Wolf with Benefits
Page 97
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Okay, okay. She rarely had control. She knew that, but this . . . this was outrageous!
How did she let one wolfdog talk her into this?
Blayne . . . I really dont know about this.
Youll be great! Wont she, Gwen?
The gold-eyed feline hybrid finished tying up her skates before looking over at Cherise. She looks completely freaked out, Blayne.
Shes not. Are you, Cherise?
Well
See? Besides. This is just tryouts.
You see, Blayne, Cherise tried again, I cant really do this. I shouldnt. Because of my hands.
Gwen stood up, studied Cherises hands. Whats wrong with them?
Nothing. Thats the point. I need to ensure nothings wrong with them. Theyre my livelihood.
Are you a surgeon?
No. Cellist.
The feline stared at her as only a feline could. Oh. Is that really a job someone has . . . in the world?
Gwen! Blayne snapped.
What? It was just a question.
Rude! Blayne took hold of Gwens arm and lifted it. See Gwens hands, Cherise? Her nails, specifically.
How could Cherise miss them? They were unreasonably long, painted red and black with sparkling rhinestones on the tips. Like something out of one of Cherises nightmares.
If she can keep her nails this long, Blayne reasoned, you can keep your hands safe!
That didnt seem like very thought-out reasoning, but before Cherise could debate the point, a hand tugged her hair. Startled, she yipped and spun, ready to make a run for it if necessary.
What are you doing? her sisters best friend blandly asked.
What are you doing here? Cherise shot back at Livy Kowalski.
Coop sent me. He would have come himself to get you but some very large Neanderthal pointed at a giant Post-it note and said it was his practice time.
Blayne stomped her skate-covered foot. Hes not a Neanderthal! Hes misunderstood!
Livy, never comfortable with the overly emotional, eyed Blayne once before focusing back on Cherise.
Why did you bring Freddy? Cherise asked Livy. The boy should be at home, getting ready for dinner. Not hanging out on the streets of New York. Toni wouldnt like that at all.
I told Toni Id keep an eye on him. This is me keeping an eye.
Cherises brother held Livys hand, his eyes wide as he stared up at all the females of many breeds and species, even hybrids. As soon as they saw little Freddy, the women surrounded him, oohing and aaawwwing over him. He didntseem to mind. Thankfully, he appeared to take more after Cooper than Cherise, loving the attention but not needing to drown in it like Delilah, nor simply expecting it like Oriana and Kyle.
Can I hold him? a She-lion asked.
Livy frowned at the feline. Hes not a puppy, dude.
The cat sneered and Cherise quickly asked her brother, Do you mind, Freddy?
His answer was to raise his arms and the She-lion happily lifted him up, turning around to show him off to the other females. Isnt he flippin adorable!
Livy yawned and motioned to Cherise. So . . . what are you doing here?
It was me, Blayne explained, and Livys cold, black eyes locked on the hybrid.
You?
Yeah. I thought it would be great for Cherise to get out of the house. The whole time Bo and I have been at the house, she never seems to go out.
Do you want to get out? Livy asked Cherise.
Not really.
But you havent tried yet!
Livy folded her arms over her chest and looked over at Gwen. Do you guys have a quota? A certain number of people you have to bring to tryouts?
Of course not! Blayne exclaimed.
Yep, Gwen replied. Its not required by the team or anything but Blayne insists on having her own quota.
Blayne glared at her friend. Snitch.
Thats what I thought. Livy motioned to Cherise. Do you want to stay or go?
I thought you were coming to get me.
What am I? Livy asked. Your mother? She thought a moment, then changed it to, Toni?
Its just us, Blayne told them. Just the team and our coach. This isnt a bout. Just a chance for you to get out on skates and see if you like it or not. No pressure.
Once you do what she says anyway.
Shut up, Gwen, Blayne snapped before she smiled again at Cherise. Itll be fun! I promise!
Well . . . Cherise looked around, and all the females stared at her. I am already in skates.
Yes! Blayne cheered. You wont regret it! She hugged Cherise, which Cherise didnt like because she didnt really like to be touched.
Gwen rolled around Livy, sniffing her.
If I feel that nose on me again, feline, Livy dryly warned, Ill start removing pieces of you.
What are you?
Death.
Olivia! Cherise chastised.
She asked.
How did she let one wolfdog talk her into this?
Blayne . . . I really dont know about this.
Youll be great! Wont she, Gwen?
The gold-eyed feline hybrid finished tying up her skates before looking over at Cherise. She looks completely freaked out, Blayne.
Shes not. Are you, Cherise?
Well
See? Besides. This is just tryouts.
You see, Blayne, Cherise tried again, I cant really do this. I shouldnt. Because of my hands.
Gwen stood up, studied Cherises hands. Whats wrong with them?
Nothing. Thats the point. I need to ensure nothings wrong with them. Theyre my livelihood.
Are you a surgeon?
No. Cellist.
The feline stared at her as only a feline could. Oh. Is that really a job someone has . . . in the world?
Gwen! Blayne snapped.
What? It was just a question.
Rude! Blayne took hold of Gwens arm and lifted it. See Gwens hands, Cherise? Her nails, specifically.
How could Cherise miss them? They were unreasonably long, painted red and black with sparkling rhinestones on the tips. Like something out of one of Cherises nightmares.
If she can keep her nails this long, Blayne reasoned, you can keep your hands safe!
That didnt seem like very thought-out reasoning, but before Cherise could debate the point, a hand tugged her hair. Startled, she yipped and spun, ready to make a run for it if necessary.
What are you doing? her sisters best friend blandly asked.
What are you doing here? Cherise shot back at Livy Kowalski.
Coop sent me. He would have come himself to get you but some very large Neanderthal pointed at a giant Post-it note and said it was his practice time.
Blayne stomped her skate-covered foot. Hes not a Neanderthal! Hes misunderstood!
Livy, never comfortable with the overly emotional, eyed Blayne once before focusing back on Cherise.
Why did you bring Freddy? Cherise asked Livy. The boy should be at home, getting ready for dinner. Not hanging out on the streets of New York. Toni wouldnt like that at all.
I told Toni Id keep an eye on him. This is me keeping an eye.
Cherises brother held Livys hand, his eyes wide as he stared up at all the females of many breeds and species, even hybrids. As soon as they saw little Freddy, the women surrounded him, oohing and aaawwwing over him. He didntseem to mind. Thankfully, he appeared to take more after Cooper than Cherise, loving the attention but not needing to drown in it like Delilah, nor simply expecting it like Oriana and Kyle.
Can I hold him? a She-lion asked.
Livy frowned at the feline. Hes not a puppy, dude.
The cat sneered and Cherise quickly asked her brother, Do you mind, Freddy?
His answer was to raise his arms and the She-lion happily lifted him up, turning around to show him off to the other females. Isnt he flippin adorable!
Livy yawned and motioned to Cherise. So . . . what are you doing here?
It was me, Blayne explained, and Livys cold, black eyes locked on the hybrid.
You?
Yeah. I thought it would be great for Cherise to get out of the house. The whole time Bo and I have been at the house, she never seems to go out.
Do you want to get out? Livy asked Cherise.
Not really.
But you havent tried yet!
Livy folded her arms over her chest and looked over at Gwen. Do you guys have a quota? A certain number of people you have to bring to tryouts?
Of course not! Blayne exclaimed.
Yep, Gwen replied. Its not required by the team or anything but Blayne insists on having her own quota.
Blayne glared at her friend. Snitch.
Thats what I thought. Livy motioned to Cherise. Do you want to stay or go?
I thought you were coming to get me.
What am I? Livy asked. Your mother? She thought a moment, then changed it to, Toni?
Its just us, Blayne told them. Just the team and our coach. This isnt a bout. Just a chance for you to get out on skates and see if you like it or not. No pressure.
Once you do what she says anyway.
Shut up, Gwen, Blayne snapped before she smiled again at Cherise. Itll be fun! I promise!
Well . . . Cherise looked around, and all the females stared at her. I am already in skates.
Yes! Blayne cheered. You wont regret it! She hugged Cherise, which Cherise didnt like because she didnt really like to be touched.
Gwen rolled around Livy, sniffing her.
If I feel that nose on me again, feline, Livy dryly warned, Ill start removing pieces of you.
What are you?
Death.
Olivia! Cherise chastised.
She asked.
