What, You Jelly? #2
Stomping through high grass, the three of us walked a path around a nearby mountain range, where caves and waterfalls were known to be.
Not many could hike the area because of its steep incline and treacherous path, but it wasn’t anything for us who ran faster and could navigate any dangerous shift in the ground.
It took me a little while to feel confident about launching across spaces no human or animal could overcome, but I’d done it a few times with Phil after he activated my blood.
He said over time I could ascertain spaces I’d be able to loft across.
And because I was supposedly stronger, ones he couldn’t manage I may be able to jump over eventually.
I focused on sharpening my senses to feel and smell anything out of the ordinary, though I wasn’t exactly sure how magic would feel or smell. It had already been several hours, and still nothing. The other two groups hadn’t found anything at the other two locations either.
Phillip was several feet ahead, gaze following the mountain ridge. Nigel stayed directly beside me the entire hike up the hill, keeping pace.
And as we climbed, my thoughts strayed a time or two to the several new people I met. Back to the uncharacteristic discomfort when it was evident Phillip and Kris had history. Back to the conversation with Topher and Tiff about my abrupt break-up with Nigel.
Emotions struck me at every turn, and it wouldn’t be lying to say I was seriously confused lately. I didn’t know what I wanted. Or who.
Nothing made sense.
One minute I was confident about what I needed to do, and the next I questioned every choice I made. It’d be easier to blame my age and inexperience in this case, but something told me it went beyond that.
Everything stemmed from Phillip’s kiss. Before that, even though I was attracted to him, I hadn’t considered letting Nigel go at all. For some reason, when the elusive Austrian kissed me, everything changed.
But why?
In free moments, I thought about the kiss and yearned for it again. Needed it again. Even I didn’t know what the fuck was my problem. Anyone in their right mind would know Phillip was bad news and riddled with flaws.
Talk about max emotional baggage.
He was a guy who clearly played the field and didn’t form long-lasting attachments; someone who thought the world of himself. Not to mention, he was quite literally the worst.
Nigel was kind, considerate, and cared unlike anyone I’d ever met. He thought about me more than normal guys his age, and he’d been my world for over three years.
“V?”
I hummed, not listening. “What’s up?”
“Do you think there’ll ever be a future where you and I…?” Nigel didn’t finish, but he didn’t need to. I knew exactly what was left unsaid.
“Nigel.” I touched his arm, heart in my throat. “I’m—”
The werewolf scratched the back of his neck, visibly swallowing. “Sorry. That was—I don’t know why I asked that when we only just…” His jaw worked, a sigh escaping his lips. “You don’t have to answer that. It wasn’t fair of me to ask you.”
I bit my lower lip, the weight of guilt back in my stomach. “It’s a fair question. I just don’t really have answers right now.”
“No, you’re fine. I’m really glad you stayed friends with me when you didn’t have to. I don’t want to pressure you for more than that.”
Now I feel like a real jerk. I’m the worst.
Phillip glanced over his shoulder, his gaze connecting with mine for a second before he slowed down. “I sense something around this ridge. We may have to climb.”
“As in rock climb?”
I had yet to scale a mountain, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me the tiniest bit anxious knowing it was thousands of feet high.
I didn’t want to experience the feeling of falling to my death but not dying.
I’d regenerate and heal instantaneously, but I’d feel everything before I did, and I didn’t relish a fall to my death today.
Besides, explaining said fall and escape of certain death to Nigel would be interesting since he didn’t know I was a perfect genetic mutation of a vampire mixed with human, and basically indestructible.
But what I’d been told by Phillip was the Organization had ways to make people forget things, human or otherwise, and it sounded plenty ominous for me not to wish that on the guy who’d been nothing but wonderful to me the last few months.
Phillip’s mouth was tilted boyishly, evidently picking up on my internal thoughts because he was a bastard like that. “How else? With our abilities, it shouldn’t pose much of an issue. I’m almost eighty percent sure you won’t fall. Probably.”
Oh, yes, he was definitely a bastard.
Nigel glanced at me, hesitant. “If you’re worried, I can carry you on my back.”
“That’s—”
“In wolf form, of course,” Nigel interrupted, lips sliding up secretively.
Interest piqued, I paused. “Going to let me ride you like a pony, huh?”
“I know you’re eager to try it out,” Nigel teased, his husky laughter causing me to inadvertently smile. “I can promise I won’t drop you. It’s a tough mountain to climb. You’re better off just letting me help.”
Phillip was instantly in front of me, eyes narrowed. “No. You’re here to train, not ride on some wolf’s back.”
Nigel rolled the tension from his shoulders and neck. “Bro, don’t you know when to chill?”
Phillip swept the hair out of his eyes, a smile plastered on his face. “Not with the likes of you, no, bro.”
Christ.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think Phillip was jealous. But that couldn’t be right. It was probably more that he didn’t like Nigel, and whatever little rivalry the two men had going on was agitated by my presence.
Men.
“Okay, kids. That’s enough,” I cut in sharply. “But Phil’s right. I’m here to train. Raincheck?”
Nigel’s proud grin immediately stole Phillip’s. “Definitely. I’ll go on ahead and see if I can find anything. Meet you two up there.”
I watched my friend disappear into the forest, probably to get naked and shift.
I tried not to imagine Nigel stripping down to nothing, but I wasn’t a saint.
Even I’d imagined Nigel nude nearly every time he discussed shifting.
He always removed his clothes to avoid tearing them apart, and he brought his duffle bag with him today in anticipation of having to shift without warning.
“What’s your deal with Nigel, anyway?” I asked when I couldn’t see or smell Nigel anywhere. “You’ve been extra rude to him today.”
Phillip reached over to me and tucked stray hair behind my ear. “No reason. Just not a fan.”
I didn’t believe him, but I also didn’t have any evidence to argue he wasn’t telling the truth. So, I dropped it. Instead, I asked the question that had plagued me since we met up with the other two Hunters.
“So…” I started, attempting to keep my voice nonchalant and gaze elsewhere. “You and Kris, was that a thing?”
I could practically hear Phillip’s delight. “Interested?”
“Just curious. Seems like there’s a past there, and I don’t like being stuck in the middle of things that haven’t been resolved,” I lied feebly. “Did you two date?”
Phillip stepped forward, getting uncomfortably close. “What, you jelly?”
“No one—I repeat, no one—says that,” I grumbled, a twitch in my cheek. “And no.”
“Not even a little bit?” His fingers brushed my cheek. “Should I tell you? I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it.”
Pulse already taking off, I stood in front of him, looking plenty stupid and not the least bit sure how to change it. “Was it more than friends?”
Phillip’s mouth rose into an impish smile.
Christ. I don’t like that look.