Chapter Eleven
I t’s three days before I can finally pull myself out of my bed.
My parents stayed with me for the first two, but then Mom’s heat hit, and I had to kick them out.
The only communication I’ve had with the outside world was a text message I sent to Chloe on Sunday to apologize and let her know I wouldn’t be able to make it in to finish up the last bit of training. She was amazing and said not to worry about it. That she’d be fine with the support system I have in place for her. I’m definitely glad I hired her. She’s going to be a great addition to the company.
I would remain in bed longer if I could, but when I woke up this morning, my heat symptoms started. My heat is coming, and I have no one to help me through it. Over the last ten years, I’ve done one heat solo, and it’s something I’d rather not repeat.
I need to get on Heat Assist and see if there’s anyone still available, which is unlikely considering heats have already begun, but I need to take a shower before I do anything else.
Climbing from the bed, I shed my clothes as I head for my ensuite. I’m naked before I even hit the bathroom. Heading straight for the shower, I flick it on before using the bathroom and then moving over to brush my teeth.
My mouth feels disgusting after not brushing them in days. By the time I finish, steam is billowing from the large shower. Stepping inside, I sigh as the water hits my skin, washing away days of dirt and tension. My mind begins to wander as I wash my hair, going straight to the four men who burst back into my life.
Nope.
I force my mind away from them as my heart clenches in my chest, a fresh wave of tears threatening to overwhelm me.
I’m not doing this today. I don’t have time for this. I have to figure out how the hell I’m going to make it through this heat.
“Play music,” I call out, sighing when heavy rock begins to pour out of the speakers in the bathroom. One of the best investments I made in this house was making my house as smart as it can be. I can turn lights on or off, have music play, lock the door, turn the oven on, and so many more things with nothing more than a press of a button or a few words spoken. It makes my life so much easier.
Singing along to the music, my mind finally focuses on the task at hand so I can get clean.
Once I’m finished, I head back into the bedroom, pulling on a light, silky robe. It already feels like too much against my skin, telling me my heat is coming on faster than I thought it was.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I grab my phone off the charger where it’s been sitting since my dad put it there, clearing all the notifications without looking at them before opening Heat Assist.
“Damn it,” I curse when I see there’s no one available on the app. Of course not. Why would there be anyone available for a last-minute heat? Whale shifters know when their heats are coming, so there’s no reason not to plan ahead.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
I don’t have to have whale shifters help me through my heat, which is helpful in this case, but how the hell am I going to find someone who can miss upward of a week of work that’s not a whale shifter?
I’m so fucked—and not in the good way, either.
My eyes widen as an idea hits me. I do know someone who makes their own work schedule and would be able to miss a week without getting in trouble. It’s not even the first time he will have helped out with my heat or slept with me outside of it. It’s just the first time I’d be asking him to do it on his own.
I really hope he’s not out of town or anything.
He’s one of my favorite contacts—which only consists of my parents, Haley, and him. I hit the call button and wait for an answer.
“Oh, if it isn’t my favorite whale shifter.” His voice is deep and silky, sending a shiver down my spine even through the phone. “I was beginning to worry when you didn’t answer my texts. Is everything okay?”
I sigh, willing myself not to break down again. “Not really, Wyatt. Not at all, actually. My heat is starting, and I have no one to help me through it. But that’s not even the worst part.”
“Excuse me? Why the hell not? Did someone bail on you? Do you need me?” I can hear movement on his side, telling me he’s probably already doing what he has to so he can rush to my side.
“I hate to ask you—“
“Nope,” he cuts me off. “Don’t even start with that shit. If you need me, I come—just like you’d do for me. I’m glad you caught me when you did. I just finished up with a client. I have to clean up and cancel my appointments for the week. I should be able to be there in a couple of hours. Are you going to be okay until then?”
And this is why Wyatt Dunn is my best friend—or at least one of the reasons.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Wyatt.” I lay back on the bed, placing a hand on my growling stomach. I definitely need to get some food in me.
Shit.
I also need to put in a food order.
Wyatt scoffs. “Die of boredom.”
“Probably true.” I laugh. “I need to put in a food order. Is there anything in particular you’d like me to order?”
“You know what I like, babe.” Wyatt sighs. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, do you want to tell me what’s worse than not having anyone to help you through your heat? ”
And that right there is one of the reasons I find my best friend so annoying at times. He couldn’t just ignore that part, could he?
I wrinkle my nose even though he can’t see me as I climb off the bed once more, heading to the kitchen. “Can’t we just forget that part of the conversation?”
“How long have you known me, Lila? Seven years? In that time, have I ever given the impression that I would just let something like that go?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer because we both know the answer is no. “Spill it.”
“Fine.” I sigh. “But I’m making food while we talk, so don’t be surprised if I get distracted.”
I tell him the entire story—from my parents announcing they were involved with someone else to meeting Miguel to Miguel turning out to be Carter’s cousin to learning that the four of them reappeared two days ago to them attempting to talk to me. I don’t mention the three days I’ve spent in bed, but I’m sure he’ll work that out on his own, considering I have no one to help me through my heat. Not to mention ignoring his phone calls and texts.
“Holy shit, Lila. That’s fucking insane. How are you? ”
I scoff, plating my eggs, bacon, and French toast. “How do you think I am?”
“Shitty. I think you’re shitty. Damn it. Let me get off the phone so I can cancel these appointments. I have to stop by the house and grab some things, but I’ll be there as fast as possible.” He hesitates. “Do you want me to reach out to some of the guys and bring them along?”
I smile, loving that he made the offer even if he didn’t want to. Wyatt is an incubus, and because there aren’t many of them in our realm, they all know one another. But that doesn’t mean they get along. Wyatt is not a fan of the incubi and succubi in the area, but he’d bring them if I wanted them. That’s a true friendship right there.
“You’ve been through a heat with me before. Do you think you can handle it on your own, or will we need them?”
He’s quiet for a moment. ”I think my magic will be able to make up for it just being me, but Lila, I can’t be sure.”
“I’d rather it was just you—if you’re okay with that.”
“Yeah. I think I’d rather not bring them along. We’ll figure it out and make it work.” Another hesitation. “ You still have those toys from the heat you spent alone, right?”
I’m actually not sure. I have to really think about it because it’s been a while. The one and only time I decided to ride out my heat alone was the first year after the guys disappeared. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to let anyone help me that year. It had been a mistake, but at the time, I couldn’t have handled it. “Oh! Yes! They’re still in a box in my closet. I remember seeing them a few weeks ago. I’ll pull them out and give them a good cleaning.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you when I’m on my way, okay?”
“Thanks, Wyatt. I owe you one.”
“You do not. You act as if your heat won’t feed me for weeks. Plus, I’ll always be there for you. See you soon.”
He hangs up without waiting for me to say goodbye as he usually does, and I shake my head.
I carry my food over to the table that overlooks the back deck, swinging the doors open so I can get a view of the ocean as I eat. I pull up the app to order my groceries as I devour my food before my thoughts turn back to Wyatt.
When I met him, I was still in a pretty low place. After the heat I spent alone, I ended up sleeping around—a lot. I met him at a club, not realizing what he was, but by the time I found out he was an incubus, we were already halfway to having sex. It was some of the best sex of my life, and I figured that would be the end of it. After all, that was my MO at the time—fuck ’em and leave ’em.
Only, he wouldn’t let me leave him. I’m still not sure why he decided he had to be my friend, but he never gave up. And we kept sleeping together.
It’s probably a little weird to semi-regularly have sex with your best friend, but it works for us. Sex fuels him, and I don’t have to worry about breaking some guy’s heart by being a coldhearted bitch when he wants something more than sex. Plus, I trust him with my life.
He was the breath of fresh air my life needed. He wouldn’t let me sit at home all the time, crying into my ice cream or whatever the fuck I was doing at the time. We went out at least once a week or once every two weeks to do something. Everything from the movies to camping—which had turned out to be a one-and-done as Wyatt was not a fan.
Wyatt was the first one to ink my skin and the only one I’ll ever allow to do it. He’s the one who pierced my eyebrow and my nose after begging him to. He said it would mar my beauty, but I like the way it looks. He even admitted, albeit begrudgingly, it looks good.
He’s a part owner of a tattoo parlor, Anarchy Ink, where he regularly does tattoos. He has a lot of clients who will only be inked by him because he uses his incubus magic to make the experience pleasurable instead of painful. At least for those of us who don’t already find it pleasurable. He’s also an amazing artist outside of his tattoo work. Every piece of art on my walls was made by him, and I love every single one of them.
I never expected to let someone else into my life after having my heart broken all those years ago, but he didn’t give me a choice—something I’ll be eternally grateful for.
Finishing up my food, I sit my plate in the sink with the other dishes. I’ll take care of those after I pull out the toys and change my sheets. And I’m pretty sure I need to do laundry. Then I’ll need to prepare food for my heat. It’ll be harder to make sure we get enough food since it’ll just be the two of us, but I know Wyatt will make sure we eat .
There’s a lot I need to get done before my heat fully kicks in, but I feel better knowing I have a plan in place. Wyatt will help me once he gets here, and that’s a real weight off my shoulders.
I really don’t know what I would do without Wyatt Dunn in my life.