Page 33 of Novice Girlfriend

“Yeah, and I feel fantastic,” I told him, adding to the meltdown of his that was building. “Like I don’t know I’ve ever felt this well-rested given the traumas I suffered in that house and the way Alex intentionally messed with my sleep.” I hurried on when he winced, Wyatt having accidentally triggered me because of that. “The maids and everything.”

“Okay,” he whispered and then moved the apple away to study it. “So it’s not like… The…” He blew out a harsh breath.

“Rejuvenating apple from the gods?” I offered.

“Sure,” he chuckled darkly. “And only you can get them.” He swallowed loudly and gave me a worried look.

“I hadn’t even gotten that far yet but yeah, another miracle for me to be worried about.” I gestured for him to go ahead, snickering when his eyes went wide. “Of course you can have one. If anyone deserves to have one, it’s you.”

He let out a slow breath and took a bite, probably realizing it was pointless to argue, but also too curious to pass it up. He chewed and frowned, having about the same reaction I did. “Huh, I expected more…”

I nodded. “It wasn’t until I was done and stood to stretch that I started putting it together.”

“Fair enough. If it was just one bite, then it could be tiny pieces and not as valued,” he muttered and took another bite. “I wanted to talk about Nina and check on you but also explain about my friends.”

I flinched. “I’m sorry I lashed out and—”

“You never have to apologize for that and you were right. She and I dated. It ended. It wasn’t mutual,” he explained and focused on anywhere but me for some reason.

“He’s trying not to make you feel bad or be too intense with you,” Quinn explained. I appreciated him being my Wyatt decoder ring.

“Neither of us wanted to give up the rest of our friends and said we could be mature about it since it happened when we were undergrads.”

“But really, she wants you back,” I said for him.

“It’s egotistical when I say it, right?” he mumbled. “But yes.” He gave a half shrug. “She was being a bitch. She’s normally not though—none of them are, and I wanted to—”

“You don’t need to explain your friends to me,” I mumbled and went to the fridge for a water.

He was quiet a moment. “No, I don’t, but it’s valid when people judge someone by who they’re friends with. I do. All the time.” He was looking at me when I turned around. “But hear me out?”

“Of course.”

Wyatt’s shoulders relaxed and he took too big of a bite of the apple. I did my best not to watch his strong jaw work as he ate it and then his Adam’s apple as he swallowed. How his neck looked—all of him in those clothes.

Right, good job being alone with him in your bedroom again.

“They can absolutely be assholes,” he said, completely oblivious to my being distracted by his body. “They’re like us and can turn it on in a flash, have the armor and shields to immediately activate that asshole attitude we’re taught from birth.” He took another bite and chewed. “But not with me. Not with each other. We’re not like that.”

“And yet you don’t trust them like I do Tracey?” I wasn’t picking on them. He’d said it earlier basically.

“That’s not their fault, and I would understand them being the same with me. You’re truly amazing in that area, Bevin.” He took another too-big bite and chewed. “It’s you.” He shook his head.

“It’s you being a Shaw and them not trusting that you’re not like your siblings,” Quinn clarified.

“Right, that’s what they’re worried about,” Wyatt agreed, but then we all froze.

I found my voice first. “Did you answer Quinn directly like you heard him speak?”

“Yeah, because I heard him speak clearly as if another male was in the room,” he answered, his voice breathy.

“Derek? What’s happening?” Quinn whispered, fear in his tone that broke my heart.

“I don’t know, Quinn, but it’s a miracle to me, so don’t be scared, okay?” Wyatt said gently and moved towards me since Quinn was still nestled on my shoulders. “This is amazing. I can’t believe that…” He blinked at me. “Is this a new power of yours?”

I slowly shook my head but then grabbed his wrist when he reached for Quinn.

Just not the one that was trying to touch his familiar.