Reviving Bloom (11 page)

“Subject change
!
” I cry
ready for a new topic.

“No fair! There’s something you’re not telling me Bloom Michael Daniels and I want to know what it is
,
”
s
he says
shaking her finger at me.

“Ok
ay
fine I’ll tell you but seriously you can’t tell anyone
,
especially
not
Billy or your
Dad
. They would freak out.”

“Promise! Now spill.” I relay
the story of Trace trying to jump
me in his truck and then wait
for her response.

“That jerk off! Why didn’
t you tell me before?” She asks
and I
can
see the hurt
and anger brewing behind
her eyes
.
Of course she’s upset with me for keeping such a huge secret but I’m pretty sure the anger towards Trace was winning out. She may be sweet and bubbly most of the time but g
et on her bad side and she’ll
rip you apart
and not think twice about doing so.

“I would’ve Bon
,
but I was embarrassed that I fell for his lines.”

“You couldn’t have known
Blu
. I can see why you don’t want
Dad
and Billy to know though. They’d tear him limb from limb
then leave his remains for the wild animals to dine on
.”

“They’re just a little protective
,
”
I say
smiling at the thought of my two adopted father figures.

“That’s an
understatement,” Bonnie laughs
then
becoming serious
says
, “We don’t have t
o go to the lake tonight. Trace will
probably be there.”

“No we’re going Bon. I’m not lett
ing him scare us away
. You’ve been exci
ted about it for days now. H
e wouldn’t dare try something with so many witnesses.
Plus it’s been a year
,
he’s probably set his sights on someone else.
”

“Are you sure? We could
hang around here if it would be too unco
mfortable
,
”
s
he politely offers though I can
see she’d rather be at the lake.
Not that I blame her
,
I’ve
started looking forward to it as well.

“No I want us to go. And if he does try something you can just take him down with your mad ninja skills.”

“Yes,
I know
I’m a ninja master. All five foot nothing of me could easily take down his over six fo
ot frame. Easy peasy!” She tries
to say
in a menacing voice but can’t
do
so
without laughing hysterically.

“For a shorty you can be pret
ty scary at times Bon,” I state
trying to keep a straight face.

“Hey now
don’t be doubting us shorties
,
we play dirty and take out the knees first.”

“I’d never doubt those scary knee br
e
aking skills
of yours.”

Throwing a slice of her apple at my head, “Oh hush! This subject is closed. I think it’s time you go pick out what you want to wear tonight so we can see if I approve.”

“Are you insinuating that I can’t dress myself?”

Looking me up and down, “Well
Blu
, if we
’
re judging on who wears country chic the best you’d win hands down, but I do believe it’s time we give the tank tops and jeans a break. Do you even own a skirt?”

“Does a jean skirt count?”

Massaging her temples to ease
the
imaginary headache I’m
apparently
causing, “No,
Blu
, it
does not count. Now go into
that room
of yours and dig up something that isn’t made of denim.”

“You do realize we’re going to the lake not
a fashion show, right?” I ask as I ge
t up to comply with her order.

“There’s no time like the present to start dressing
more like a girl than like
a farm hand.”

Chapter 15 – Pike

~
Considering her weak is a little bit of an understatement
~

Bloom’s just left the room and I’m
attempting t
o follow when her friend stops
me in my tracks.

“Not so fast
Alpha!” I turn to face her and watch
as her normally soft expression hard
ens and her eyes narrow
on me.
“
Dad
dy warned me the big bad wolf was in town searching for his little red riding hood.”

I should’ve
known
Mr. Harris wo
uld warn Bonnie, but my mind’s
been too preoccupied to even co
nsider the possibility. I turn
to face her knowing I might as well get this one sided
talk over with now.  She leans
forward so her face is close enough for me to hear her whisper. When I finally do shift I’ll have to teach this girl about self preservation around
wolf shifters.
You’d think these people would realize it’s not saf
e to challenge an Alpha; I can
rip this weak g
irl’s heart out before she could blink twice. Not that I will
, of course, but geez a little respect would be nice.

“
Yes, I know what you want with my best friend and exactly what you are. I also know how dangerous you are, but if you hurt my friend or let her be hurt in anyway, you will be held accountable by me and my .22. I can very easily make some silver bullets to shoot your hairy behind with, so watch your step, Wolf!”

Ok
ay
, maybe considering her weak is
a little bit of an understatement. But it makes my heart happy to know my mate h
as friends like Bonnie. I lock
eyes
with her hoping my message will come across and gi
ve my silent promise to keep our Bloom safe with a
nod of my head. The harshness in her face eases
back to its nor
mal soft features and she nods
back
.

“How about this dress, Bon?
No denim in sight
,
” Bloom asks
walking back into the kitchen wearin
g a soft green sun dress that fa
ll
s
just above her knees.
It brings
out the green in her hazel eyes and if I were in
my human form I’d probably drop
to my knees begging to touch those long silky s
mooth legs that I can’t take
my eyes off of.

Bonnie gets up and circles
her taking in the
dress from all angles then says
, “Well it’s pretty simple but with the right accessories, it could work. Come on l
ets go find a belt.” She grabs her hand and proceeds
to drag her back in the direction of Bloom
’
s room.
Figuring they’d like some privac
y I push open the screen door and mak
e my way to the woods. I have to come up with a plan on how to reveal my true self to my mate and soon, and I think best when I’m running in my four legged form.

Chapter 16 – Bloom

~
It practically screams wear me to a lake party
~

Sitting on my bed with my legs crossed at the ankles I ask, “Is a belt really necessary?”

Bonnie’s tearing through my closet throwing its contents all over my floor and as much as I love the girl
I’m about to pull her away. I
just cleaned my room the day before and now it looks like it hasn’t been touched in a month.

“We’ve already went over this, a belt could make that dress perfect! I know you have just the right one
,
I bought it for you two Christmas’ ago. I just have to find the darn thing. You didn’t get rid of it did you?” She ques
tions as she continues
the attack on my closet.

“Of course I didn’t.”
At least I don’t think I did.

“Oh I think I found
it. It’s stuck. Ugh!” I watch as she yanks
hard
on the end of the belt she’s holding
and then falling
backwards onto her butt
and
screams
, “I got it!”

“Well that’s good. Are you going to help me clean up this mess you made?”

Standing up she ta
k
es
a survey of the mess she
’
s
made of my once clean room. “I’ll come over tomorrow and help you clean it up but right now you need to stand up so we can try this on with your dress.”

“Bonnie, I’m going to look silly wearing a dress to the lake
,
” I try to protest.

“It’s just a cotton sun dress, it practically screams
wear me to a
lake party. Now stand up.”

Sliding off the bed I groan, “Why are we friends again?”

“If you didn’t have me you’d probably be walking around in boring old jeans and t-shirts all the time. I add a bit of style to your life and though you complain about it
,
I know deep down you love that about our friendship. Just like I love that you add a little bit of country to mine. So hush up
and put this belt on.” She thro
w
s
the belt at me with a smile on her face.

Putting the belt on I admit, “Ok
ay
, that’s true. I do love you. So how
does it
look?”

Scrunching up her brow and rubbing her chin she looks me over then says, “Add in those brown cowboy boots you own and it’ll be perfect!”

“So what are you wearing?”

“What I have on.”

Taking in her jean skirt, peach colored tank top, and sandals I yell in protest, “Not fair! You’re wearing a jean skirt.”

“So? I look cut
e
don’t I?” She asks checking herself out in the mirror on my closet door.

“You look good, but you said no jean material.”

“I said YOU couldn’t wear jeans, not me. I don’t need to change up my
outfit
routine;
you on the other hand needed an outfit overhaul.”

Throwing myself back on to the bed I
complain
, “So not fair.”

Sitting down next to me and fiddling with the edge of my comforter, “You’ll get over it. So how are things going with Pike?”

“Good, I feel calmer since he’s been here. I know this might sound weird but I talk to him like he’s a human and Bon I’d swear he understands me.”

“I don’t think it sounds weird
Blu
.
So are you thinking about keeping him
around
?”

“I don’t think I could get rid of him if I wanted to. He seems to have attached himself to my side.”