* * *
This braidingshit was going to take practicing. An intense amount of practicing. Dylan had sent a text to Luxe, asking to practice braiding on her hair but she declined saying she was helping Flora. Then who would he ask? He couldn’t do it on his own hair, his hair was too slippery and short. Maybe Eddie would know, he had the longest hair in the house. Though it was hard to tell he had the longest hair due to Eddie’s curl shrinkage, more lingo he learned, through the internet. All Dylan needed was some hair to practice on. Eddie was always asking others to do his hair for him so it shouldn’t be a problem.
The hours spent on the internet could only do so much. What if he learned the wrong braiding style? There were so many different ones. What if she changed her mind and wanted twists this time? He didn’t know how to do twists, which was a whole different ball game. Maybe he should let this whole thing go. Maybe he was overstepping the bounds of their relationship.
He just needed some practice. No pressure. If she didn’t want his help with her hair, Eddie sure would. No harm, no foul if she said no. Dylan walked up to Eddie’s door, pushing aside the mild embarrassment and dread that would soon follow, and knocked.
“Come in,” Eddie hollered. Dylan stepped into the room, taking in Eddie’s unbraided hair and the game controller in his hand. “What’s up?”
“I need help.”
“With...what?”
“Braiding hair.”
“You want to braidmyhair?” Eddie chuckled, surely getting the mocking and teasing prepared in his head. Dylan stood at the entrance of the door, stock still, almost too embarrassed to move. He had a goal to accomplish, and he was going to do it, damn it. “I don’t wear the exact same kind as Flora and I don’t add extra hair.”
“I know.” Dylan said, his skin flushing hotly. Of course, Eddie figured out why Dylan randomly wanted to braid his hair. “So can I or not, Eddie?”
“Of course, can you part?”
“Part?” Dylan questioned slowly, trying to remember if he watched a video on that specific section of the art of braiding. “Yes, but it's shaky.”
“Good enough for me. I want four rows on each side in the front and five rows in the back,” Eddie said, turning his bean bag so Dylan could reach his hair. Sat next to the little gaming spot was the surprisingly neat row of hair products he assumed Eddie used. All he needed was a comb, brush, gel, and ties.
“Hey, I’m tender headed, so be careful,” Eddie laughed.
“Instead of focusing on what I’m doing, you need to focus on your game. You're getting your ass whooped,” Dylan lied, opening all the required jars and placing everything neatly in rows on the mini table beside them. He read each label and set them accordingly in the order he would use them. If anything, he was prepared.
“Ha ha, funny guy. Get to braiding.”
“So, he asked you too?” Luxe said from the open doorway. Her honey scent filled the room as she held the missing ingredient to Eddie’s braids. She grinned; the wolf knew what she was doing.
“Practice makes perfect. Does it not?” Dylan mumbled, grabbing the water bottle from her offering hands. Flora’s hair would be blown dried, but once again, so many different types of fucking braiding required so many different techniques.
“You're welcome,” Luxe yelled as she shut Eddie’s door on her way out.
“When is she going to become our Luna already?” Eddie commented.
“Whenever Jackson gets his head out of his ass,” Dylan answered, as Felix joined the hair braiding party. He plopped onto another bean bag across from Eddie. His legs stretched well past Eddie's. Felix was the tallest Pack member at 6’4" and the extended ceilings they had to build were expensive as fuck, but they would do anything to make all their Pack members feel comfortable in their home.
“So, when are you getting your own head outta your ass?” Felix joked, staring down at his phone. The damn crow was always on his phone and always knew everything about every damn body.
“What do you mean?” Dylan asked, confused. Taking the comb to separate Eddie’s hair into equal, large sections with gel.
“You and Flora.’
He should’ve known this question was coming. Only for the simple fact that he didn’t know how to answer. Labels weren’t something he and Flora set. He wanted to bring them up; he wanted to be her boyfriend, her partner, her mate for Christ’s sake. But he selfishly wasn’t ready to mess up whatever it was they had going.
“Exactly, Dylan, what’s going on? Because it's obvious it's more than work going on between the two of you.”
“I saw her come out of his room a couple of hours ago,” Eddie edged on like a gossiping teen.
“I don’t know what’s going on yet,” Dylan said using the rattail end of the comb to make a general part before slathering gel across the crooked line he made. He kept trying until he finally got the line straight. He wouldn’t let Eddie walk around looking goofy with uneven parts.
“Well, you know you're a catch, right?” Felix’s frigid exterior never gave enough credit to the love and loyalty he gave.
“That’s not the point. The point is what if the feelings aren't there?” Dylan asked.
