Page 64 of Clean Finish

I chuckled. “No, I had to do other stuff too. What about you?”

He huffed. “I had to do some of the typical stuff, like take out the trash and do the dishes, but there was other stuff that was, like, so embarrassing.”

My smile widened. “Like what?”

He squirmed a little, a blush staining his cheeks. “Like dance parties in the living room with my parents. That was when I was still really little,” he made sure to clarify quickly. “Like, when Nolan was a baby. And going foraging with my dad, and helping him in the garden. But he’d always get distracted and make me go look at a bug or something he’d found. I don’t think he actually needed me to help, he just wanted to spend time with me because he’s a sentimental dork.”

I laughed. “He loves you. You’re his son. And that sounds fun, not really like a chore.”

“I guess.” A shy smile curved his mouth. “It was fun. I haven’t been able to do it as much since I started working here.”

“Do you like gardening?”

“Well, I mean, I’m fae, so we’re all drawn to nature or whatever. But my parents are all about nature and stuff, so I guess I inherited it.” He made a face. “I wouldn’t wanna go live in a hut in the middle of nowhere, though. Or in Otherworld where they don’t have TV or the internet or fast food.”

I chuckled. “Have you ever been?”

His nose wrinkled. “Nah. My parents never took us. I’m not really interested. I like it here.”

I nodded, glanced at the door, then leaned in to murmur, “Crossbody is an arrogant ass. Do you think they’re all like that?”

He snickered. “Yeah, he totally is. So far up his own butt, for real. And he’s the wild prince who left the court to pursue a career in professional wrestling. Can you imagine what the rest of them are like?”

“I wouldn’t want to,” I said wryly. “People complain about werewolves being a lot of things—too aggressive, too rowdy, too uncivilised—but you’ll never hear them calling us snooty.”

“All the werewolves I’ve met have been really nice,” Larkin said eagerly. “And you’re not at all aggressive, dude. Or rowdy and uncivilised.”

I shrugged. “I probably could be, though. Around the right group of other werewolves. Pack mentality and all that.”

“I don’t believe it, bro,” Larkin declared. “You’re too…”

“Sensible and boring?” I gave him a wry smile.

He frowned and shook his head. “No. You’re too… nice.”

“Oh, I’m nice.” I teasingly rolled my eyes. “Because that’s so much better.”

“In the best way, dude.” He seemed to grow a little flustered. “I mean it in a good way. You’re awesome. You’re just… the nicest person.”

I tried not to let my smile get too soft and affectionate as I glanced over at him, warmth filling my chest. “Thanks.”

“I wanted to thank you for…” He looked down, fiddling with the edge of my newspaper. “For being so cool last night. About what I told you. It’s helped me… not feel so weird about it.”

My chest squeezed tight, the warmth flaring into painful heat. “You don’t need to thank me, Lark. But I’m glad it helped.” Deciding to take a risk, I reached over and squeezed his knee. “There’s nothing you could tell me that would make me like you less or think of you differently. Nothing.”

“Thanks,” he said shyly, his knee starting to bounce a little under my palm. Then he looked up and glanced at my mouth before meeting my gaze, his blue eyes so big and open. “I was thinking that… maybe later, we could practise more—”

The door opened, making me whip my hand off Larkin’s knee as his head snapped around. Holt swept inside, grabbed four donuts, then beelined straight for the door again.

“Going to hang out with Taylor for a while in his new office.”

We were silent for a few moments after the door shut behind him, then Larkin turned to stare at me with an alarmed expression.

“You don’t think they’re gonna use the donuts for anything weird, do you?”

I managed a chuckle, my insides buzzing with the urge to gently steer him back to what he’d been about to say. Practise more what? “Maybe.”

“I’m pretty sure he only took ones with holes in them.” He leaned forward to peer into the box. “Oh my god, dude, he did! He’s such a perv. They both are.”