As we shuffle down the hall toward the men’s room, I mumble, “Good plan, alpha; I’ll be sure to remind you when the time comes.”
Chapter 28
Faerie Nurse
SOPHIE
Sunday, July 15
Doc guides me upstairs to an empty conference room where I collapse into a chair, lean my elbows on the long, oval table, and hiccup through my tears. Since Marv’s visit yesterday, I’ve been so consumed with worry and guilt over Teddy that I’ve accomplished absolutely nothing. I put a sign on the shop at four this morning that reads, “Closed until Further Notice,” because I couldn’t possibly bake knowing Teddy was lying injured somewhere.
I look dreadful too. My eyes are swollen from crying, my hair’s a tangled mop, and I’m wearing an old gray tee from my high school gym class that’s a bit snug, but it’s my last clean top.
Doc Demetrius steps out of the room long enough to murmur something to Elvira, and a few minutes later she’s placed a box of tissues, a bottle of water, and apacket of crackers in front of me. I pass on the crackers but gulp down a third of the water bottle. Meanwhile Doc and I haven’t said a word to each other, but I find his silent presence as soothing as Zosia’s purrs; it must be something to do with his vampiric sensitivities. Cassia claims vampires make the best therapists, and she should know; she’s been in therapy for a couple of years trying to manage her panic attacks.
“Oh Doc,” I murmur, my voice thick with emotion. “Teddy looks awful—and I’ve only seen him from the chin up. How is he… really?”
Doc’s upper fangs catch on his lip; I gather he wants to answer me honestly while also protecting Teddy’s privacy. “Teddy was in a fight with another werewolf and based on his injuries, I’d say they were pretty evenly matched. He’s been bitten, slashed, and bruised—but he will recover. ”
“If only I’d told Jake about Rafe sooner, this wouldn’t have happened,” I sniffle, dabbing my eyes with a tissue.
“Oh, that fight would have happened sooner or later,” says Doc.
“Because ofme.”
Doc pats my hand. “No, my dear, because ofthem. Apparently Teddy and Rafe fought each other once before, although neither knew the other’s identity until now.”
“What?” I’m struggling to process the fact Teddy and Rafe actually know each other. “But how… and when?”
Doc holds up his palm. “I gather it has something to do with Teddy’s last pack. However, you’ll need to get the particulars from Teddy; in fact, I believe it will becathartic for him to talk about it with you. That young man is carrying around a great deal of pain… as well as unresolved feelings.”
Scowling, I say, “I’ve tried to get him to talk about his old pack, but he clams up every time.”
“And why do you think that is?” Doc tents his silver eyebrows.
“I’m not sure.” I shrug, feeling somewhat miffed about Teddy’s secrets all over again.
Doc removes his spectacles, cleans them with a cloth from his pocket, and replaces them on the bridge of his nose. “I suspect Teddy doesn’t wish to be vulnerable around you. He wants you to look upon him favorably."
“But I do.”
“Do you really?” asks Doc.
I’ve known Doc all my life and trust his discretion; he’s also a very sympathetic listener. I decide to tell him about my fight with Teddy. How I wish I could utter an incantation and take back everything I said, but even my mother’s most powerful spells can’t change the past. Even worse, words spoken in anger seem to linger the longest.
When I’m finished telling Doc, he says, “Thank you for explaining; that gives me insight into Teddy’s state of mind.” He pauses and appears to be choosing his next words carefully. “What are your plans now for the bakery, and your… ah… friendship with Teddy?”
“I will apologize to Teddy and try to be a better…” I hesitate because I’m not sure how to categorize my relationship with Teddy. Is he a business associate, an employee, a friend, or something more? My heart thumps hard when I consider the possibility of Teddy being something more, but I dismiss it; how could that sweet, wounded man ever really forgive me after the way I behaved?
“I want to be a better friend,” I say lamely.
“And the bakery?”
“I’ve closed it for now, and I’m returning Teddy’s ownership shares; I’ve already ripped up the document.” In a small voice I add, “It wasn’t the same… working there all day… without him.”
Doc smiles, as if he approves of my decision. “Earlier, you asked how you could help Teddy, and while he’s too embarrassed to ask anything of you, he’s in great need of assistance.”
I sit up straighter. “What does he need?”
