by Bru Baker
“I don’t know, but aren’t you part wolf? I thought you could kick my ass up and down any course we tried?”
He was trying not to be too smug, but it was hard. He and Nick had partnered together to spar in the martial arts class yesterday morning, and it had been insulting the way Nick had pulled his punches at first. That had stopped after Drew had delivered a powerful crescent kick that had brought Nick to his knees, and then the fight had gotten fun.
Drew had still won the bout, though. Easily.
“We’re not done yet,” Nick muttered, his head pillowed on his arms.
Scott had refused to declare a winner in their fencing match yesterday. He’d also lectured them roundly about good sportsmanship because things had gotten a little heated toward the end. Frankly, if nineteen-year-old wolflings didn’t already know that language, then they’d done their sheltered little ears a favor. Scott didn’t see it that way, nor did Anne Marie, who’d been summoned from her office to watch.
So that had been a draw. And now that Drew had bested Nick at swimming, the score was two-two. They were headed to yoga after lunch, and it was going to be winner takes all. Drew hadn’t paid much attention to the class description, but now he was praying for Hatha, or even Yin. His noodley arms couldn’t take an athletic bout of Ashtanga, but he’d worry about that later.
Right now he had to get himself up. Nick was still collapsed on the bank, and Drew wasn’t going to let on that the swim had taken every ounce of his strength and stamina. No, he was going to pretend he was fine—and hope Nick was too exhausted to sniff out the lie.
“I’m going to go grab a shower before lunch,” Drew said as he forced himself to stand. Luckily his face was turned away from Nick’s, so only the wolflings nearest him saw his grimace. He shook his head at the one who was coming forward to help him, and the kid flicked a glance between Drew and Nick and grinned.
“You sure you’re not a wolf, Dr. Welch?” the boy asked, and Drew shot him a discreet thumbs-up.
“Raised, but not born,” he answered. He could feel Nick’s eyes on him, so he put some swagger in his step as he walked up to the path. He turned at the top and looked at Nick, who was still on the ground.
“Meet you at the yoga studio? I have some paperwork to do over lunch.”
Such a lie. He had a power nap to take.
Nick raised a hand and waved. “Wouldn’t miss it,” he said before pillowing his head on his arms again.
By the time Drew made it back to his quarters he was already feeling better. The long, hot shower he indulged in helped even more, as did the two Advil he took before lunch. It wasn’t cheating to get a little help, he reckoned. After all, Nick’s aches and pains had healed on their own well before now.
DREW tucked his mat under his arm and started off for the studio, giving himself enough time to get there early so he could stretch. Kaylee had dropped by to tell him she was the one teaching this afternoon, which worked in his favor. She taught the Vinyasa classes, and the way the poses flowed from one to another meant he wouldn’t have to hold any pose long enough for fatigue to set in.
She met him at the door, practically bouncing with excitement.
“Your boy Nick has been here for the last half an hour getting a primer on poses,” she said, eyes sparkling. “He’s not that flexible, but he’s plenty strong—you’re going to have a run for your money.”
“Did he tell you the score?”
“I’ve heard it, but I don’t want to talk about it. I’m an impartial judge.”
“But clearly I’m the more dedicated student, so it’s going to be me,” Nick called from inside.
Kaylee stepped aside and let Drew into the studio. It was empty except for Nick, who had claimed a space in the second row. Perfect.
Drew smirked and put his mat down directly in front of him. “We’ll see about that.”
Drew took his time unfurling the mat and getting situated. He did a few standing stretches as the rest of the class started to file in, chattering quietly among themselves and staking out spots. When he was sure it was too crowded for Nick to move, he took off the loose shirt he’d been wearing and dropped into rag doll, groaning at how good the stretch felt.
He knew the moment Nick looked up and saw him, because he heard him curse under his breath.
Drew usually practiced yoga in a tight tank top and fitted basketball shorts similar to the ones Nick was wearing, but he’d dug into his closet to find the pair of butter-soft yoga pants his sister-in-law had given him last Christmas. They hugged every curve and sinew, and he usually didn’t wear them to classes because they bordered on indecent. He was pulling out all the stops to win his favor from Nick, and from Nick’s quick intake of breath as he moved from rag doll to forward fold, it was working.
“I can’t believe you,” Nick muttered when Drew hopped backward and flexed into downward facing dog. “This is cheating.”
Drew lifted into three legged dog so he could peer back at Nick. “Just warming up. I mean, it’s what dedicated students do, right?”
Nick grumbled something too low for Drew to hear, but from the way the wolflings around them snickered, he doubted it was complimentary.
“Okay, everyone,” Kaylee called from the front of the room. “Come out of whatever pose you’re in and come to the top of your mats so we can get started.”
Drew lowered himself and settled in lotus pose, waiting for more instructions.
“We’re going to start with cat-cow pose, so raise up onto all fours and really arch that back as we flow into cow. Let your bellies sink to the floor as you raise those sitz bones toward the ceiling.”
Nick let out a quiet curse and Drew knew his eyes had to be trained on his ass.
Kaylee winked at him before perching on her own mat. God bless her.
“HE had to resort to poor sportsmanship to win, so it’s a hollow victory,” Nick told everyone at the staff table in the mess hall kitchen.
Scott reached into the middle of the table to grab a piece of toast. Every Monday the staff ate together family style so they could catch up and talk about what was happening in the coming week. It was the one meal of the week Anne Marie took mess hall monitoring duty, and they were enjoying their freedom.
“Worse than when you tripped him while you two were fencing?” he asked, murmuring a quiet thanks to Kenya when she handed him the butter.
“I didn’t trip him,” Nick protested.
“Oh, you totally did,” Drew said as he poured himself a glass of orange juice and filled Nick’s glass as well.
“Well, you didn’t fall.”
“Which is worse because it means you weren’t even good at cheating,” Kaylee chimed in. “Besides, he won fair and square. You knocked two other people over during tree pose and you broke your nose during crow.”
Nick rubbed at his perfectly healed nose and scowled at her, and Drew couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t relish the memory of seeing Nick covered in blood when he’d fallen on his face, but it had healed within the hour. The worst part had been sticking around to clean up the mess.
They’d had dinner together last night but had parted ways after that. Drew had a mountain of charts to get through for the week, and Nick had campers to bond with, and it had been nice to have some time apart after spending most of the weekend together.
“So what do you have to do, Nick?” Blake asked, leaning in to take a platter of bacon from Kenya.
Nick had just taken a bite, so Drew fielded the question, earning himself a grateful thigh squeeze from Nick that made his cheeks flush.
“I asked for a consult. He’s going to come see one of my patients tonight.”
Kenya gave him a sharp look, but before she could say anything Nick had swallowed his bite and cut in.
“Joke’s on him because I would have done the consult even if he hadn’t won. So he burned a favor for nothing.”
Drew frowned at him. “I asked you and you said it wasn’t your area of expertise.”
“I’m not a total asshole. I looked around and you were right, there aren’t any other options for her here. Of course I was going to agree to see her.”
“If it’s not your area, how are you going to be able to help?” Kenya asked, eyebrow arched.
“I lied,” Nick said. “I mean, it’s not my primary area, but I’ve seen patients who are in similar situations. The biggest thing is I’m not up on the resources in the area, but once I meet with her and see what the scope of the situation is, we can go from there. I’m not planning to see her permanently, Kenya. But she needs to talk to someone, and I’m not going to turn her away.”
It felt like Drew’s heart was going to beat right out of his chest. Nick hadn’t told him any of that—he’d really thought he had to force the favor. He’d felt bad about it, but his patient’s life was on the line, and he wasn’t above dirty tricks if it would help her. It was a relief to know Nick didn’t resent him for it.
Scott gave him a funny look, and Drew did his best to rein in his emotions. He’d been physically attracted to Nick from the moment he’d laid eyes on him, but the more he got to know him as a person the more he wanted him. He was smart and funny, and hearing him talk with so much passion about helping an abused woman—how could Drew not fall for him just a little?
Kenya relaxed and nodded. “Good. Because making you see a patient you don’t feel qualified to see would be a dick move.”
Everyone gaped at her, but she just shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m old. I get to call it like I see it.”
Drew had heard stories about how blunt she could be, but he’d never witnessed it in person. Within seconds the entire table was laughing.
“Tate always said he reeled you in, but I never believed him,” Harris said, wiping a tear away.
“I speak my damn mind,” she said.
“I am sorry, though. I didn’t think about the position I was putting you in,” Drew said quietly after everyone had started into their breakfasts.
“I would have said no if I didn’t want to do it,” Nick said. “I shouldn’t have made you think I wouldn’t help.”
“Don’t let me off the hook that easily. Kenya was right. It was a dick move.”
“More of a dick move than wearing those pants to yoga yesterday?”
Drew laughed. “That was just strategy. You’re a werewolf. You’re stronger and faster. I had to play to my advantages.”
“Your ass is definitely an advantage,” Nick said, bringing his hand up to brush over the front of Drew’s pants. “One of several you’ve got.”
Drew choked on the orange juice he’d just swallowed, his face going hot as Nick had to pound him on the back.
“Humans,” Nick said when everyone looked up. “They’re so fragile.”
“Oh, so we’re joking about that now?” Drew managed to gasp out as he coughed.
“Everyone else has been joking about it since Nick got here,” Scott called out from the other end of the table. “But now we’re laughing with him instead of at him.”
Nick rolled his eyes with a good-natured huff. “As much fun as it is to be the butt of all your jokes, I’ve got to run. I had to move a couple sessions up so I could go with Drew tonight.”
He grabbed a muffin and stood, saluting them with it. “Feel free to talk about me behind my back.”
Drew caught his hand before he could walk away, and Nick leaned down and gave him a chaste peck on the lips.
“Have fun with them gossiping about that!” he whispered before he darted away, laughing all the way out of the kitchen.
Kenya held a hand out and half the table stood and rummaged through their pockets, slapping fives and tens into her palm.
“You guys bet on whether or not we were together?” Drew asked, incredulous.
“We bet on whether or not he would admit you were together. Everyone already knew you were,” Scott said around a mouthful of bacon.
“One, gross. Were you raised in a barn? And two, we’re not together.”
“Wolves don’t live in barns,” Scott said with a feral grin. “And yes you are. You don’t even want to know what you two smell like together.”
Kaylee wrinkled her nose. “Oh my God, you guys, I practically had to air out the studio. The UST was so freaking strong.”
“Like you could smell anything over the patchouli you burn,” Drew scoffed, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“It’s sandalwood, thank you very much, and I don’t normally burn anything during class, but I figured I’d need it with you two horndogs there. And hey, I was right.”
Everyone laughed, and Harris leaned in making obnoxious kissy sounds like a ten-year-old.
“I don’t know why I like any of you,” Drew muttered as he shoved Harris away. “Now if you don’t mind, I have office hours at the infirmary. And like half of you have a class to get to.”
Kenya waved them off when they started to clear their plates.
“I don’t have anywhere to be for a bit, I’ll take care of this. It’ll give me a chance to count my money,” she said, fanning herself with the bills.
She looked up when Drew passed, beckoning him in for a hug. He bent and kissed her cheek, letting her wrap her arms around him.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Tate held a lot of things together, even though he’d deny it. And you’re just what we needed.”
Drew snorted. “A scapegoat?”
“Exactly,” she said, beaming.
DREW’S clinic didn’t open until six on Mondays, so he and Nick had a quick early dinner at camp before piling into the SUV he drove to and from the clinic. He’d argued he should have his own car, but Anne Marie told him the camp cars were part of his compensation package. He didn’t think that applied to people who drove almost daily, but she’d just handed him a set of keys and shaken her head.
Nick had gone over the copy of Maura’s file earlier, but neither of them broached the subject of her history on the drive. Drew was glad for it—he was enjoying spending time alone with Nick, and it was nice to chat about inconsequential things instead of slipping into professional mode.
“So none of your stepbrothers live with the Pack?” Nick asked after Drew had given him a rundown of his scattered family.
“Richard, the oldest, he’s with his wife’s Pack in Santa Fe right now, but they’re planning to move back to St. Louis soon. Jackson is in Lexington and Troy is in Cedar Rapids. I don’t think that will last long, though. He’s home at least one weekend a month.”
“Jackson is the police officer?”
Drew turned onto the small town’s main thoroughfare. The downtown area, as the locals called it, was small enough you could see from one end to the other. It was mostly a few restaurants and a cluster of antique stores that drew in tourists. Drew’s clinic was two blocks from the center of town on a small side street that was mostly residential.
“Yeah. He wants to be a second like his dad, but he’s not ready to settle down into Pack politics yet. It’s why he took the Tribunal Enforcer job. That and the fact he wants to help people. I know we make Enforcers out to be tough guys, but he’s a softie. Hell, he’s in Lexington because he didn’t want Jordan to move to a new city all alone.”
“And Jordan is?”
Drew looked over at Nick. “Remember how I said I wasn’t giving you my list until I knew what you wanted? He’s a big part of my list.”
Nick’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I think I’m ready for the list.”
Drew’s pulse jumped. “Are you sure? Because list sharing is a big step, and it’s a two-way street. If you get my list, I get yours. And I’m kind of to the point where I want the list to be a static document, you know? I don’t want to keep adding to it. I’m not looking for something casual, Nick. I want a partner I can have a future with.”
Nick was silent for a few beats and Drew wondered if he’d pushed too far, but then Nick reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I just don’t want you to have to add me unde
r the heading of mistakes. Maybe we should slow down.”
Drew’s stomach dropped. He tried to take Nick’s words at face value, but it was hard not to jump to conclusions when Nick couldn’t even commit to saying they were dating. He forced a smile as he pulled into his parking space behind the clinic.
“Sure, sure.”
He didn’t want to admit Nick already had a place on his list, whether he wanted it or not. And not just because they’d slept together. Drew’s list was more a collection of guys who had broken his heart than guys he’d messed around with.
Nick looked like he wanted to say something else, but Drew unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door before he could speak. He needed to be clear-headed for office hours, and he didn’t think anything Nick could say right now would be conducive to that.
“I’ve got to get in there and open the place up. Leslie can’t get a babysitter for Mondays, so I’m here alone.”
Nick got out and slung his messenger bag over his shoulder. He was dressed in slacks and a button-down, looking more put together than Drew had ever seen him. Drew hadn’t bothered, since he’d be throwing a white coat on over whatever he wore. His patients weren’t ones to be concerned with how he looked, but he did have to grant Nick’s professional outfit and carefully styled hair made him look trustworthy and competent. He hoped it was enough to put their patient at ease. “Do you want me to run the front desk while you see patients? Since Leslie isn’t here, I mean,” Nick offered, looking both contrite and earnest. “I know how hard it is to run an office alone.”
Dammit, why did he have to be so endearing? Drew wanted to be annoyed with him, but between his hangdog expression and offer of help, it was impossible.
“Sure. We don’t have a very high-tech setup, I’m afraid. Digitizing files is a slow process, and Leslie has been reluctant to go to an online appointment calendar. We’re still using paper and pencil.”
Nick whistled through his teeth. “Digitizing the files as you need them, then?”