Chapter 44
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
CHRISTINE
Haley reaches Mylo’s side a second after I do.
“Christine, you’re al—Mylo?!”
His weight slides into me as his muscles go lax, and I scoop an arm under his legs, lifting him to my chest. He shivers violently, clinging to my shirt.
Haley’s eyes are wide with concern. “He was fine a second ago…”
I’ve barely processed that they’re here, let alone what Haley does or doesn’t know.
“Let’s go inside.”
Haley hurries to turn off her car, then follows me into the guest house. The back wall is all floor-to-ceiling glass, and the afternoon sun pours into the cozy, rustic space.
“There’s tea in the cupboard,” I say to Haley, nodding at one of the solid-wood cabinets in the understated luxury kitchen. It’ll give her something to do with her hands; that should help.
Haley nods, finding three mugs and a few of those fancy pyramid-shaped tea bags. She lays out the bags on autopilot, not fretting over what kind each person wants, which is how I know she’s rattled.
I lean back against a barstool by the island, cradling Mylo against my chest. I don’t really have an idea of what to do; I just know I’m not putting him down.
Haley fills a vintage kettle and puts it on the commercial-grade range. The gas clicks and whooshes to life under her hand, and her brow furrows in thought. Then she turns suddenly, staring at me.
“You were—I thought—I was so worried about you, Christine! Why haven’t you answered anyone’s calls?!”
Guilt pangs through me. “I’m sorry. I left my phone in LA. I needed a… digital detox. I didn’t plan to be gone this long.”
“You’re not hurt or sick?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“But now Mylo’s sick!” Haley puts a hand to her forehead.
“He’s fine.” I’m not sure if I’m reassuring Haley or myself.
“You and I both just watched him faint!”
“He’ll… be fine. He’s tough.” I’m not sure I should be so calm now, but my omega is in my arms. Everything is right in the world.
He nuzzles against my chest, more dazed than unconscious. His bright citrus scent fills my nose, softening toward honey around the edges. There are odd hints of spice, a whiff of bitterness; I think his nervous system is just overwhelmed.
“Maybe he caught something on the plane,” Haley mutters.
I don’t know if Haley knows enough to put two and two together, so it seems wise to change the subject. “How’d you two get on the ranch?”
“Oh, Julio says hi.”
“Ah, so you sweet-talked your way in. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you,” Haley says sharply, brow still furrowed. “I’m mad at you, I think. Or mad at myself? Of course you were fine. I… Oh, god, does this count as stalking?!”
That guilty pang echoes. “No, Haley, I… Thank you. I wasn’t fine.”
Haley’s expression softens. “So coming out here wasn’t totally mental?”
I offer a wry smile. “It wasn’t totally mental. I’m impressed you found me.”
“That was all Mylo,” Haley says softly. “I didn’t even know you surfed.”
“Eh, here and there.”
Haley offers a brave smile, but I can tell she’s hurt. She must be used to people keeping her at arm’s length. And Mylo and I having our own secrets to keep certainly doesn’t help.
“Have you ever been surfing?” I ask.
“No, I don’t think I could.”
“I’m sure you could. I’ll take you out sometime. It’s not as hard as it looks.”
Her expression turns hopeful. “And if I make a total idiot out of myself?”
“Then you’re splashing around in the ocean in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Win-win.”
She smiles. “I never thought about it like that.”
The kettle whistles and nearly startles Haley out of her skin.
Mylo stirs, pulling himself upright. “Ngh… what just happened?”
“You passed out,” I say quietly.
At the sound of my voice, his breath catches, and his eyes turn up at me—now ringed with citrine amber. Relief blossoms through his scent.
Then his shell pulls back into place, brow furrowing.
“I’m fine now,” he mutters, stubbornly sliding off my lap and landing on his feet. He wobbles, leaning half his weight against the countertop. His hands splay wide, and he looks tempted to press his cheek to the cool stone. Given the heat already radiating from him, that’s no surprise.
He turns a scowl toward me. “You have some explaining to do.”
“It’s okay, Mylo,” Haley says soothingly, setting the kettle aside now that the mugs are full. “Christine needed the company.” She hesitates, glancing at me. “Right?”
“Right.”
“Cream? Sugar?” Haley asks.
“Milk’s in the fridge, should be sugar in the cabinet.”
Haley blinks. “Well, I was more asking what you wanted, but I suppose where any of that is would be my next question.”
“I know; I’m just messing with you. Just milk for me, and Mylo will take both. Maybe a little extra sugar.”
“Hey!” Mylo glares at me, and it looks absolutely pathetic with his feverish flush as he leans against the island.
I tilt my head. “Is that not how you take your tea?”
“I… that’s beside the point.”
“Mhm.”
Haley chuckles quietly as she sets the sugar on the counter, then fetches an unmarked glass bottle of milk from the fridge. “Wait, so this is…”
“Local.”
“Like from the cows we passed on the way in?”
“I think so? I could bullshit you, but ‘local’ is all I know.”
Mylo grumbles, “Can’t even be bothered to remember…”
I laugh and tousle his hair, earning another death glare. “I was never told. This isn’t my house.”
Haley’s eyes widen. “You haven’t broken in somewhere, have you?!”
“I’m flattered you think so highly of me. Nah, this is Reynold Gosling’s guest house.”
“You know Reynold Gosling?!”
“Yeah, we met at the Oscars last year. I mentioned surfing, and he extended a standing invitation. Said they don’t get enough use out of the place.”
Mylo puts on a mocking tone, “Yeah, we met at the Oscars.”
Haley bursts out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand until she sees my amused expression. Then she adds milk and sugar to our tea and joins us at the island.
“You’re grumpy,” Haley says to Mylo, sliding his mug over. “Caffeine should help.”
“I’m not grumpy,” Mylo huffs.
I raise a brow.
Haley taps the top of his mug.
“Ugh, fine.” He wraps his hands around the mug and glowers. It should be too hot to comfortably hold, but he’s shivering again, so his body craves the warmth.
I could pull him against my body and solve that problem immediately, but I kind of want to see how long it takes him to cave.
His scent fills the room. My omega is here. I have infinite patience.
“So we’ll stay for tea and then head back?” Haley offers.
I shake my head. “At least stay for dinner.”
“I don’t want to impose…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Does anyone deliver this far out?” Haley asks.
I take a sip of my tea. “Hm? I’ll cook. This freezer’s full of meat. Also local. And there’s an avocado orchard out back, so a couple of them are bound to be ripe.”
“Oh, I couldn’t let you do that,” Haley says.
“Yeah,” Mylo adds. “She’s probably terrible.”
Haley chokes back another giggle.
Mylo glares at me. “You have to be bad at something.”
My lips just press into an amused smile. “I guess you’ll find out.”