“My car is parked a couple of blocks down. I’ll get it and drive you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of driving,” he snapped, jerking his arm out of King’s grip.
The small room filled with the burnt scents of stress and aggression, and I let out an unintentional whine.
James cleared his throat. “I should mention that wild bunnies have big fear responses. They can actually have heart attacks if they get too scared, so let’s all take a deep breath.”
Oh my god, she could have a heart attack? That was not going to help me calm down.
Wilder gripped the back of my neck again. “Everything’s going to be fine. Leo, go with King.” Before Leo could protest, Wilder spoke over him. “I know you can drive, but King’s car is closer and time is of the essence.”
Wow. Wilder wascommanding. Not what I expected of him, but I liked it.
“Umm, okay,” Leo said, looking confused at his own agreement.
He and King seemed reluctant to leave, casting me long glances before closing the door behind them.
I turned back to the bunny while James tended to her wound. I didn’t realize I was crying until Wilder wiped my cheeks.
“She needs a name,” he said in his deep, gentle voice.
I nodded. “What about Blossom?” The name popped into my mind and felt right. It wasn’t until after I spoke it out loud that I realized I might have been inspired by the remnants of King’s orange blossom scent lingering in the air.
“Blossom. That’s a great name,” James said as he finished closing her wound. “If you want to hang out in the lobby, I can show you how to feed her the goat’s milk once the other guys are back.” He lined a small box with a towel and placed her inside.
I carried it out to the lobby, feeling like I was holding the most precious thing in the world.
38
Wilder
Lucy, Blossom, and I satdown in the lobby. I spilled out of the tiny clinic chair, pushing my thigh flush against hers.
I needed to create space between us, especially since I hadn’t taken any suppressants after last night’s shit show. When I’d finally regained consciousness, cold and stiff on the ground, I’d half crawled inside and passed out on the couch.
You need to move. Stand up. Step over. Sit down. Any minute now.
Lucy glanced up at me, her eyes wide and watering. Could she sense the turmoil churning inside me? The danger she was in?
A piece of her hair fell in her face, and before I realized what I was doing, I tucked it behind her ear. My thumb caressed her cheek before I pulled away. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, but her heartbreaking sniffle ruined me.
I softened my voice. “Blossom is going to be fine.”
“Yeah.”
A couple of people trickled in for their appointments with the vet. Lucy’s eyes stayed fixed on the bunny.
“I’m sorry I missed craft night.” I’d practiced my speech the whole drive down the mountain, but now that I was in her presence, all the words flew out of my head. “I wasn’t feeling well.”
My excuse sounded so fucking feeble, but it wasn’t like I could tell her the full truth.Sorry I didn’t come. I was passed out on the ground like a fucking idiot after overdosing on rut suppressants, which are the only thing keeping me from going feral and attacking you.
Lucy’s eyes flashed to mine, a little crease between her brows. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah.”
We lapsed back into silence, and I wanted to smash my head against the wall. This was my chance to have Lucy to myself, and I was wasting it.
