Page 68 of My Little Doe
“Paxton is one year older, and Aspen is six years old,” I told her.
“How about we get some dessert?” Lina asked, as if she knew it was time to change the topic.
“That sounds great, Titi,” Quinn said.
As people finished, they carried their plates to the kitchen and washed them. Some people got dessert and wandered around the house eating it. Others opted to eat it later, claiming to be stuffed. There were little groups around the house catching up.
“Are you ready to go?” Quinn whispered.
“Sure,” I said.
Quinn went around telling everyone goodbye. Lina gave me a tight hug before we went out the door. The drive home was quiet between us. I thought about the things said and left unsaid.
Chapter 19
It had been almost two weeks since Christmas, and almost a full month since the birth of Izayuh. Our days ran together. We spent our mornings running either on the road or alongside the river. Then he taught me self-defense, or let me take my anger out on him. He taught me how to stand properly and how to hold my hands correctly. My endurance was getting better every day.
Tonight was a full moon. It was the first full moon since Izayuh’s birth. The last few days, Quinn had been snappy. We didn’t wrestle this morning. All I could think about was what Lina said about him being lustful, and how my smell made that worse. The last couple of days, he seemed to keep his distance from me. I’d go to the river, and he would go back to the house. He spent more time in the woods exploring than at the house.
Part of me didn’t mind. The tension between us had been building, something I was denying to myself. I told myself every night that I didn’t like him. I couldn’t like him. I needed to focus on myself. Remember the times he was an ass to me.
The sun started to drop in the sky, which meant he would be leaving for the evening. He offered to take me to Lina’s home this evening, but I declined. While I was nervous the last time, I had peace in my chest about it today. I’d planned to read a new book I’d picked up, as well as do more journaling. I was sitting in the chair reading when he came inside.
“I’m… heading into the woods, Zay,” he said.
“Have…fun… I guess,” I told him.
“There is nothing fun about being forced into a wolf,” he said, then he walked out.
I read my book for a long while, until my stomach started rumbling. I got up and decided to make myself a sandwich.
Awoooooo. Awoooooo.
Ring.
Ring.
What in the world? First, he was howling, and then someone was calling. I set the butter knife down and answered the phone.
“Hello?” I said.
“Evening, Zay,” Lina said.
“Hi, Lina,” I said.
“How are ya this evening?”
“I’m making myself a sandwich right now.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, I’ll be okay,” I told her.
“Ya can call me if you need, okay?” she said.
“I know. I’m gonna eat, read some more, and then head to bed,” I said.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Lina asked.
