Page 96 of Adoring Fletcher
I sighed.Damn it, Adam.“He’s wary of strangers,” I told Sky. “I’ll talk to him, okay? Don’t worry, he won’t bite. He’s more bark than anything. We’ve been through some trauma together, and now he doesn’t trust people very easily.”
Sky lowered his gaze. “And I’m…me. I get it.”
“Sky, I didn’t mean it like that,” I began, but he shrugged me off.
“It’s okay. I get it, really. I’ve gotten nothing but stares and glares since coming here, so… It’s a small price for freedom, I guess.” His laugh was bitter, though. “Better than being dead.”
My heart ached for him. I reached out and squeezed his arm gently. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. I think you’re going to fit injust fine. I have a good feeling about it. Give Adam time. He’ll come around.”
After Josie came in, I left Sky in her care, then went hunting for my mate. When I found him, I pulled him off to the side.
“Adam. Can we trynotglaring at the new hire? You’re making him feel uncomfortable,” I said.
Adam replied with a growl. I wrinkled my nose at him. “Adam. Please. I know you’re nervous, but you need to trust me a little.” I softened my tone. “We both fucked up with Tank, okay? This is an entirely different situation. Sky is so young and he’s lost in the world. I just… I want to give him a place where he feels welcome. Can you let me do that, please?”
Adam sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “He makes my wolf edgy,” he grumbled.
“Then let me handle his training,” I said. “I’m not afraid of him.”
“I know. That’s what worries me.”
“Adam,” I groaned.
“Fletcher,” he growled back.
“Give him a chance? Please?”
He sighed. “I’m trying, kitten. I’m trying.”
August bled into September,and September was over in a blink. Soon, it was nearing Halloween and Sky had been a part of our team for two months.
He’d made a few friends, mostly with human co-workers, and he was beginning to settle into routine at Bixby’s. For someone like Sky? I was pretty proud of him.
Today, he was helping me and a few other co-workers decorate for the season, outside of business hours. Together, wehung up spooky spider webs and rubber bats and window clings that spelled out fun sayings.
I watched with a smile as Sky and Josie laughed as they tried to get the bloody gel window clings to actually stick to the window, but they only stuck to each other.
“Want some help?” I offered.
“Please!” Josie said.
“There’s a trick I learned.” I licked my finger and smeared it across the back of the large red “H”, then slapped said “H” onto the window.
It stuck. “You gotta get them wet.”
Josie giggled. “Ew. Gross. I’m not licking those things. Who knows where they’ve been.” She hopped down off the booth. “I’ll trade you, boss. I don’t mind ladders.”
I shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
She took over hanging the glittery spiderwebs, and Sky and I carefully stuck the clings to different windows all over the restaurant, spelling out things like “Happy Howl-o-ween” and “Beware the Meatloaf.”
Sky beamed when we finished and looked over our handiwork. “It looks really good. It’s a shame Halloween is only one day a year,” he said. “It was always my favorite holiday. Me and my brother always dressed up in matching costumes, like Batman and Robin. One year we did Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. I was forced to be Scooby, of course.”
He rolled his eyes, but his smile fell. I could tell those memories were painful, and I wanted to give him a hug.
I didn’t, though.
Instead, I said, “Well, we always dress up for Halloween night, even though we don’t get a whole lot of traffic. You’re welcome to wear whatever costume you like, so long as it’s work appropriate. Don’t come to work wearing only a loincloth, claiming you’re Tarzan.”
