Page 31

I had a nap each day, which was odd for me. I wasn’t a napper, never had been, but what else was I going to do between eating, reading, and taking care of my hygiene. Honestly, if there wasn’t a doom-filled end to this stay, I’d call it a well deserved vacation.

I sat up from where I was lounging on the sun-heated rock and looked up at the sun dropping lower in the sky. It would be dinner time soon, which meant Odie would be dragging us home in the next thirty minutes where Cy was making something. It was always a surprise, even with a few meals being repeated.

Steak sounded great, but having had that two nights ago, I doubted that’s what we were having today.

“Something on your mind?” Ellie asked from where she sat cross-legged on top of the larger and taller boulder.

Finished a book. I’m taking a second to collect myself. That was only a half truth. I had finished the book, but I was growing bored with how things were. That wasn’t exactly right. I could do this for quite awhile, but where this led grated on me, and I had a constant feeling of needing to move.

“Gotcha. I’m almost done with book eight,” she said distractedly as she stared down at her Kindle once again.

I stood and tapped her thigh. When she looked at me, I let her know I was going to stretch my legs a bit.

Ignoring Odie and whether or not she caught what I had said from her post, I wandered around a bit, always keeping the boulders in sight. That was the deal if I wanted to do this. I had been yelled at more than once for going farther. I didn’t know how they could tell when I did, but they caught me instantly. I wasn’t planning on running off again, but being on such a short leash was killing me.

When the time came, Odie dragged us back as expected, and Cy had prepared lamb chops with roasted carrots and creamed spinach. I didn’t expect to enjoy it, but everything was delicious. The sweetness of the carrots and creaminess of the spinach complimented the earthy medium rare goodness of the lamb.

The meal was near silent besides Cy making sure we all enjoyed it. Afterward, we all adjourned to our usual places. Ellie and I went to our rooms, and Cy and Odie did whatever they did away from us. I didn’t know, and I didn’t ask.

The Kindle had some online features, but flipping through social media wasn’t something I did much. Between limited family members and no friends, what was the point? It was only seven now, and I didn’t feel like reading again. Ellie liked her time alone after dinner, and caving in wasn’t an option.

A movie with popcorn sounded great, but could I get away with it without breaking the silent treatment?

Getting up, I tossed the Kindle on the bed and left the room. It was worth a shot especially if they were off doing something else and the living room was free.

Luck, for once, was on my side. No Alpha was in sight.

I made extra buttery and salty popcorn with a hint of chipotle for a little kick and plopped myself on the two-seater with a blanket across my lap and a large glass of orange juice on the coffee table.

Flipping through the channels, I made my way to the movie section of the guide, hoping something funny was on. Channel after channel, it was all garbage until an Adam Sandler movie lit up the screen. It was perfect although a little odd given it wasn’t anywhere near the holidays. I turned on Eight Crazy Nights and settled in for the evening. It looked like it was a marathon of his movies, so I would be happy here for quite some time as long as I kept the snacks coming.

One movie turned into three with Little Nicky and Anger Management on the list. Up next was You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, and I wondered who picked this order. I was in love with the first two, but Anger Management made me immensely pissed off with all the gaslighting bullshit. The acting was phenomenal, and although I knew anger was the goal, I was still annoyed.

It was now thirty minutes past midnight, and I wasn’t sure I could make it through another movie, but I also didn’t want to go to bed and lie there unable to fall asleep, so I kept going.

I must have dozed off eventually. When I came to, Grown Ups was playing, and the TV said it was pushing five a.m., meaning Odie would be out here soon.

Turning off the TV, I quickly cleaned up my mess of snacks, intent on going to my room after, but I was too slow. Odie came in as she always did at this time and started making breakfast. The frown was still in place, but I saw her glance at me a few times as I placed things in the dishwasher.

As I closed the door, she asked, “Are you up late or early?”

Without thinking, I responded, Late, then walked off, but Odie stopped me.

“Mine, enough of this.” Her voice was tired. “Why is it so bad that we were nice to you?”

It wasn’t bad, and that’s the problem. It took less than two days for me to feel comfortable with them.

I didn’t respond, so she continued. This was the most I had heard her voice since my outburst. “We all know what it’s like to lose someone. If that’s why you’re pushing us away, you don’t have to. If you simply do not want us in your life after, that’s fine. Ellie will be heartbroken though.”

That was a low blow and a sneaky way to not state her own feelings. I didn’t want any of this though. This was a prison before a trial, nothing more.

“Mine, please. Cy and I are barely living in our own home. Everyone is on edge. No one is happy. Just let us all exist until—” A banging on the door stopped her, and our heads swung to look at the front door before giving each other a strange look. Who would be here this early?

That can’t be good.

Get Cy, she signed back, not wanting whoever it was to hear her further.

I was being an ass, but I wasn’t stupid. I took off for Cy’s room, leaving Odie to handle whatever this was for now.