Page 63 of Demon Rejected

“You good, bro?" Steve, the gentle blonde giant, asked with a smile

“Sure, bro. Let’s bend some steel."

We moved over to the Smith machine and competed with one another. I let him win today. Steve and I have been friends since we were pups. We shifted together for the first time, and I know that he always has my back.

After finishing the weights, we decided to go for an outside run. Steve was the one to open the subject.

“Hey, do you think Scarlett is doing well on her first mission?"

I tried to look calm as if nothing phased me. “Yeah, probably. That poisoning bitch, Mia, is only envious. I regret the day I touched her."

“Man, Mia’s hot. I give her that, but she has an evil way around her. We all see it. I am glad you two aren’t a thing anymore."

Cello ran her own laps. She was a chubby girl and would have probably passed unnoticed in a normal environment, but here she stuck out like a sore thumb. Cello was the only overweight girl in the Shifter Nation HQ. And it bothered her, I know. We used to be best friends, and then I kissed her. On that day, she looked so pretty and sad. I wanted to do something to make her better. I had no idea that my best friend was in love with me and that, by kissing her, I gave her hope. Hope that I had to crush under my booth.

Fucking shit.

“Stevo, I’ll have a chat with Cello. Catch up with you, man." I hit him over his back, and he ran faster. I fell into pace with Cello and was just beside her.

“Hey.”

I could feel her blush. She was still cute, and I knew of many guys who thought she was awesome. But she had eyes only for me. Damn, I wish I could tell her how broken I am, how weak, how insecure, how I want Scarlett because she’s not from the pack, and she doesn’t care for me much. Somehow being with Scarlett is like being my true self.

“Hey,” she replied with a smile. Her forehead was covered in sweat. Her short, curly brown hair stood up at weird angles. Still, this girl was such a good soul and so damn cute., any guy would be lucky to have her.

“Cello, do you know anything about Scarlett?"

Cello stumbled. I saw the moment when her body started to plummet, her balance gone. I caught her fast, in a way that made it look as if I changed direction. Her face was flush against my sweaty chest, and I could feel the heat of her cheeks on my skin. She looked up, with her soft brown eyes, embarrassed.

“Uhm. Oh, thanks. Kyle, I’m such a mess. You saved me from another round of public humiliation."

“You’re not a mess. Are you okay?"

She pushed herself away from me. I could see a shadow of sadness on her cute, round face. “Yeah, just peachy. What do you want, Kyle?”

“Why do you think I want something?"

She bit her lips and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “Because you don’t talk to me otherwise."

“Cello, I’m so sorry. I’m a jerk."

“Yes, you are. She’s okay."

“Who, what?

“I talked to Scarlett. She had her first mission. She’s okay."

I released a breath that I didn’t know that I was holding back. Okay. “Am I so transparent?"

“I know you, Kyle. We used to be friends once. And Scarlett is awesome. I’d understand if you... you know."

I put my arm around Cello’s shoulders. Her body was stiff, but then she relaxed a bit. “I want us to be friends again. Do you think it’d be possible?"

Her head turned toward me, her mouth slightly open and her eyes huge. “Do you mean it?"

“Yes. Cello. This is BS, you and I acting like two idiotic, fucked up strangers. You mean a lot to me. I want us to be cool and talk again."

And I hugged her. Somehow it felt as if everything fell into place. It was right.