“Right?” He slams a fist on the table, making himself wince again. “I thought we were on an even level, thought we’d made some sort of truce until The Hunt, but I see she still wants to give me grief.”
“So, what you gonna do about it?”
“I’ve already text Milo to buy some cameras. There’s going to be a camera in every room. The bitch won’t be able to sneeze without me knowing. She’s not allowed to come anymore. Do you know how fucking frustrating it was to feel her lose herself, actually see her crumble while I’m backed up like an idiot? Fiz, you ain’t got the first clue how much control I needed to hold myself back. In the state I was in as well…”
The words go left unsaid, but I hear it clear as day. The vulnerable, weak state, which Elodie took advantage of.
I curl my lips down in thought. “Not a bad punishment.” I pinch my chin. “But… she did save your life.”
Cade takes the first sip of the shake and screws his face up. “How?”
“She sewed you back together. Set up the blood transfusion. Got you all cleaned up. It was her.”
He looks like he’d rather be stabbed again than accept that.
“Could let her have this one, as a ‘thank you’.”
He shakes his head. “No. She got one up on me last night. That’s not how it works here.”
I sigh. “You do what you gotta do, bro, but recovery must be your number one priority right now. The Hunt’s in three days, are you even going to be able to participate?”
“Of course I will. I’ll still catch the little brat with a hole in my stomach.”
I chuckle. There’s my obnoxious, invincible best friend.
Sarge is still fussing over Caden, who’s doing his best to comfort his furry friend.
I make him some eggs and sit with him, watching as he painfully forces the food down. Elodie appears in the doorway a little while later.
To her credit, she doesn’t look like she took advantage of my wounded friend last night. She looks as stoic as I did after I bit her clit while she slept.
I interlace my fingers and rest my chin on them, smirking at her. Caden turns round to look at her, so I can’t see his expression.
“Good morning,” she says and walks over to the fridge.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” I say.
Caden doesn’t say anything.
Sarge leaves Caden’s side and pads up to Elodie, who freezes at the sound of his paws behind her. He pokes at her leg and she whirls round, gasping. I gape as Sarge, the brute and most savage of all three dogs, nuzzles her leg, tail wagging.
“He’s saying good morning,” I say, when Elodie just grips onto the counter as Sarge looks questioningly up at her.
She swallows, eyes wide and body stiff. Then, she tentatively reaches a hand towards his head.
That’s when Caden whistles so sharp and loud, even I jump.
“Out,” he orders.
Sarge obeys instantly, trotting off without another look at Elodie as she drops her hand and lets loose a long breath.
Well, I didn’t see that coming. But I guess if Sarge witnessed her saving his best friend’s life last night, it was inevitable. He loves her now. And Caden’s going to hate that.
The awkwardness stinks up the kitchen. I clear my throat. “Did you sleep well?”
She takes the milk out the fridge and goes over to the coffee machine. “Like a baby.”
“Bet you did,” I mutter, and Caden flashes me a glare. I wink at him.
