“Aren’t you tempted to call her again?”
“Nope.”
“So, that’s it? You’re just going to dump her and let her wonder why?”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “What would you suggest? Date her for a month, have lots more great sex, fall head over heels in love, and then tell her I’m a werewolf? Oh, no wait. That’s whatyou’ddo.”
Konrad let out a long sigh. “It’s more than that.” Taking a deep breath, he told his twin the rest. “Rosalyn is my soul mate.”
Nick stopped walking. “Your what?”
“My mate. The one. The love of my life.”
“Shit, how do you know that?”
“We’re able to communicate telepathically.”
Nick’s jaw dropped. “Get the fuck out. Did you just say you can hear her thoughts? And worse…she can hear yours?”
“Yeah. It’s been a challenge, believe me.”
“How the hell…” Nick clasped his brother’s shoulder. “I hate to say this, big guy, but you are so fucked.”
“Thanks, Nick. You’ve been a big help.”
***
Sly stretched out on Konrad’s sofa. His long arms spanned the back of it. He crossed one ankle over his knee.
“What’s so urgent?” he asked.
“Nothing’s urgent.” Konrad settled into the adjacent chair. “Can’t I just want to spend some time with my buddy?”
Sly lifted one eyebrow.
“Okay, okay. I have a dilemma. I thought you might be able to give me some advice, since you went through it recently.”
Sly cocked his head. “I did? What are you talking about?”
Konrad smiled. “I know you told Merry about your being a vampire. Now I have to tell her best friend I’m a werewolf.”
“And then, if I weren’t her father and she weren’t married, we could double date?” Sly mocked.
Konrad reeled. “What the? Incestuous visual aside, that’s…oh, you’re kidding again.”
Sly laughed. “Of course I am. I just couldn’t resist yanking your chain. You sound like an adolescent talking to his older, more experienced friend about girls.”
Konrad’s lips thinned.
“I’m sorry. You had a dilemma. I shouldn’t have poked fun, but you have to admit, it broke the ice.”
Konrad leaned against the back of the chair and blew out a long breath as he stared at the ceiling.
Sly said, “Come on. Give me a break. It’s not an easy subject to discuss. I tend to joke around instead of getting overly serious.”
Konrad bent forward with his elbows on his knees. “Tell me about it.”
Sly’s voice softened. “Naturally I was afraid of what she’d say. Or do. But Merry’s not like other girls. She has the heart of a lion, but the compassion of Mother Teresa. And she’s open-minded. I know she had doubts, even so.”
