Array
(
[text] =>
Chapter 10
“Yeah that’s it, think you can get one over on me? Fuck no!”
I opened my eyes slowly and winced when he started another round of shouting. He sat on the floor at the foot of the couch I was laying on which meant his head was at my chest. In his hands he held the game controller and his eyes were glued to the T.V screen as he cursed the enemy he was forever fighting against.
I noticed he had his headphones on which meant he hadn’t wanted the sound from the game to wake me up. Too bad he hadn’t thought to plug his mouth along with it though.
“Grady” I groaned. He was giving me a headache and I just wanted him to shut up so I could go back to sleep.
When he didn’t answer and continued to spout insults at the game I tried again….and failed.
Rather than wait for him to finally come to his senses (which would probably never happen since it was Grady after all), I reached around him and pulled the controller out of his weak grasp.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing!” he shouted, turning around swiftly, his hand outstretched as he tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the controller.
I raised it above my hand then quickly tucked the controller under the cushion I was laying on. The only way he’d be able to get it back was to lean over me and try to wrench it out; something I wouldn’t mind him doing since I’d felt slightly cheated out of bodily contact with him since yesterday.
He started stretching over to get it but I guess he heard the sounds in his headphones and turned his attention back to the T.V in time to see that he had lost his game…just as he was about to make a high score too.
I gave him the most innocent look I could muster as he glared down at me but when he raised his hand to knock me upside the head;
“I’m hurt!” I said raising my hands in surrender and watched as he deflated with a frown and lowered himself back onto the carpet.
“You have any idea how long it took me to get to that level?” he glared.
“You have any idea how awesome that dream I was having was?” I replied and watched with a smirk as he shook his head. He turned back to the TV, grabbed the remote to turn it off then sat staring at the blank screen with a pout.
I took the opportunity to settle back into my comfortable position so I could get some well needed rest. About a minute later he said something that had me looking at him through half open lids.
“I’m actually looking forward to meeting a vampire.” He said, just like that, out of the blue.
I guess this line of conversation was something I should expect from him, it was just crazy enough to reflect his personality after all, so instead of giving him the “you’re insane” look, I simply took a deep breath and asked;
“And why exactly would you want to meet a vampire?”
He shrugged; “I don’t know, I’ve just always wanted to, they’re kinda cool…sucking blood and whatever.” He said it as if he was talking about the weather.
“And sucking blood is cool?” I asked in a mocking tone.
He gave me a look that said ‘fuck off’ and I chuckled.
“Well keep dreaming because vampires don’t exist.” I said confidently and watched as he looked at me with an annoyed expression.
“How do you know?”
“I just do.” I answered.
“See? You’ve never even seen one so you can’t know that, maybe they’re hiding just like werewolves and shape shifters are.” He said.
“That’s different though, werewolves and shape shifters are living, breathing creatures, vampires are dead and the last time I checked; the dead don’t walk.” I told him again. “Anyway, are we about done with this conversation? You woke me up before I was ready and I’m tired as hell.” I said with a yawn, then folded my hands on my chest and closed my eyes, fully prepared to go to sleep with him glaring down at me.
I heard him let out a deep sigh and his shifting around told me he was getting up. A few seconds later I heard him rattling things around in the kitchen before I drifted off to sleep once more.
When I woke next it was to the smell of…soya sauce? And something else I couldn’t quite place.
“Hey wake up you gotta eat something.”Grady’s voice reverberated around the room.
I opened my eyes to see him standing by my couch with a bowl of something hot and steaming in his hands. He was looking down at me with gentle eyes and my heart warmed at the sight.
When I smiled up at him he blushed and looked away.
“What time is it?” I asked to dispel his discomfort, then I proceeded to push myself up into a sitting position; a searing pain travelled up my side and I clenched my teeth waiting for the pain to dissipate.
“You okay?” Grady asked, his voice tinged with concern and I gave him a quick grin to allay his fears
“I’m fine.”
“Alright, Rivers made this, he said to tell ya to eat every bite.” Grady relayed the message then handed me the bowl; it was chicken soup.
I hated soup and what made it worse was when Grady went back to the kitchen and came to sit on the ground beside me with Chinese food in his hand. I knew I smelled soya sauce!
“Why do I get soup and you get real food?” I asked him with a glare.
“Because I’m not sick.” he said simply and I watched in fascination as he opened his mouth to gobble up the noodles then licked the sauce off his soft lips. Oh holy heaven, if not for these damn injuries, I’d just jump him right then and there.
“I was shot, I don’t have the flu so I can eat whatever you’re eating.” I told him hoping he’d see it my way for once.
“Nope, you need to watch more TV dude, when you’re sick you drink soup, it’s gotta be good for something.” He told me with a nod then went back to his delicious meal.
“Sometimes I hafto wonder how you even made it this far in school Grady.” I said with a shake of my head “You never argue with any logic, you’re clearly an idiot yet you still get good grades, it just doesn’t make sense.” I said but he only shrugged his shoulders, too lost in his world of Chinese goodness to care that I’d just insulted him.
“I hate soup.” I grumbled, looking down at my bowl with a frown.
“Fine, here.” he said turning to exchange his dish with mine, so that I got his Chinese and he got my soup. Then he turned around once more and started on the soup. “Now shut up and eat.” He said in between bites.
With a grin I picked up the fork and started on mine…and boy was it tasty.
………………………………..
“I feel like I’m gonna go crazy lying here all day.” I announced when Grady came into the room two hours later.
“You’ve just been there since yesterday, you have about four more days to lay there until it’s okay for you to start walking around and even then it won’t be for long periods so get used to it.” Grady said.
“Four more days my ass, I’m getting up tomorrow or imma kill somebody.” I said seriously.
“Uh-huh.” Was his only answer before he settled into the seat opposite me and started on his sketch.
I looked around the room; I’d never been hurt to the point where I was forced to stay in one place for any period of time before and I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I was used to being up and about so this was just torture.
Grady on the other hand seemed to be just fine doing nothing because as the world knew, Grady could handle himself in any situation; well except being held at gun point it seemed…which brought be to my next question; not that I’d had one before.
“Who were those guys yesterday?” I asked him and watched with interest as he stiffened and his pencil faltered in his hand.
“Ah just some idiots who wanted to kill me for some reason.” He answered.
“Yeah I kinda figured, why did they want you dead?”
He shrugged and continued sketching.
“Really? I almost got killed don’t you think I’d like to at least know the reason?”
“They’re just some guys I pissed off…that’s it.” He said again but he still hadn’t looked at me.
“What could you have done to piss them off to the point they’d want to kill you Grady? I’m really not in the mood to pry information outta you, so could you just please tell me?” I asked once more.
“Sometimes it’s better if you don’t know everything…trust me.” He had put down his pencil now and was staring at his sketch without really looking.
“We’re best friends, we’re in a relationship and you still find the need to hide things from me. What exactly will it take to gain your trust Grady?”
He dropped his sketch pad onto the coffee table and leaned forward clasping his hands in front of him before he spoke; “This has nothing to do with trust, it’s natural in relationships for people to just keep some things to themselves, it’s not a big deal.” He said earnestly and looking all the while like he himself hadn’t even believed a word he’d said.
“But why do we have to be like other couples? And how can it not be a big deal? They tried to kill you Grady and I have two gunshot wounds to prove it.”
He winced at my words then sat back in the chair without saying anything so I pushed on.
“I’m positive they weren’t just some random guys off the street, one of them got away which means he’ll probably come looking for you am I right?” I asked him seriously but he chose to keep quiet.
“Come on Grady, I’m just concerned about you.” I told him again.
“I know you are and I appreciate it, really I do Thomas, but this is something I won’t be giving you an answer to…and it’s not because I don’t trust you because you know I do I just… I don’t want you to see me any differently and it doesn’t matter what you say now, if I tell you it won’t be the same…I know you.” Grady spoke and it just about broke my heart, what could be so bad that he thought I would judge him for it? I had to know!
“Grady-” I started only to have him cut me off.
“No and I’m not gonna argue with you over this, not telling you is my decision to make not yours so just drop it Thomas and I’m serious.” he said firmly and I gritted my teeth and looked away.
Despite what he thought, I’d find out what he was hiding, I’d get on it as soon as I was healed and then I’d make sure he told me everything. He was in some serious trouble and I wouldn’t be able to protect him unless I knew the truth.
……………………
“Fine then I’m calling Carson.” Grady threatened me, even going as far as to wave the cell phone in front of my face to prove his words.
“So you and Carson are big buddies again all of a sudden?” I asked and leaned against the gate for support.
“No but since you won’t listen to me then you leave me no choice.” Grady said again. His expression was both worried and serious.
“Then go ahead and call, I’m not afraid of him so this is just a waste of time anyway.” I told him.
“He’s your alpha, if he orders you back into the house then you’ll have no choice but to go.” Grady spoke up and I watched in anger as he started dialing the numbers.
He was right, if Carson gave an order I would have no choice but to follow it. It had been hours since our heated argument in my living room and I’d explained to him that I was going for a walk because clearly I was sick of being cooped up in the house all day, but he’d been against it, saying the doctor said I should stay off my feet for a few days and that he refused to be responsible for me tearing my stitches open.
He wasn’t overreacting, I really could tear out the stitches with all the moving around and yes it hurt something awful but I swear I’d go crazy in there. I wasn’t accustomed to lying in one place doing nothing so of course I felt this way. In any case, I was being extra careful with my walk, I’d be fine.
Unfortunately however I’d only reached the gate of my drive way when he’d made the threat of calling my Alpha. What a pain in the ass.
“He wants to talk to you.” Grady said holding out the phone to me.
I hadn’t even realized he’d actually called Carson and now I looked at the phone with minor trepidation.
“Come on Grady you’re being ridiculous, it’s just a walk.” I told him again while eyeing the phone.
“Wow well aren’t you brave, keeping your Alpha waiting like this.” He said with a pointed look at his outstretched phone and so with a sigh I grabbed it from his hand and put it to my ear.
“Put me on speaker.” The voice on the other line said as soon as I said hello and so I clicked the button, fulfilling that order.
“You’re on.” I told him with mild irritation.
“Alright Thomas, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important it is that you take care of yourself, you’re the Beta and your pack needs you so if your doctor says you shouldn’t move around for awhile then don’t you think it’s in your best interest to listen?” Carson asked
“Yes but-“ I started
“Alright tell you what…we’re having a camp meeting tonight, maybe Grady can drive you here and you could just sit through it without participating but only if Grady thinks you’re well enough to come out.” Carson said again, he sounded a bit distracted.
“Grady? What does it matter what he thinks? This is my decision!” I practically shouted into the phone.
“Because he’s your mate and he should have a say, but mostly because he’s been taking care of you so he should have an idea whether or not you’re okay enough for this.” Carson said wisely and in the brief silence that followed I glared at Grady who stood in front of me with a wide grin on his face and his chest puffed up as if it was an honor for him to make such a ‘great’ decision.
“Actually Carson, I think it’s best he stays here, he can barely even take a step without wincing, he’s in a lot of pain, maybe he can go to the next meeting.” Grady announced.
“Alright, take care of yourself Thomas, I’ll come visit as soon as I can.” Carson said and then the line went dead.
If I wasn’t in so much pain to the point where I had to be using the fence as support I’d reach over and strangle him, mate or no mate. He knew how bored I was here the least he could have done was tell Carson I’d be okay enough to go!
“Hey don’t look at me like that, I’m just looking out for your safety.” Grady declared with a smirk.
…………………………………..
Later that night I was stretched out once more on the couch, bored out of my mind. Nothing interested me; not video games or TV, or reading. All I could think about was the wind through my fur and the smell of the fresh earth beneath my paws. As soon as I was healed, the first think I was going to do was hunt. I promised myself.
“Hey you okay, want anything to eat or drink?” Grady asked from somewhere across the room. When he came into my line of sight I noticed he was wearing a freshly ironed shirt and a clean pair of dark jeans with equally clean shoes.
“Going somewhere?” I asked when I caught on to the scent of his cologne.
“Yeah I’m going to the meeting.” He said simply, then turned to the large mirror on the wall opposite me and ran his hand through his hair to give it that sexy messy look.
“Meeting? As in the pack meeting? Hell no!” I said, pissed.
“Hell yeah, you know I’ve always wanted to go to one and this time I won’t have to hide and watch.” He said with an excited grin.
“Oh so you get to go and I’m stuck here?” I said in exasperation.
“Yeah pretty much. But don’t worry I’ll be back in no time.” He announced then walked over to me and planted a wet kiss on my forehead. He was out the door before I could even recover enough to talk him out of it.
Grady was going to a pack meeting. Shit. If Grady did something stupid and got me in trouble with the council I was gonna kill him.
If? This was Grady, his life purpose was to stress me out. I dragged my hand over my face with a groan.
He was my mate and I loved him but he was driving me crazy!
AUTHOR’S NOTES
SO THAT’S DAY 1 OF 7…NOTHING INTERESTING REALLY HAPPENED ON THE FIRST DAY WITH THE TWO LOVERES BUT LETS SEE WHAT THE OTHER DAYS HAVE IN STORE FOR THEM!
Feel Free to share your Thomas and Grady Fan Art so we can all fangirl over them!
sHOUToUTS: To emiii1235, to MichelleRenee5, to sbrow047 and to NightSeeker87… thanks for reading and taking the time out to comment guys. I really appreciate your support, you are all amazing <3
-DoUbLe.A
-unedited.
[text_hash] => d653e368
)