Twelve Acres in Ohio

Chapter 8

Kyle had everyone spend the night so that the pack stayed together. Theo slept with the unconscious, nameless guy. Mike, Kyle, and Jeremy slept in their normal rooms. Which left only one room left for me, Nolan, and Jack. That room had a couch and a bed. I left. There was no way that I would be spending a night in the same room as Jack. I wouldn't have been able to sleep before the incident today, let alone after.

I ended up sharing with Jeremy. He stayed firmly on one side of the bed, and I stayed firmly on the other. It wasn't even awkward, like I'd expected. It almost felt natural.

The next morning I woke to the smell of breakfast moments before Jeremy walked into the room with a tray of French Toast and bacon. “Mmm,” I said, sitting up to take the tray. “You didn't have to bring me breakfast in bed,” I said, picking up a slice of bacon.

He smiled. “I wanted to. Besides, Kyle's cooking is too good to wait for you to get up.”

I scrunched up my nose and stuck out my tongue, but I couldn't argue. He was right. “So what are we doing today?”

He shrugged. “Waiting. We can't really do anything until we find Sylvan or his followers. We lost his trail last night, and by now it's most likely too faint to find again.”

“That seems like an awful short time for the scent to be that far gone.”

“Not in the city. The air moves fast there, and the car exhaust is very masking.”

“Oh.” I guess that made sense, kind of. “So we're just sitting around here?” He nodded. “Can we go for a walk?” I was feeling restless after last night's argument about what to do with me.

He shook his head. “You're not allowed outside for a while. Not while Sylvan could be watching.”

I sighed. “This house really isn't big enough for the entire pack to be here at once. Not overnight.”

He laughed. “You don't like sleeping in here with me?”

I grinned. “Are you kidding? You're a total cover hog! And you snore.”

“Do not!”

“Yes you do.”

“You didn't wake up once,” he said, crossing his arms with an air of finality.

I shrugged. “You're right. But you still snore.”

“And I don't hog the covers. I don't get cold.”

I sighed. “You just take all of the fun out of it. I was trying to be funny, but no. You have to go and shoot me down.”

He placed a hand on his chest. “Me? Do something like that? Never!”

I laughed at his sarcasm, then decided that I really should eat my breakfast before it got cold. I picked up the fork and jabbed it at his chest. “Now listen here, mister. I am going to eat this breakfast by Kyle, and you're not going to stop me.”

He grinned. “That's what you think.”