That sent the group into cackles, and Jonah hid his face in his hands while a few of them jostled him playfully.
It was Tasha who came to his rescue, shoving them away and putting a hand on his shoulder. “Alright, leave him be. He’s had a hard day, and he doesn’t need to be dealing with you idiots on top of it.” She tipped her head, waiting for him to peek out to look at her. “Be honest. Did Emmett do something to embarrass you? Because I can put him in his place if I need to. He’s needed to be taken down a peg or two for a while now.”
“Excuse you?” Emmett complained, and when Jonah glanced at him, he looked scandalized. “I do not!”
Seizing the opportunity, Jonah murmured to Tasha, “What exactly does putting him in his place entail?” while still looking at Emmett.
Emmett’s jaw dropped. “Hey!”
A smile tugged at his lips as Tasha tossed her arm around Jonah’s shoulders, dragging him away from Emmett with a smug tilt to her chin. “I feel like we could come up with some creative punishments. Maybe make him run some laps, that kind of thing.”
“You should make him wear the cone of shame,” he suggested.
That got both Emmett and Miguel to gasp audibly. Meanwhile, Kian, who’d come to join them, burst out laughing. “Goddess, I showed up at the right moment. I’d pay to see that.”
“Not sure we’d have one big enough for his fat head,” Tasha said with a considering frown.
“I could conjure one,” Kian offered.
Jonah’s shoulders shook with repressed laughter. He’d meant it as a joke, but he should have known better. If Kian or Taron was involved, pranks were sure to happen. The fact that Tasha was joining in was just a bonus.
“Some fake boyfriend you are,” Emmett mock grouched.
“Fake boyfriend?” Taron asked curiously.
Jonah felt his face flush again, which wasn’t fun since he’d just calmed down. He hated having to explain that he needed a fake boyfriend to keep people from bothering him.
“I, uh…”
“He’s been getting some unwanted attention,” Emmett stepped in, giving Jonah that reassuring smile that always made him feel better when he was embarrassed about his overreactions. “After his run-in with that idiot Kyle, he felt better with a story about being taken so people would back off.”
Miguel made a face. “He shouldn’t have to make up a story. Are people not taking no for an answer?”
Jonah lifted one shoulder awkwardly. “I mean, some do. One or two have asked more than once. I feel like if rumor spreads that I’m taken, they won’t ask anymore.” He didn’t want to admit he was uncomfortable turning people down. He still wasn’t used to being around supes, not enough to recognize when he was under threat. Obviously, after what happened that morning.
That part went unsaid, but the group as a whole seemed to consider it before they all slowly nodded.
“Alright. I can see how being in a relationship could be helpful, at least until you’re more comfortable,” Tasha agreed.
Taron nodded, fishing his phone out of his pocket. “I agree. They won’t have to pretend forever, just until Jonah feels more confident around supes.” He frowned at his phone, then looked around. “I can’t stay for lunch today. I’m going to eat with my mates. I just wanted to check in with my future son after I heard what happened this morning.”
Since Tasha was standing closer to Taron than Emmett was, Jonah ducked out from under her arm and moved to stand by Emmett instead, shaking his head.
“Not your son. I don’t need to be adopted.”
Taron, the brat, acted like he didn’t hear him. “What? I didn’t catch that. I gotta go. Have a good lunch, byeeee.”
He skipped off to join his mates, and Jonah’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Am I really going to get adopted by a supe?”
Emmett chuckled, and Jonah saw out of the corner of his eye when his tail began to wag. “I’d say no, but this is Taron we’re talking about. Maybe if you were a little less adorable, he’d let it go.”
Jonah’s face flamed again, and in retribution for the tease, Jonah grabbed his tail and gave it a light tug. Emmett yelped and jumped nearly a foot in the air before jerking away. The group all started laughing again, this time at Emmett’s expense. Emmett gaped at him.
“You just pulled my tail!”
Jonah shrugged, trying to come off as casual even though he was a little worried by that reaction that he’d just done something taboo. “You licked me. Fair’s fair.”
They were all still laughing and ribbing Emmett as they stepped into the cafeteria. Jonah had stopped paying attention to it the week prior, but he couldn’t help looking around warily for the werewolf who’d intimidated him that morning.
