46. Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Cedric
I accidentally get a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, only to be met by a pair of puffy dark circles. When I glance at my watch, the seconds tick by slower than ever. It’s been nine hours since we last saw Delilah, and there’s still no trace of her, save for some broken wood planks in the square she might have barrelled through.
Come what may, there’s no chance in hell I’m leaving without seeing her, without making sure she’s alright. Even if I hadn’t been worried sick since she left the clearing, I need to make sure she knows there is nothing she could do, or be, that would make me think less of her.
In fact, it’s only my fault for giving her reason to doubt that.
Though insisting they wouldn’t sleep, Faye and Marcus are sprawled on Delilah’s couch, the fight to stay awake long lost. I can’t blame them: exhaustion is tugging at me like a child on their parent’s sleeve. I make sure Blaine’s water bowl isn’t empty before stepping on the porch. I look up to find the sun nearly risen above Fern Port, the sky streaked with pink.
I swallow, and wonder if I said the wrong things–wonder if there was something I could have done that I didn’t think of. And while I’d bet my life Delilah wouldn’t hurt a fly, I also know she wouldn’t forgive herself if she did while she was in wolf form. I took a gamble, but honestly, trying to restrain her didn’t even cross my mind. Even when Marcus’s cravings get worse, his human side always pulls him back.
All I can do is hope the same is true for her.
I sit on the porch steps, propping my head against the pillar.
And I wait for her to come home.
Something damp presses into my palm.
“What–”
I pry my eyes open, not even remembering falling asleep in the first place.
“Hey boy,” I say, my voice rough from disuse as Blaine attempts to climb into my lap, his honey-colored snout filling my vision. “What is it?”
He barks once, startling me as he trots off.
“Wait up,” I say, quickly rising from my crouch and dusting my pants off. I only manage to take a few steps before Blaine barks again, his round tail waggling excitedly. Coming toward the house is a figure I could draw by memory. My heart threatens to beat out of my chest as Delilah’s human form comes fully into view, grass and gravel stuck beneath her slippered feet.
Blaine runs up to her and meets her with a bark, and she crouches to greet him as he gives her a firm lick on the cheek.
“Hi, Blainey days,” she says quietly, though unable not to smile. She looks up, her eyes tired and hopeful. The pale green dress Faye had brought to leave in the clearing for Delilah might be the simplest item I’ve ever seen her wear, yet I cannot look away. I don’t want to.
“Hi,” she says, rising on wobbly limbs. I walk up to her, placing both hands on her waist to steady her.
“Hi,” I repeat. “How ar–”
“I heard you,” she interrupts gently.
I nod, a wave of emotion lodged in my throat. “Good.”
“Is Faye alright?”
“Yeah, she’s sleeping on the couch. Marcus, too.”
“Okay,” Delilah says, taking a deep breath. “I think I’d better shower.”
“How about I draw a bath for you instead?” I ask, and though there is so much to talk about and so little time, I find myself unable to let go of her.
Her small smile deepens, hazel eyes crinkling. “That’d be nice.”
Delilah
Though my best friend has never been inclined to display emotion, I could swear her eyes are damp when she says, “It’s good to see you in one piece.”
“It’s good that I haven’t torn a piece out of anybody,” I chuckle feebly, Marcus the only to laugh along with me .
Faye nods pensively before saying, arms crossed tightly across her chest, “Maybe you didn’t need those chains after all.”
I hadn’t thought about it, and I don’t know if I agree, but there’s a whole month before the next full moon peak. There will be plenty of time to worry about whether I no longer consider myself dangerous. In the meantime, I made some progress. Even though I was terrified, I had some control. It’s enough, for now.
Cedric stands beside me, his presence a gentle reassurance.
Marcus clicks his tongue, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“Have you considered selling some of that gorgeous red fur online? I’m personally against real fur, but you wouldn’t believe what some people are willing to–”
Faye glares at him so hard, I’m surprised he doesn’t melt on the spot. Marcus rolls his eyes dispassionately, offering his hand to me instead. “We should form a club,” he says with a wink. I can practically feel annoyance radiating from Cedric at my side, but I shake Marcus’s hand anyway, relieved someone can find humor in the midst of chaos.
“The bath should be ready,” Cedric says, placing a hand on the small of my back.
I nod, thanking him as he plucks a piece of leaf stuck in my hair, offering me a small, tender smile worth its weight in gold.
Ten minutes later, I am half submerged in the warm water when a knock comes at the door.
“Yes? ”
“May I?” Cedric asks from outside, as if he hasn’t seen me naked–or something close to it–multiple times. I smile at the thought, but tell him to come in, immediately noticing the stack of pancakes on the tray he’s carrying.
“Breakfast in the bath? Fancy,” I say with a grin, pushing myself to a sitting position in the tub, hair pooling down my shoulders.
“Your stomach rumble could be heard from the port,” he says with a small smirk. “Though I can take them back if you–”
“Nope!”
An amused huff of breath escapes him as he puts the tray down and sits on the edge of the tub. He crosses strong arms across his chest, his eyes searching my face. “How are you? Really?”
I shake my head lightly. I can’t think of a single reason to lie–he’d see right through me anyway. “Sorry. Embarrassed. Tired. Relieved.”
“In that order?” he asks, and I splash a few drops of water at him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” I add.
“You couldn’t have known my reaction. I understand why you didn’t,” he says, ever sensible. I nod, though he can’t possibly think our reasons for not telling each other the truth about our acquaintance with the supernatural are on the same level. I don’t have a dangerous parent that hates me breathing down my neck.
“How are you ?” I ask.
He considers the question for a moment before saying, “Sorry. Embarrassed. Tired. Relieved. So bloody relieved.”
I offer my truest smile, because it feels like that’s all that matters right now .
“What do you have to be embarrassed about?” I ask again as I reach for more body wash.
“A lot of things,” he says, brows knitted. He licks his lips, swallowing lightly. “Most of all, not having the guts to tell you that I loved you days ago.”
The bottle slips from my hands, its blue cap bobbing on the surface of the water. He–he just said–
“Cedric,” I say, my brain apparently still foggy from running through the woods all night.
“I don’t expect you to say it back,” he says, leveling me with a soft look. “But I told you I had something to say to you, and that is it.”
I shake my head, because of course, of course I love him back. Why are the words not coming?
“Forgive me for not waiting for a more romantic moment or, well, a more poetic scenario,” he says with a quick glance to the beige tiles of the bathroom walls. “I know the selfless thing would have been to keep it to myself. But it couldn’t wait any longer. I couldn’t wait.”
I am overcome with a dozen feelings at once, all battling and roaring in my ears. He said it so simply, as if it were easier than breathing.
Cedric loves me.
He nods, unaware of the myriad thoughts occupying my head, and extends one hand, his knuckles caressing my damp cheek.
“Take your time, I’ll be right here.”
He walks out, and before I know it, happy tears are trickling down my cheeks, landing with a gentle plop into the water.