12. Cherry #2
“All of you stand over there,” Chase says, pointing to the living room, “and I’ll toss things for you to catch. If you catch it, you have to eat it. I will say what it is as soon as I release it in the air.”
I move over to him, excitedly dancing on my feet as I lick my lips.
“You like that idea?” he asks in amusement, and I bark before pointing my nose at the bag of jelly beans.
“Take her into the living room,” Hunter tells him as he starts to look through the pantry. “I’ll throw the food.”
“Come on, pretty girl,” Chase says as he moves around to the other side of the couch and beckons me over. I stare at him then look back at the bag of jelly beans, wanting one now.
“Bain, get over here,” Chase says in a bad attempt at a whisper. “She’ll play if you do.”
I watch with interest as Bain sighs, but steps over to stand beside Chase, his hands shoved into his jeans pockets.
He looks at me and raises an eyebrow in question.
But I get momentarily distracted when I look at him.
He’s wearing a white T-shirt that’s so tight it looks painted on, with an open blue plaid flannel over top.
Today, he reminds me of the nickname I gave him when I first met him, my lumbersnack.
“Are you coming?” Chase asks, breaking me out of my stare. I move toward him, and he lifts the coffee table and moves it out of our way. The only thing between Hunter and us now is the couch and the kitchen island.
“Are you playing?” Hunter asks Maddox, who’s watching us in amusement.
“I’ll referee,” he answers, crossing his arms and leaning on the counter.
“I’ll help get you things to toss,” Gage said, sticking his head into the pantry. Hunter places a few boxes on the kitchen island to block our view of what snacks they’re gathering.
I really hope they throw jelly beans first. I’m craving something sweet right now.
Chase rubs his hands together excitedly. “I’m not going easy on you, pretty girl. If you want a snack, you’re gonna have to jump for it.”
Bain makes a noise of protest from my other side. “Don’t worry,” he says, reaching down to stroke my head. “I’ll catch them for you.”
I try to smirk at Chase, knowing Bain will help me get what I want, but Maddox interjects. “No. The rule is, you catch it, you eat it.” Bain glares at him, amusing me. I’m surprised he stays to play with us, but I am glad for it.
“Okay, you guys ready?” Hunter calls out.
“Fire away!” Chase says as he bends his legs, ready to jump.
I watch as Hunter tosses something toward us, waiting a moment before yelling, “Pepperoni!”
He throws it directly at me, and I manage to jump up high enough to catch it in the air just before Chase makes a swipe for it. I have a feeling he could have gotten it if he wanted to.
Hunter tosses two more pieces of pepperoni in my direction, and I catch them both, even though I know Chase or Bain could have gotten to them before me.
Then Hunter changes tactics, tossing the next one at Chase. Just as Chase’s hand is about to catch it, he yells, “Sardine!” Chase’s eyes grow wide as his hand instinctively closes over it. I see the look of horror cross his face and can’t help but laugh, which probably sounds crazy in my wolf form.
“Ewe, gross!” Chase says, staring at his prize. “Who even bought these?” He looks down at me and narrows his eyes. “Are you laughing at me, blue?”
“You know the rules, you have to eat it,” Bain tells him with a smirk, making me laugh even more.
He looks totally grossed out, his nose wrinkling as he opens his mouth and tosses it in, not even bothering to chew before swallowing it down. “Ugg gross! Give me something to chase that taste away,” he calls to Hunter.
Hunter grabs something and tosses it at us, yelling, “Grape!” Bain snatches it out of the air, smirking at Chase as he pops it in his mouth and chews.
Chase just glares at him. The same thing happens again, and when a third grape is thrown, I throw myself at Bain, making him stumble in surprise and giving Chase the chance to snatch that one up.
“Angel…” Bain says with wide eyes as I retake my spot between them. “Did you just cheat?” I shake my head, and Chase laughs.
“There’s nothing in the rules about distracting other players,” Maddox tells us, sounding amused.
We continue for a few more rounds. I take turns helping Bain and Chase, just because it’s fun to keep them on their toes. But when the next item is thrown, my need to help them goes flying out the window.
“Chocolate!” Hunter yells the second he releases it, giving us all a chance to go for it. It must have been lighter than he expected because it starts to fall short of the couch.
I haven’t had chocolate in so long that suddenly the thought of getting it overtakes all other thoughts, as if getting it is the very key to my survival. The drive to get it first has me leaping onto the couch and launching myself over the back and into the air.
I realize I’m not going to reach it with my mouth, so I stretch out my arm as a strange sensation moves through me. My hand wraps around the chocolate as I land on two legs and shove the tiny treat in my mouth, moaning in pleasure from the creamy goodness.
When I open my eyes, I instantly know something has changed.
My entire view is much higher than that of my wolf.
Not to mention the stunned faces of Hunter, Gage, and Maddox, in front of me.
Looking down, I see my naked body, which makes me shriek.
Before I can even start to lift my arms to cover myself, my body instantly shifts back to my wolf.
“Holy shit,” Chase yells, breaking the silence and echoing my own thoughts. I don’t even know how I feel at that moment, as so many emotions battle within me. Embarrassment, shock, fear, but most of all, hope.
I just shifted for the first time without anyone touching me.