Our Year in Cria: The Mating Grounds by Ciree Hawthorn

Author:Ciree Hawthorn [Hawthorn, Ciree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-02-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

4 months after The Choosing

Leo

The homesickness creeps up on you a bit here. Like, in your head you know a year is a long time, but as it plays out it feels longer and shorter simultaneously. I catch myself thinking about how mom is doing all alone in that big house with father. She’s got to be just out of her head at this point with nobody else to talk to.

Father’s always been physically present, he’s just never been emotionally present. At least not that I can recall with any real clarity.

The door to the deck squeaks and I see Quinn slip out into the night, blanket wrapped around herself like a little burrito. She looks so cute getting all cozied up on the bench.

I’ve been sitting out here under this tree for a while and as I slowly get up, my knee pops. Quinn startles looking towards the trees and I realize she didn't know I was already out here. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to scare you. Just needed some peace and quiet. I can go in if you want all the nature to yourself?”

“Actually, do you mind sitting out here with me for a bit? I’m in a weird headspace and I’m worried I’ll catastrophize if I’m alone with my thoughts too long tonight.”

My heart breaks a little hearing her say that and I jog up the deck stairs and slide onto the bench next to her.

“Want to share some of that blanket with me? My nose is numb after being out here so long already.” She gives me an evaluating look, scanning my face for the offending red nose, and reaches her arm out to let me into the blanket burrito.

I drag the corner of the blanket around my shoulders and slide closer to her on the bench, close enough for our thighs to touch just a bit. I half expect her to shift away, but in a truly shocking turn of events she swings her feet up to rest on the other side of my lap, effectively trapping me under her small legs. I turn towards her, about to say something to the effect of ‘A cuddle, from Quinn, today’s my lucky day!’ But before I can get a word out, she lifts a finger to my mouth, shushing me.

“Don’t ruin this.” She says, face serious. Tentatively she rests her head on my closest shoulder and I just sit like a statue, trying to fully absorb this show of familiarity.

Fuck. She’s cuddling me. Under a blanket. Outside. Alone. My spine slowly relaxes and I lean closer to her, sliding my arm around her shoulders.

“Do you want to talk about it, or just sit quietly like this?”

She hesitates, “Thinking about home, and shockingly, whatever little family might come out of this experience for me.” I try not to stare at her. This is the first time she’s even acknowledged why we’re all here, as far as I know.

“Are you apprehensive about that?” I hedge, hoping to keep this little sharing safety circle going.

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