Page 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Y ael couldn't let Eryn take another day off from school. The district only gave the kids so many days before it would become a truancy issue. While Eryn hadn't missed very many days until Simon had been injured and Andre escaped prison, Yael didn't want him to have issues, especially since this was his last year of school.
Eryn would be safe in school if Yael explained no one else but him could pick Eryn up after the day was over. But the sheriff promised to put an officer in the school just to be on the safe side, especially since Andre was close by. The sheriff said the schools in the surrounding area were also taking steps to protect their children.
Andre had never targeted anyone but women. He liked to victimize people one person at a time. But if Andre suspected Eryn was inside a building, then he might decide there was a first time for everything.
The only problem was Eryn still wasn't awake yet and the drive was a bit longer because Dr. Enzo lived on the outskirts of town.
Yael pounded on Eryn's bedroom door. "I'm coming in there in five minutes. You better be in the shower."
"I'm awake and dressed. Sheesh." If Eryn was dressed, then why did he still sound half-asleep?
Yael was about to open the door when Skippy came down the hall.
Do you need help?
"No. He knows he better get out of bed or there will be consequences." Yael raised his voice and aimed the threat at the closed bedroom door.
Simon wrapped his arms around Yael's waist. "What are the consequences?"
The door opened and Eryn came out. "There aren't any. He just says that because he thinks it works."
Yael sighed. "Are you going to be difficult all day long?"
"It wasn't my plan, but I may have to pivot depending on if you're going to be in a bad mood all day." Eryn smiled as though he were trying to appear innocent, but liking that he failed miserably.
Simon chuckled. "You're a smartass. I like that."
Yael shook his head, but he couldn't help the smile. "I think Enzo made some sort of breakfast sandwich. You'll have to eat in the car."
Eryn sighed. "Can I have money for lunch?"
Before Yael could dig out the wallet in his back pocket, Skippy handed Eryn a ten-dollar bill.
"School lunch doesn't cost that much, man. But thanks."
"No problem." Simon kissed Yael's cheek. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"I thought you were going to try to shift again. You're so close to being able to." Yael turned in Simon's arms. "When I get back, I'll help you stay calm."
Simon's smile turned sensual, and he ran his hand down to Yael's ass.
Eryn huffed. "So, I have to go to school, but you two get to fuck each other's brains out all day. No fair."
The whining had stopped getting on his nerves a long time ago. Eryn wasn't good enough at it for it to work, anyway.
"Don't curse."
Simon chuckled again and then kissed Yael. "I'll be in the backyard when you get back. What are you going to do if you see Andre?"
"Tell you right away and then hightail it back here."
"Or?"
"Or head straight to the clubhouse." Yael forgot to mention the last thing. "And then call the sheriff and or Quidel."
"Good boy."
Eryn made a gagging sound in the back of his throat and then he headed down the hall.
Yael kissed Simon one last time before following Eryn.
"I could just drive myself."
"No way. Not with Andre out there. And besides, I might need the car."
"Daruss said he brought Skippy's bike here. You can ride on that with him. And besides, where do you need to go, anyway? He's going to keep you naked most of the day."
Yael smiled at the thought. "Yeah."
He let his mind wander. Enzo had let them use one of his apartment style suites, so they had two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. He thought about all the surfaces they would make love on.
He came back to himself. "We're staying together for the time being. Until Andre is caught, neither of us will be alone. Got it."
"Got it. The council posted a guard at the school, right?"
"I'm not sure if it's a council enforcer or the sheriff's deputy, but yeah, there will be someone there all day."
Eryn took a deep breath in, as if he were relieved by the thought. "Good. Okay."
"Are you going to be able to handle classes today?" Yael should have asked him about that last night. He'd been so focused on Simon it hadn't occurred to him to ask Eryn questions. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not asking you how you're feeling about all this."
"About Andre, you mean?"
Yael nodded.
"I'm scared shitless. About like you. I'd be stupid not to be. And I'm good. Honestly. I can go to school." Eryn smiled. "I'm happy for you, though. Skippy is a great guy."
"You don't mind the suddenness of how he came into our lives?" Yael worried that all the changes might add to the stress of Andre being out of prison. It could overwhelm Eryn.
"Isn't finding your mate and getting serious quickly the way it's supposed to go?" Eryn sounded as though it was not that big of a deal one way or another.
"It's typical. There's nothing wrong with doing it differently, though." Yael didn't want Eryn to think there was a wrong way to mate.
"Well, I like that he makes you happy. He makes me feel safer. And he's easy to like."
Simon was easy to love, too.
Yael pushed all the love he felt toward Simon through their link.
I love you too, baby. Simon showed Yael what he saw through his eyes. And in that vision Simon's hands were shifted. I can't shift completely yet.
You're healing.
When they arrived in the kitchen, Enzo pointed to the sandwiches lined up on the counter. They were wrapped in paper towels. One of them had a brown sack behind it.
"Good morning. That one is yours, Eryn." Enzo said.
Landry sat at the kitchen table with a sketch pad and a stack of pencils. Bitty sat on his lap and Lola lay on the floor beside him. The dogs loved Landry, and Landry seemed to take to them. It was a genuine love match.
Raylee sat on Jude's lap. Yael knew the plan was for Daruss to help Simon shift, so he was outside with Simon.
"Do you need someone to ride with you?" Landry asked.
"I told Simon I'd let him know if we see Andre. But really, I'm just dropping Eryn off and coming right back here. We'll be fine."
Those were famous last words.