Page 2 of The Time It Takes

"Sure I can! You're my partner, aren't you?"

I didn't really know what to say to that, so I didn't say anything. But inwardly, I sighed at the thought of how much wrangling that would take with Darby.

She didn't like doing activities with the pack, but she also didn't like me doing things with them without her. It was awkward. I didn't want to not be in my partner's life socially, and I really enjoyed being around his pack.

"Let me think about it," I told him.

His smile, which had been large, died a little. "Sure. Probably should check with Darby," he said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Hm," I said noncommittally, and went back to scrolling. If I didn't want to have conflict with Darby, I also didn't want to disappoint my partner. Whatever I did, someone wouldn't be happy with me.

#

"Cole! You're not watching!"protested Ellie, one of the pack members. I'd looked up just in time to miss her strike. She scowled at me, hands on hips. "You're supposed to watch!"

I'd been fiddling with my phone, trying to stave off another text argument with Darby.

"I don't have to watch." I should get to lounge. I shouldn't have to be on alert constantly.

Not that texting was currently relaxing me very much.

"Yes you do, because when you look at your phone you get all sad and stuff." She marched over and took my phone from my hands, using her fingers gingerly, like she was touching something both delicate and potentially deadly.

"Hey," I protested mildly.

"Hey," said Arlie, arriving to rejoin us, hands full of drinks and hotdogs. "What did I miss?"

"Cole's lost in his phone again," said Ellie, trying to sound playful and not quite managing it.

Arlie stared at her. "It's his phone," he pointed out.

Gwen and her husband were there then, taking the food and drinks from Arlie, unburdening him.

"You got the good stuff," said Sully, grinning.

"Everything's good here," said Gwen.

Arlie was still staring at Ellie. He held out a hand, now that he had them free.

She looked stubborn and started to turn red. He kept his hand out. "Fine." She rolled her eyes and put my phone in his hand. "If you want to enable the party-pooping."

"He's my partner," Arlie explained gently, handing my phone back to me. "Cole can do whatever he wants."

I felt awkward, but I wasn't sure why. Ellie could be a little bit childish, and normally I didn't care. Maybe it was the way Arlie said that I could do whatever I wanted. It seemed too nakedly loyal to say aloud, too profound somehow, like something he should hide and not admit out loud.

I glanced at my phone once more. Great, she hadn't texted back. I was getting the silent treatment again. I slid my phone away and tried, for Arlie, to be present. To pay attention.

Besides, it was his turn to bowl. I had to watch.

Ellie sat down on the seat beside me, close enough I could feel the heat of her body. I thought about moving away, but I wasn't sure if that would be more rude than she'd been to me. I like to keep things proportional. Besides, I didn't have a problem with Ellie. She was just young. Cute, if you like blondes, but very young in my eyes. Now that I'd turned thirty, anyone in their very early twenties just seemed like a kid to me.

I watched Arlie bowl and tried to put the upcoming argument out of my mind.

The truth was, if something didn't start getting better in my relationship with Darby, we were going to have to break up. It would be better to be single than live in a constant battleground.

"Your turn, my man." Arlie clapped me gently on the shoulder and smiled down at me. "Don't take it so hard. You still might catch up!"

I might. But I probably wouldn't. I got up and Arlie took my seat, which was still warm. Ellie clapped before I'd even started to throw the ball.