“Yes and no, but more no. He just seemed distracted and like something else had his full attention.”
“Someone and something both have his full attention. So you aren’t wrong.” That glimmer of irritation flashes in his eyes again, but he schools it quickly before turning fully to me. “You ready, I had a long night, but I couldn’t sleep. I just need to move.”
“Yeah. I’ll bring you something from the diner Mina. See you in a couple hours.”
“Bye, Thanks.” She heads back inside and latches the door before we even take off.
As we jog I am trying to figure out what to say to Tyler. I mean the more information I can get before tonight, the better, but I also don’t want him to shut down on me or shut me out and he seems to be on the verge of that all the time right now.
“Do you want to talk about why you have been so different around me lately? Don’t act like you haven’t.” I say as his eyebrows shoot up and his mouth opens with, I’m sure, a denial about to fall out of his mouth.
“I told you it’s complicated.”
“What about the Luna thing? No one knows who the next Luna will be, until an Alpha finds his or her mate. But, you seem very sure that I will be one and sooner rather than later. I don’t understand.” “It’s complicated, but you have to notice that you have gained a lot of attention and not just from me.” I roll my eyes.
“I have not had any more than Mina or any of the other girls that run with us. So if you are going to sidestep that question, how about this one? What do you and your friends get up to in the woods? Are you smuggling drugs or something?”
It’s his turn to roll his eyes. “Or something.” Is all he says. “Let’s just workout so I don’t get in any more trouble over you.”
“What?! You’ve gotten in trouble over me? How? Why? By who?”
“Let’s just say that I’m not the only one who noticed you, I was just the first and you happened to decide to give me a chance. That was not taken well by others and I have been punished accordingly.” “Tyler! Why didn’t you say something? I could have at least acknowledged whoever has a problem with you and me being friends.”
“You have already done that much and no one believes we’re just friends. Everyone just thinks we’re good at hiding it.” He winks at me. Oh Goddess!
I cringe. “Why does everything have to be about s*x? Seriously? That’s what whoever thinks? That we are just really good at hiding our s*xual encounters?” I rub my hands over my face. This is so stupid, in general jealous people are stupid.
“Yep.” He says as he opens the door to the gym for me to walk through ahead of him.
“Have you ever just invited them along so they can see it’s completely platonic?”
“And have to share your attention, no f*cking way! They will pull the rank card eventually and make it so I can’t talk to you at all, so I was not going to give up any time with you that you would allow.”
“Seriously?!” I feel like a broken record, even in my own head, but that’s the only thing I can think of. Someone thinks they have some kind of claim on me and is just biding time and waiting it out, like they have all the leisure time in the world to mess with me.
“Yeah. So on that note, let’s go for some heavy weights today. I think we both need it.” He chuckles a bit trying to lighten the mood, but the smile he gives is forced and doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
