Vampire Protection: Midnight Rodeo book 8 by Julia Talbot

Author:Julia Talbot [Talbot, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Turtlehat Creatives
Published: 2018-01-14T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Peyton stayed curled on Cody’s couch for days, buried under a heavy blanket and ignoring the sounds of the world around him. His face healed up, but he felt old. Worn out. Tired of being wrong.

“You can’t stay asleep the rest of your life, little one.” Cody petted him, long slow strokes that dragged along his back.

“I can too.” He sighed, stretching a bit.

“The bear wants to see you.”

“It’s not a good idea, is it?” He wanted to see Grizz as well, but the memory of his cheek told him what would happen if he fucked up again.

“If you want to see him, see him. He’s very contrite.” He loved how weird the twenty-five cent words sounded in Cody’s drawl.

He touched his face, the lines where Grizz marked him still evident.

“I know.” Cody shrugged. “You can have him come here. I can hide in the bathroom and kill him if he hurts you.”

“No. I’ll go out. I’m not helpless.” Just hopeless. Idiotic, perhaps. An eternal optimist, which always got him in trouble.

“Stop it.” Cody popped his leg with a forefinger and thumb.

“Be good, Mister.” He hugged Cody with a sigh. “You’re sure I can’t sleep for a decade or two?”

“Yep. You need to get out there and be you. I miss you.” Cody’s eyes gleamed with good humor.

“Liar.” He kissed Cody in thanks, though, because he did love the fine son of a bitch.

“Go talk to your bear, man. Please.” Cody pulled him to his feet. “Get closure, if nothing else.”

“Aye, aye, Captain Butthead!” He saluted, then fetched his clothes, dragging on his pants.

“That’s me. Head of all asshats.”

Cody did make him laugh.

Sweats and a t-shirt on, Peyton slipped into flip-flops. No sense trying to tempt the bear with his cowboyness. He grabbed a gimme cap, though. He didn’t want Grizz seeing the scars.

The lights were on at Grizz’s trailer, so he knocked, shifting from foot to foot as he waited.

Grizz opened the door, peering down at him, and a huge smile split Grizz’s fuzzy face. He needed to shave; he was super fuzzy. Fuzzy-Wuzzy. “Hey! Come on in,” Grizz said.

“Hey, Grizz. How goes it?” Peyton was careful not to dare a single thought that might get through. He didn’t want to intrude ever again.

“I--” The smile faded some, Grizz’s shoulders slumping. “I’m okay. You want to come in? I wish you would.”

“Sure. Sure, I wanted to apologize for the other day.” Peyton came in, not sure if he should sit in one of the little chairs or just stand. He decided to stand, moving from foot to foot. Grizz’s trailer was damn cold.

“No.” Grizz grimaced. “I was a jerk.”

What was he supposed to say to that? It was true, but Peyton had brought it on himself. “I’ll be careful not to do it again.”

Grizz sighed, the sound gusty. “Can you please come sit with me?”

“Sure. Of course.” No looking. No thinking. No biting. Sit and be nice.

They didn’t move to the wee couch or the dining area. Grizz led him to the bed in the back, patting the mattress for him to sit.

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