unlike August, whom I had no desire to eat. Apparently incapable of doing two things at once, I stopped walking in order to shove away my cannibalisticdeliberations.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Nelsonasked.
“What?”
“You look like you’re in pain.” Nelson gestured tome.
Oh.“Just a Charlie horse.” I looked down at my bare legs, regretting not having swapped my sleep shorts for something more concealing. I glanced toward my bedroom.Nope.Wasn’t slogging back there. Besides I’d almost reached the free chair between Jeb andAugust.
One morestep. . .
Cold sweat beaded on my upper lip as I finally dropped down into the chair with an audibleoomph.
August, who was angled away from the table, crossed one foot over his opposite knee and grinned so wide I wanted to smackhim.
“August suggested going for a hike,” Jeb said. “And having apicnic.”
“Nothing like sunshine and fresh air to clear the mind,” Augustsaid.
I blanched a little at the idea ofhiking.
“I could use a distraction.” Jeb pinched the bridge of his nose. “And I wouldn’t say no to physical exertion. Might help me sleep.” He lifted his bruised blue eyes tome.
“What do you say?” Augustasked.
What doIsay?Let me see . . . That you’re sadistic, August Watt.Besides, I would need to be physically dragged along the trail considering the state of mybody.
Obviously, I went with, “Um. I have an appointment to pass my driver’s permit today.” It wasn’t a complete lie. If they could fit me in at the DMV, then I’d take the test. Could I just walkin?
The amused glint in August’s eyes dimmed, and he grunted. “Howconvenient.”
I lifted a scone off the plate and took abite.
“We can leave after you’re done,” Nelson said. “What time’s yourappointment?”
The bite went down the wrong hole, and I coughed. August pushed a glass of water in front of me, and I downedit.
No rest for theinjured.
What time was it now? I looked around the room for a clock. Found my answer inscribed on the cable box: 9:15.“Eleven-thirty.”
“We’re not in any hurry. We can leave straight after,” Augustsaid.
Oh, goodie.I shot August a death glare, which put a glimmer back in hiseyes.
“Great.” I ripped off a large chunk of dense, flaky dough and stuffed it inside my mouth. Hopefully my werewolf gene would miraculously heal my aching bones and tattered skin within the next three hours. “Can’twait.”
August cocked one of his thickeyebrows.
“I’ll call Izzie to confirm the picnic.” Nelson rose from his seat, cellphone already pressed to hisear.
Jeb laid his hand on my forearm and squeezed it. “Thanks for being such a good sport,Ness.”
“Ofcourse.”
My uncle got up and brought his mug over to the sink. “I need to call the inn. I’ll be rightback.”
I watched him make his way to his bedroom. Although his shoulders were hunched and his eyes puffy, he was far from the specter he’d been just a few days ago. It hadn’t even been a week, I realized, yet it felt like it had been a month since the pledging ceremony. Time was a strange thing. Some days lasted seconds, and some days lastedweeks.
