Page 49 of Novice Girlfriend

“You are pretty, little sexy.”

I gave him a dry look. “You are her type, handsome.” I nodded when he raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah. She wants to wrap all around you and I need to get my ho ass away from you.”

He pressed his lips together and moved his arm over my shoulders. “Never a dull moment.”

We went for a bit longer, but then it was too overwhelming and Winter noticed before I could even say anything. He said he was starving and we should get going, checking out their annual passes or whatever. We reached the main atrium and he glanced around to see the restaurant they had.

“It really is a missed opportunity that they don’t have a sushi place here,” he said seriously.

I smothered a laugh at the dozens of people who gave him horrified looks, a few pulling their kids away from him. I gestured to those people. “Okay, that’s a bit much. There are seafood restaurants all along waterfronts after you go whale watching or snorkeling.”

“That’s what I’m saying,” he agreed. “You get me.”

“I do, Sir Winter.” I stood on my toes. “Let’s get you some sushi before you wither.”

He gave me a quick peck. “I did walk a lot of steps.” He looked happy with that comment when I snorted.

“I hope you can make it because I can’t carry you.” I won that round because he burst out laughing.

He brought me to the place he liked best and we ordered what was probably way too much, but Teddy was staying at my house anyways over break so he could have some treats. Most of his friends’ large familiars were just because it was easier for them and they were mostly working for us over break anyways.

Plus, I loved having Teddy around. He was always amazing.

“I want to text Derek and ask how it’s going, but he doesn’t know I know,” Winter muttered while we waited for them to put together our huge order. He did a double take at whatever was on my face. “Not like—Bev, he might need to talk to someone. I’d kinda be like ready to explode. Happy but like bursting? Having to keep things quiet is hard.”

I raised an eyebrow that was dripping with sarcasm and he snorted. No kidding I understood that.

But he was right and I decided to text.

Me: Just checking in.

Me: Actually, I kinda told Winter. He kinda figured out some of it and I told him some of it and he was worried about you so he wanted to call and that made me think to check in.

Wyatt: Is he being pushy? Are you okay?

“Dumbass,” Winter grumbled from over my shoulder. “Doesn’t know how to let anyone worry about him.” He took my phone and typed out a message saying we were getting food and we were going to call him on speaker once we were home. And not to be stupid because Winter would never do that.

Me: For the record, that was Winter.

Wyatt: I figured.

He added an eye-rolling emoji that made me snicker.

It took both of us to carry the bags of food and then we went out to the glamping area but off to the side because some other people were there too. I texted that we were ready but reception might be spotty because of where we were.

He appeared and Winter looked like he should have expected it, but I froze, more worried about seeing Quinn and what to do.

“Bevin, Bevin, it’s been so much fun,” Quinn said excitedly. “And we’re still getting to talk. Isn’t that cool?”

“Yeah, glad you’re having fun,” I whispered, dread running over me. “And you’re appreciating the time you have to do it.”

He quickly nodded. “I am, but Derek and I talked and we realized that it’s better we can’t all of the time.”

“What?” I breathed, my heart beating too loudly.

“Yeah, because it would be dangerous for me,” he said firmly. “Derek too. Look how everyone tries to hurt and take you, but part of what protects you is that you don’t have a familiar. If you had one, they could use that familiar to hurt you. I could be used to hurt Derek. Plus, then we would just talk to each other.

“I’ve had a lot of fun talking with other familiars because you encourage it. That makes Derek stronger. I get to go to class now and that’s fun. But we’d make a mistake. We would. And he wouldn’t go out with his friends as often and he needs that. And you’ve even said we have a really strong relationship.