Chapter 12
Assertiveness Training
TEDDY
Afternoon, June 23
Sophie is making excellent progress stripping the wallpaper, while I’ve been scrubbing a decade of grime and gook off the hardwood floors. It’s a little after three, and we both pause when we hear the shop’s back door opening. “It’s me! I’ve come bearing gifts,” calls a female voice.
“Cassia! Thank the stars! Teddy has been an absolute taskmaster all day,” shouts Sophie, who promptly drops her scraper on the floor. She’s obviously done for the day, which is just as well. I need a long run to decompress and figure out how I’m going to win Sophie’s heart. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but Iwillmake it happen; the idea of finding my fated mate but losing her to someone else hollows out my chest.
I wipe my hands on a rag and rise from the floor, curious to meet Cassia, a petite blonde faerie with afriendly smile. She’s holding a carryout tray with three coffees and a bag of pastries. Sophie makes the introductions, waving her hand between us. “Cassia, this is Leslie T. Barker, also known as Teddy. Teddy, this is my cousin, Cassia Spellman.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I take the tray from Cassia. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“I’ve been dying to meet you,” says Cassia, her smile widening. “Granny Catbeam likes you, which is no small feat. Aunt Phoebe is cautiously optimistic, and Uncle Nash said Sophie’s place is already showing signs of improvement.” She turns to Sophie to explain. “Your dad just picked up the eel.”
Sophie rolls her eyes. “Am I the only person around here who doesn’t mind a little mess?”
“Yes!” Cassia and I reply with a chuckle, and even Sophie laughs.
I let Cassia and Sophie sit on the blanket, while I perch on a step stool with the coffee. Cassia holds up the bag. “Want a croissant? I’ve got chocolate and almond in here.”
I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m not hungry.” Which is true; my stomach clenched into knots as soon Sophie told me why she couldn’t work tomorrow. My mate is going on a date with someone she deems boyfriend material, and I can’t shake off this desperate sort of dread whenever my head reminds my heart of that fact.
But I do enjoy watching Sophie take her first bite of the pastry; she closes her eyes and makes a littlehmmsound as she savors the flavors. She must sensemy eyes on her, because she glances up with a little scowl, so I quickly look away.
Cassia squeezes Sophie’s arm. “So how are you doing, really? I can’t imagine how horrible it is… to have magic… and then have it taken away.” She bites her lower lip, and I sense there’s some history with her own magic.
“It’s absolutely awful.” Sophie sniffles. “And it hurt—not physically, but on the inside, like something was being ripped out of me—I wanted to die on the spot. The only thing that made me feel any better—” Sophie hesitates; is she going to mention that I took her in my arms to comfort her? “—was that text message from Rafe. At least I have something to look forward to tomorrow.”
Suddenly I’m choking, the coffee going down the wrong way. Cassia gives me a worried glance. “You okay?”
I wave my hand. “I’m fine.”
Sophie arches her eyebrow; I think she thinks I did that on purpose. Perhaps on a subconscious level I did. “I’m thinking of wearing my new red bathing suit. But should I wear it under my clothes or change on Vreeland’s boat later? What do you think?”
Stars above! She’s going to wear a bathing suit tomorrow? This is worse than I thought! Her prospective boyfriend is going to take one look at her curvaceous loveliness, and the man won’t be able to keep his hands to himself.
I clear my throat a few times, and Sophie narrows her eyes at me. Cassia ignores us both and shrugs. “I think it’s easier to wear your bathing suit and bring a dry change of underclothes for later.”
They’re talking about female lingerie! Bras and panties! A small gargling sound escapes from my throat. This is too much for a guy who’s been living with an ancient faerie for the past three years and hasn’t dated since college.
I leap up from the stool, knocking it over. I take my time righting it and then say, “Ah… I think I’ll leave the discussion of proper boating attire to the two of you. Thanks again for the coffee, Cassia; it was nice to meet you. See you later, Sophie.”
Dashing out the back door, I inhale several large gulps of fresh air and then jog toward the cottage. As I step inside, I hear a “Meep!” from Zosia, who raises her head from one of the chairs lining the wall. The kit has been alone all day and probably wants some attention, but I’m desperate for exercise; Zosia’s needs will have to wait a bit longer.
“Sophie will be back soon… and er, I need to go for a run before my head explodes.”
Zosia yawns, hops down from the chair, and arches her back in a long stretch. As I head toward my bedroom to change into my running gear, I notice Zosia prancing behind me, all nine tails streaming behind her. I pause at the threshold, my hand on the doorknob, and stare down at the white puff of fur by my feet.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My voice rumbles low, just like Jarrod used to do when he was asserting himself.
“Wump.” Zosia gazes back at me through her silver eyes, clearly not intimidated by my attempt at dominance. My shoulders droop; while I have no desire to everbe an alpha or even a beta, I would like to project enough self-confidence to earn the respect of my future packmates… and of this baby fox.
“You’re not allowed in my bedroom; I believe I’ve made that quite clear.” I had to shut the door in Zosia’s face twice last night; once when I went to bed, and a second time when I returned from the bathroom and she was prowling by my door.
As Zosia starts to groom one of her tails, I inch the door open, intending to slip inside without her. Fat chance; I’m a big, bulky shifter, and she streaks past me like a lightning bolt.
