“A man who’s perceptive. How’d that happen?” she teased, but her eyes didn’t match her tone.
“I just forgot to put my Neanderthal shoes on today. It’ll pass,” he joked. “Though in all seriousness, I sensed your anger with her long before we formally met. Actually, I heard it.”
Her hand flew to her cheek, making her bracelets jingle in the hollow hallway. “Ah, you mean all that yelling out in the woods? You’re right. I am angry, but I don’t know why. It’s not even about how sluggish she is or that she’s missing important things when we’re involved in a case because she’s so wrapped up in her food and her whatever, it’s… If Nina doesn’t want to be a vampire anymore, good for her. Why should I give a damn?”
“But?”
Marty plucked at her lower lip. “But she’s treating it like it’s some vacation. Like she was just exonerated after a life sentence in jail. Was it really so bad being a vampire? Is it really so bad for you, Cormac? I mean, it’s been a long time since I was turned. I hardly remember what my life was like before I was a were.”
How did you forget thinking you were crazy? The transition from human to animal? The pain of your bones distorting and crunching until you learned how to control the shift? Feeling like you were the only person in the world who’d had something as fantastically nutty happen to you?
Feeling like a total freak? Not so easily forgotten. But he’d come to a place of acceptance around year one and a half. He’d simply added it to his list of things he had no choice but to accept and make peace with.
Rocking back on his heels, Cormac was honest. “It was an adjustment I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon.”
Patting him on the arm, Marty chuckled. “And you did it alone. I’m sorry for that, Cormac. I can’t imagine not having someone to help you go through such an enormous change. But you wait and see, my friend. By this time next year, you won’t remember what your life was like without Teddy and us in it. You won’t remember what it was like to be human. I promise.”
He wasn’t sure if she was reassuring herself or him, but her words gave him hope.
These women were confident they could handle Stas and crew. He wanted to believe them. He wanted to believe Marty, that there would actually be a next year.
And okay, fine. He wanted to believe there’d be a Teddy still in his life next year, too.
So there.
Chapter 11
Teddy surveyed the landscape of the kitchen table, where they’d all gathered to play Monopoly to keep their minds occupied, with a grin on her face. Lenny snuggled in her lap, contentedly purring as she slipped him bits of the salmon she and Carl had made together for lunch.
After an amazing dinner of roast leg of lamb infused with garlic and rosemary and slathered in mint jelly, small new potatoes that melted in her mouth and a Brussels sprouts casserole dripping in cheese, Wanda brought out the board games.
As the snow fell and the fire crackled, Archibald had poured them steaming cups of the homemade white chocolate cocoa he’d whipped up, topped with dollops of fresh whipped cream, and then set out plates of chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, and they settled in.
“I win! Park Place is mine, bitches!” Archibald yelped as he landed on the esteemed square, slamming his boot down with an age-spotted hand. Then he covered his mouth with his gobs money, his round, cheerful face red with embarrassment. “My apologies! Do you see what you inspire in me, Mistress Nina? You’ve turned me into a monster whose only goal is to beat his competition into a bloody stump! It’s unforgiveable, evil woman!”
Nina slapped him on the back, her cackling laughter filling the room. “Aw, c’mon, Arch. It’s good for your heart to get your gloat on.”
He gasped and shook his wad of money at her with an admonishing look. “It is most assuredly not a sign of good sportsmanship to behave in such a manner, Nina Statleon. That you encourage such is despicable!”
“You know you wanna make it rain, Arch. Go on,” she taunted him, pointing to the play money.
He cleared his throat, brushing a hand over his ascot as though Nina had suggested he strip naked and hula hoop. “I most certainly do not wish to make it, as you say, rain.”
“Do toooo!” And then Nina began to chant, “Make it rain! Make it rain!”
Soon, they were all pounding their fists on the table and encouraging the manservant.