Beast Behaving Badly
Page 30
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What if I bought you a new watch?
Oh, my God! she blurted out. Are we back here again?
It irritates me. And his calmness was pissing her off more than she could say.
This watch goes perfectly with this outfit, she argued.
But you wore it during training and with your cargo pants to work.
Let the watch go! she bellowed, startling the full-human waitress who wore the mark of some wolf on the bare shoulder peeking out from under a sleeveless club T-shirt. Blayne cleared her throat. Diet Coke please.
The waitress nodded, focused on Novikov. Bottle water, he said, handing her his half-full beer. Thank you.
After the waitress walked away, Novikov said, You know, Blayne, Im pretty happy with the way my life is right now.
You cant possibly be happy.
Why? Because Im not like you?
Blayne snorted. You couldnt handle being me. She swirled her forefingers around her head and admitted, All that goes on inside this head at any given time . . . would destroy you.
She didnt know who was startled more when Novikov suddenly laughed, but it was something that she would remember for a very long time because it was something that everyone had said he never did. You know, unless he was laughing at you.
The laugh took him by surprise. It wasnt that he didnt find things funny, but he usually found things funny later. After he thought about it for a few hours and analyzed what funny was in context.
But in whatever context there was, even Bo knew Blayne was funny. Even when she was angry or annoyed, she knew how to keep her sense of humor. He admired that because he knew few people who had that skill.
Yet his problem with Blayne was that she wanted to fix him. Personally, he didnt think he needed fixing, but she seemed real determined about it.
The waitress placed their drinks down. Blayne downed half of her Diet Coke before Bo had even picked up his tiny bottle of Italian water that he was sure would cost twenty bucks.
So this is what Im thinking, she said when she slammed the bottle down. Personality makeover.
No.
Youre being unreasonable.
I think youre being ridiculous. That makes us even, doesnt it?
I say a personality makeover because externally, youre not half bad.
Gee, thanks.
I mean, youre cute, especially with those freaky blue eyes.
Freaky?
The white hair alone would kill the look but the brown mane under it totally pulls it together. Although you may want to think about upgrading your conditioner. She suddenly roseup on her knees and reached across the table, grabbing his hair and studying the ends. I dont think these are split ends, but they are a bit frizzy. A good conditioner will help you with that.
Blayne
She sat back. And your wardrobe isnt bad at all. Which just leaves your personality. And if you let me, I can help you fix that.
It doesnt need to be fixed. This is who I am; Ive accepted that. Maybe you should.
I dont have a problem with you.
Then why
Explain the foxes to me, she said, looking very professorial all of a sudden.
Why?
Who are they? Where did they come from? She said she has a mate; does he mind her lounging on you? She leaned in close again. Or does he get to lounge, too? Do you guys all sleep in the same bed? She practically jumped out of the booth. Are you bi? Oh, my God! That would be so cool!
Hey, hey, hey! He held up his hands to ward off her insane eagerness. Its not like that! Its never been like that.
She dropped back into her seat. Oh.
Sorry youre so disappointed.
No, no. Not disappointed . . . per se.
And Bo heard himself laugh again, Blayne joining him.
Im just trying to understand the dynamic. Were they assigned to you? Or did you choose them like you would a puppy from the pound?
I guess they kind of chose me. The first day of school when I moved to Ursus County, they sort of attached themselves to me. Followed me back to my uncles house. I thought hed make them leave, but instead he fed them and told me to get used to it. I guess it makes sense. In the wild, full foxes attach themselves to polars and eat whats left over from the polars kills, which is very logical because polars mostly only eat blubber
Ew.
leaving the meat and bone for everyone else.
Her face scrunched up. Lovely.
You asked.
So basically theyre like parasites.
I think Sami and Sander prefer scavengers.
But they do live off you, right? Eating your food? Stealing your money?
Theyve never stolen from me. Sami will just walk in and say, Im taking money out of your wallet and I say, Okay.
Nice.
But they always have some scam going, and havent gotten money from me in a while. I just make sure I have cash for bail or, ya know, mob types. When they get in over their heads.
Oh, my God! she blurted out. Are we back here again?
It irritates me. And his calmness was pissing her off more than she could say.
This watch goes perfectly with this outfit, she argued.
But you wore it during training and with your cargo pants to work.
Let the watch go! she bellowed, startling the full-human waitress who wore the mark of some wolf on the bare shoulder peeking out from under a sleeveless club T-shirt. Blayne cleared her throat. Diet Coke please.
The waitress nodded, focused on Novikov. Bottle water, he said, handing her his half-full beer. Thank you.
After the waitress walked away, Novikov said, You know, Blayne, Im pretty happy with the way my life is right now.
You cant possibly be happy.
Why? Because Im not like you?
Blayne snorted. You couldnt handle being me. She swirled her forefingers around her head and admitted, All that goes on inside this head at any given time . . . would destroy you.
She didnt know who was startled more when Novikov suddenly laughed, but it was something that she would remember for a very long time because it was something that everyone had said he never did. You know, unless he was laughing at you.
The laugh took him by surprise. It wasnt that he didnt find things funny, but he usually found things funny later. After he thought about it for a few hours and analyzed what funny was in context.
But in whatever context there was, even Bo knew Blayne was funny. Even when she was angry or annoyed, she knew how to keep her sense of humor. He admired that because he knew few people who had that skill.
Yet his problem with Blayne was that she wanted to fix him. Personally, he didnt think he needed fixing, but she seemed real determined about it.
The waitress placed their drinks down. Blayne downed half of her Diet Coke before Bo had even picked up his tiny bottle of Italian water that he was sure would cost twenty bucks.
So this is what Im thinking, she said when she slammed the bottle down. Personality makeover.
No.
Youre being unreasonable.
I think youre being ridiculous. That makes us even, doesnt it?
I say a personality makeover because externally, youre not half bad.
Gee, thanks.
I mean, youre cute, especially with those freaky blue eyes.
Freaky?
The white hair alone would kill the look but the brown mane under it totally pulls it together. Although you may want to think about upgrading your conditioner. She suddenly roseup on her knees and reached across the table, grabbing his hair and studying the ends. I dont think these are split ends, but they are a bit frizzy. A good conditioner will help you with that.
Blayne
She sat back. And your wardrobe isnt bad at all. Which just leaves your personality. And if you let me, I can help you fix that.
It doesnt need to be fixed. This is who I am; Ive accepted that. Maybe you should.
I dont have a problem with you.
Then why
Explain the foxes to me, she said, looking very professorial all of a sudden.
Why?
Who are they? Where did they come from? She said she has a mate; does he mind her lounging on you? She leaned in close again. Or does he get to lounge, too? Do you guys all sleep in the same bed? She practically jumped out of the booth. Are you bi? Oh, my God! That would be so cool!
Hey, hey, hey! He held up his hands to ward off her insane eagerness. Its not like that! Its never been like that.
She dropped back into her seat. Oh.
Sorry youre so disappointed.
No, no. Not disappointed . . . per se.
And Bo heard himself laugh again, Blayne joining him.
Im just trying to understand the dynamic. Were they assigned to you? Or did you choose them like you would a puppy from the pound?
I guess they kind of chose me. The first day of school when I moved to Ursus County, they sort of attached themselves to me. Followed me back to my uncles house. I thought hed make them leave, but instead he fed them and told me to get used to it. I guess it makes sense. In the wild, full foxes attach themselves to polars and eat whats left over from the polars kills, which is very logical because polars mostly only eat blubber
Ew.
leaving the meat and bone for everyone else.
Her face scrunched up. Lovely.
You asked.
So basically theyre like parasites.
I think Sami and Sander prefer scavengers.
But they do live off you, right? Eating your food? Stealing your money?
Theyve never stolen from me. Sami will just walk in and say, Im taking money out of your wallet and I say, Okay.
Nice.
But they always have some scam going, and havent gotten money from me in a while. I just make sure I have cash for bail or, ya know, mob types. When they get in over their heads.
