Brindle (3 page)

Jen’s roommate Kara says, “All men confuse me. You can go on a long rant about something, and they’ll just look at you like you’re insane and say ‘Okay.’ It makes me crazy.”

I nod with a smile and fork more spaghetti into my mouth. I’m probably overreacting. My emotions are raw lately, and it’s not like there’s much to say about me wanting to get together anyway. Even so, my eyes fill with moisture.

Jen says, “Hey, you look like you’re about to cry.”

I blink quickly. “I’m just really tired, and it’s making me an emotional mess.”

“I’m totally stressed about finals. I could cry with you,” says Kara.

I offer her a small smile. “I think we need ice cream.”

Jen’s fork hits her plate with a clatter, and she says, “With lots of hot fudge.”

We get up to clear our trays and then head over to the dessert station. When we’re done, Kara asks me if I’m going back to the library. It figures. Just as I’m thinking about leaving this place forever, I start to make friends.

With full bellies and a sugar rush, we return to the library, and I leave a social Kara on the first floor while I go to the third floor carrels for another study session. I take it seriously because if I have any hope of rekindling things this summer with Brindle, I can’t risk having to return for summer school.

I’m deep into supply-chain theory when someone’s hot breath on my neck startles me. The guy’s voice whispers, “Busy later?”

I whip my head around to see a dark-haired guy who looks vaguely familiar. “Ah...”

“Jared. We didn’t do a whole lot of talking the other night, but I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

He licks his lips as if he’s preparing to kiss me, and a girl hisses, “Shhhhh.”

Piss on a pretzel. It’s the lacrosse player from last weekend. “Right. About that.” Now another person hushes us, and I stand and motion Jared to follow me.

When we reach the stairwell, he cages me against the wall with his arms. “How about a quickie right here?” He grinds his erection against me as I grimace and push against his chest. His body is rock hard and no doubt in amazing shape. “That’s hot, right?”

“No, that’s not hot.” Jared doesn’t take the hint and grips my butt. I grab his hands and pull them off. “Look, I was really drunk the other night, and I shouldn’t have attacked you that way.”

“No, baby. You rocked my world.” He lowers his mouth to my ear. The odor of garlic is on his breath, and it turns my stomach. “Now I’m going to rock yours. I’m going to fuck your brains out.”

I huff. “While I’m sure that line works with most girls, I need every brain cell I can get to pass my finals.” I slide sideways against the rough wall to get away from him, but he grips my shoulders before I can get away and kisses me.

Nothing pisses me off more than a guy who doesn’t understand no means no. As anger flushes my face, my wolf begs to be let loose. I tamp down the desire to shift and shove Jared off me. His body flies across the stairwell and slams against the concrete wall before he slumps to the floor.

Holy freakiness.
I’ve got superhuman strength, and my wolf enjoyed that. Hell,
I
enjoyed that. Jared moans and asks, “What the fuck?”

“I said no. Maybe next time you’ll listen.”

I straighten my shirt and compose myself with a deep cleansing breath before pulling open the door to the third floor. For the first time since I was changed into a werewolf, I like my new state. I revel in my power for a moment before I return to my studies and do my best to erase Jared from my mind.

I
remember the summer I went away to overnight camp. The day I returned home, everything felt right again. As I drive down Main Street in Winter Valley after finishing my freshman year of college, the same feeling returns, but it’s multiplied times ten. I’m breathing easier, as if the oxygen is thicker here, and my body feels more relaxed, as it does after a massage. I pass by Sullivan’s hardware store on my left and remember buying supplies to build a birdhouse with my dad. I glance over at the pharmacy where I recall buying my first tampons.

Tampons. Holy mother of women, I’m late! Like really late. I should’ve gotten my period three weeks ago. I’m tempted to stop and buy a pregnancy test, but this is a small town, and my parents would know before I even got home. I pound my fist against the plastic steering wheel and hit the horn by accident. Two girls walking on the sidewalk glance over at me, and I wave as if I know them. They wave back, and I imagine they think I’m crazy.

This morning, I texted Brindle that I’d like to see him tomorrow and asked what time he was available. But just like last time, he hasn’t replied. Fortunately, after dinner with my parents, I have plans with Devon. I’m meeting her at her new salon to celebrate my friend’s accomplishment and that I’m home for the summer.

My house is about a mile from town. I drive slowly along a street filled with small family homes. Most have flower gardens in the front, and the display of color is a hint of what will come with warmer weather. Excitement about seeing my parents again builds in me. My father meets me in the driveway, and he’s happy I’m home, too.

When I get out of the car, he greets me with a big hug. “Katie, it’s so great to see you.”

Birds are chirping, and I say, “Dad, it’s really good to be here.”

Dad releases me and holds me at arm’s length. “So how were exams?”

I sigh. “I did the best I could, Dad. But I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed in my grades.”

The hatch of my small car squeaks open, and my father reaches in to grab bags. I load up with as much as I can carry, and he asks, “Why’s that? Were your classes too hard?”

“No. I’m not sure I was meant to live far away. I’ve been so homesick, and I found myself not concentrating the way I should.”

Before we can talk more about the subject, my mother runs out and embraces me. “God, I’ve missed you. Please tell me you plan to stay for the whole summer.”

I smile and hug her tightly. She smells of the rose-scented lotion she wears, and my heart is full with love. “I’ll be here all summer. I promise.”

“Good. I’ll even let you get away with a messy room just to keep you here as long as possible.”

We enter the house, and the aroma of garlic and basil makes my stomach growl. “Did you make me lasagna?”

My dad chuckles. “She’s trying to bribe you into staying forever.”

“You just might get your wish, Mom. I was just telling Dad how homesick I’ve been.” My dad has gone out to my car to get the last few things, so I plop myself down on the sofa. My mother sits next to me and takes my hand. “If you really feel that way, it wouldn’t be hard for you to transfer to Winter Valley University.”

Tears fill my eyes, and I wonder if my recent inability to keep from crying is because I’m pregnant. “Right now, I think that’s a really good idea.”

My mother hugs me tight. Her voice cracks when she says, “Baby girl, I want whatever makes you happy.”

Being the only child, I have a close relationship with my parents, especially my mother. And I think she was lost when I left for school. With me being so far away, we no longer got to spend stolen moments of time catching up on the little things in our lives. It’s a luxury I really missed. I pull away as hot tears roll down my cheeks, and I smile at my mother, because she’s crying, too.

I grin at her and say, “We’re kind of pathetic.”

“No, honey, we’re special. Not every mother and daughter get along as well as we do.” She stands and straightens her slacks. “Go put your things in your room and get settled. I’m going to go check on dinner.”

The fifth wooden stair creaks when I step on it, and it makes me smile as I climb up toward my bedroom. I walk in to the odor of lemon furniture polish and glance over at my grandmother’s four-poster bed to find the wood gleaming with my mother’s hard work. She did miss me.

I flop on my bed and bounce on the mattress as I stare up at my ceiling. I roll to my side and glance at my nightstand. A picture of Brindle and me at prom is in a frame, and I grab it. I trace the outline of my ink-blue dress, and the glass is smooth under my finger when it hits me that it’s probably the last picture of me as a human. Because that night, I was changed into a werewolf.

Oh, Brindle.
My throat tightens as I think about how foolish I’ve been. I still love him as much as I did that night, and I don’t know why I couldn’t see it before. Brindle is my mate, and I’ll never be happy with anyone else.

I get up off the bed and search for my phone in my bag. Brindle still hasn’t replied, and I text him. “
I really need to see you.”

A
fter I have dinner with my parents, Devon stops by. I squeal when I notice her cherry-red Volkswagen outside. Devon comes up to the porch to say hello to my mom and dad. I give my friend a big hug when I open the door. “Cool ride.”

“Thanks. I look pretty hot in it.”

I step back to take in her appearance. “Yes, red is your color.”

She giggles as she walks into my house. “Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Winslow.”

My mom says, “Devon, you look fantastic. I want to hear all about your salon.”

My friend gushes on about her new business, and my mom promises to stop by and get her hair done while my dad peppers her with questions about the finances. I grin with pride when Devon handles it like a professional instead of the giddy teenager that used to come over.

After I think she’s had enough, I cut in. “Dev, this hair’s not getting any more fabulous yet.”

She chuckles and follows me to the door as my parents tell her goodbye. As we make our way to her car, I ask, “So, any new men in town?”

“Nope. And it seems only the truck club stuck around instead of going to college.”

In high school, there was a whole group of guys with monster-like trucks they would park on the banking along the edge of the student parking lot. In the winter, they’d drive up over the snow that had been plowed, as if the higher they could get meant the bigger their dick. They’d been nicknamed “the truck club,” but once I became a werewolf, I discovered who those guys really were.

I want to warn her, and I say, “Be careful of those guys, Dev.”

She cuts her eyes at me and stiffens. “Have you talked to Brindle lately?”

We’ve stopped at a traffic light, and I notice the serious face of the passenger in the car waiting in the lane next to Devon. “Kind of. We’re supposed to get together tomorrow, but I haven’t heard back from him.” Devon’s mouth is tight, and I ask, “You know something, don’t you?”

She sighs and nibbles her lip quickly before glancing at me. “Don’t be mad I didn’t say something sooner, but he’s been dating someone.”

My stomach lurches. “Who? Wait, don’t tell me.” I feel like such an idiot. No wonder he hasn’t replied. I suppose I should be grateful he doesn’t plan to break my heart via text.

My friend reaches for my hand. “I’m sorry. I know you still care about him.”

I shake my head because Devon knows we had plans to get married and that I freaked out at the last minute. She just doesn’t know about the werewolf part. “I suppose it was bound to happen. I mean, I did break up with him almost a year ago.”

“But it still has to hurt. He was the love of your life, Katie.”

I turn to face out my window so she doesn’t see the tears in my eyes. “I guess I’ll have to find another one.”

Gravel grinds under her tires as we pull into the strip mall parking lot where her salon is. “Or we’ll make you look so hot he’ll be unable to resist you.”

I sniff and turn to my friend. “Work your magic.”

An hour later, I have tinfoil sticking up off my head, and I swing in my chair to face Devon. Ever since she told me about Brindle dating someone else, I can’t stop thinking about my fear that I’m pregnant. “I have something to tell you. About two months ago, Brindle came to see me, and we hooked up.”

“No!”

I nod. “I came back this summer thinking we could try again.” My friend’s face falls in sympathy, and I continue. “But it gets worse.” I lean forward and whisper as if there’s someone who might hear my fear. “I might be pregnant.”

“Oh my God. How late are you?”

“More than a month.”

Devon jumps up and checks the timer. “Well, let’s find out for sure. I’m going to go get a pregnancy test. I’ll be right back.”

“Stop. You can’t. Everyone’s going to think you’re pregnant.”

She grins at me. “Not if they don’t know who I am.” Devon walks over to a wig display and pulls one off a head to put it on. She grabs sunglasses from her purse and poses for me. “How do I look?”

I chuckle. “Like you’re wearing a wig and pretending you’re famous.”

“Good.” She’s clutching her wallet and taps me on the shoulder as she moves toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”

A half hour later, I yell from the bathroom, “Who makes these things? I just peed all over my hand.”

“Well then, don’t forget to wash up when you’re done,” says Devon. “Bring it out here. I’ve started the timer.”

I carefully rinse the handle end of the pregnancy test and wash my hands. Devon pats the chair I was in earlier. “Sit. I’ll blow out your hair as we wait.” She retrieves the test stick from me and sets it on the counter where we both can see it.

The pink cape snaps around my neck as Devon prepares me for my blow-dry. I ask, “What am I going to do if I’m pregnant?”

My head jerks as she pulls a comb through my wet strands. “Hush. We’ll deal with that when we find out in less than a minute.”

I pick up the pink plastic and check the window. There’s the faintest plus sign, and it’s confirmed in my mind. “I’m pregnant.”

Devon’s phone’s stopwatch dings, and she looks, too. “Yup, you are. And I’m going to be right by your side through the whole thing.” She flips on the blow-dryer and works on my hair. I’m not sure if she’s doing it to figure out a plan or if she wants to let me process the news before we discuss it.

Okay, so I’m going to have a baby. And this child will be a werewolf and part of the pack. I’m not up on all the rules, but I’m pretty sure it means my fate with Brindle is now more than sealed, and I’m going to have to accept my altered state. I can’t imagine werewolves have their babies in traditional hospitals when we’re not supposed to exist in the human world.