Leather and Lace Ch.3
When Life Gives You Limes
By Shadowed Ember
January 26, 2014
Marblecliff, NH - Kalayo Residence
Haze.
That's all Leo could see when his eyes opened. Haze and light.
Slowly, as his gaze panned around the room, the amorphous blobs of color took on more definition. Well, at least, half of his vision did. The other remained a wall of dark blue, a testament to the pillow his face was still partially buried in. Reaching above his head, his paw fumbled along the headboard until it closed around the familiar glass rectangle that was his phone. With practiced ease, the tether providing its supply of juice from the wall was disconnected, and muscle memory handled the security code. Rolling up into a seated position, he couldn’t tell whether the groan that he heard came from himself or the bed. A quick swipe told him he’d slept past 9am, his last coding project had been accepted by the buyer, the air outside was chilly, and…
3 Unread Messages
He rubbed away the sleep clinging to his eyelids, blinking rapidly to clear the darkness and stars from pressing just a little too hard. Opening his messages, he flicked away the one reminding him that he was due for an oil change; he handled that last week, just at a different location. The pair of messages after that were what he’d been hoping for, though. Holly had texted back.
[Hey. Sorry, I think I left my jacket on
the back of my chair at dinner. Can you
grab it for me?]
—New Messages—
[I already did, don’t worry. Do you want
to come by Cavallo later and get it? I’m
on 1-9 today]
[I don’t even know how you made it out of
the house without it]
The wolf chuckled, tapping out an affirmation. He’d drop in after lunch, happy to see her even if they wouldn’t have much time. He rolled his neck around his shoulders and stood, walking over to the window to look down on the street below. The glass chilled the paw he rested against it as he leaned on the frame. He enjoyed the cold, more than one might expect, given the Florida weather he’d been raised in his entire life before the move to Marblecliff. He knew why he hadn’t noticed the missing jacket. He’d been too busy replaying the day in his head, riding high on a cocktail of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin… and there hadn’t been a breeze to sneak the cold past his fur. Through his bedroom wall, he heard the telltale beeps of the microwave, then the slam of its door. Well, Dad’s up. Guess I should grab something to eat too.
*******
Cavallo Italian Restaurant
Leo half-jogged, half-ran from his SUV to the door of Cavallo. Ok, yes, he liked the cold, but everyone had limits. His was when the temps were under 20, like they’d been all day, and the wind was whipping. And oh boy, was it. The wind sifted and cut through his fur like it wasn’t even there, sending the icy air right across his skin. Not even the direct sun was taking the edge off the chill. Diving through the open door behind a shrew couple, he rubbed his paws together rapidly, and blew on them. The older shrew male sent a frown in his direction, then rolled his eyes and muttered at the wolf’s sheepish grin. “Kids these days.”
Leo was about to apologize, but the shrew’s partner pulled him away before he could. A pair of familiar honey brown eyes fell on him from the hostess stand, widening as they focused on the wolf. The burgeoning smile dissipated rapidly, replaced just as quickly by a frown as he tried to shake out the chill that was still clinging to him.
“Leo! Why don’t you have a jacket on?!” Holly’s voice seemed to carry equal parts exasperation and disapproval. “Didn’t we meet because a certain someone told me I’d catch my death from the cold?” The wolf threw his paws up in surrender, a little taken aback by the energy of her response.
“Hey, hey, you have my jacket, remember?” The deadpan look he got in return was potent.
“Llyulf Kalayo, do you really expect me to believe you only own one jacket?”
“Well, no, I have like, a windbreaker or hoodies at home, but-”
“Then do me and you a favor next time, and put one on, okay?” She cut in, reaching under the stand and pulling out the jacket she’d stowed there for him. She handed him the leather garment, peeked around the corner, then the other direction, and her expression softened. She gave him a quick hug, and returned to her hostess stand, blushing lightly. “I’d like my boyfriend to remain alive, if it’s all the same to you.”
Leo’s cheeks burned, less from her admonishment, and more from how she'd just referred to him. Of course, he was pretty sure they both were on the same page, especially after how well their dates had seemed to go, but hearing it stated explicitly gave him goosebumps, and the door of the restaurant remained shut fast, removing any hope of blaming a rogue chill. Nor could he blame the door for distracting him, as a voice piped up right next to him, causing him to start. He was usually harder to sneak up on than this.
“Ooooh, boyfriend status already? Not bad, wolf-boy.” Becca's smirk flicked between the two of them, before she sauntered up to the hostess stand, and displaced the chipmunk with a gentle push to her shoulder. “Why don't you take your ten, Holly? Unless Leo here plans on sticking around a while, of course.”
*******
The crisp air was much more tolerable for Leo with the appropriate layers on, surprise surprise. Even though she’d grabbed her own jacket, Holly wasn’t going to waste an obvious excuse, and she was nestled up under his arm against his side. He asked if her parents had mentioned anything more after he left, but she just shook her head.
“Not really. I went to finish a Spanish assignment and relax a little before bed pretty much right after you left. I only found your jacket when I went into the dining room to shut off the light. Dad went off to his study and shut the door like he normally does after dinner. Mamma thought you were really nice, though, she mentioned that in the kitchen before you left.”
“I think I’ll count nothing bad to say as a win for ‘having dinner with the parents’ after our first real date. Your mom is super sweet. I don’t know if I should be eating her cooking very often, unless you wanna see me put on a hundred pounds or so. That was, bar none, the best lasagna I have ever had. I was so full when I left, and I was still tempted to eat my dad’s leftovers on the way home.”
“Oh, should I tell Mamma you have a new favorite meal, then? Mine’s not quite as good as hers, but I could totally show you how to make it. Like Mamma said, it’s Nona Rosa’s recipe. She’s just made it way more than I have, and knows how to do everything perfectly. It might be fun getting to see what you can do in the kitchen,” she said, looking up at him with a smirk.
“A very close second, I think. My favorite is another Italian dish, though. I’m a little scared to say what it is, because if your mom makes that as great as she made that lasagna, I’ll never be able to have it anywhere else again.” Leo scratched at the back of his neck, a nervous smile on his face. “As far as kitchen skills, I could probably sous for you, and I know some basic, easy recipes. Before she uh- well, before the divorce- I helped mom in the kitchen from time to time with prep. Dad and I… Well, let’s just say last night was the first time in probably months I can remember a truly home cooked meal existing in our condo.”
Holly’s face scrunched. “Yikes. We might have to work on that. It really can’t be good for you two, living out of a freezer all the time. I am sure Mamma has some recipes that she’d be willing to share that are simple and plenty tasty to give you guys some variety.” The little chipmunk checked her phone, letting out a grumble. “I don’t wanna, but I should probably get back inside. I really don’t want to abuse how easygoing Sofia is with us taking our breaks. As long as we are good about it, she said she wouldn’t make a hard schedule for them.” She gave him a firm squeeze around his waist, then extricated herself from Leo’s hold, but he snagged her paw before she could get too far.
“Oh, before you go, do you have Valentine’s Day off by chance?” he asked hopefully.
Holly's smile looked a little uneasy. “I’ve volunteered to work the last couple, actually, since I never had a reason not to take the extra hours, but I’ll see if I can convince one of the other hosts to let me swap with them. Call you tomorrow once I’ve checked with everyone?” Leo nodded quickly, and began walking with her back to the door.
“No problem; if not, we can always plan on something around it at least. Might even be easier to get in places not on the day.” As he opened the door for her, he pulled her close, kissing her forehead, but she wasn’t letting him off that easily. She put her paws on either side of his face, and pulled it down, kissing him softly on the lips.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I do.” With that she spun, her hair flaring out behind her as she slipped inside.
Damn. He wasn’t sure if the little wiggle in her hips right as she disappeared around the corner was for him, or just general excitement, but he certainly wished he could see it again. And again. And again.
*******
January 30, 2014
Chimera Prep
Thunk. Leo’s forehead meeting the locker wasn’t pleasant, but the cool metal felt good at least. Today just had to be the slowest day. He was lucky if he got 2 hours of sleep last night, and integrating trig functions in Calc, then watching a video essay in AP Econ was not making the essential task of ‘staying awake’ during class very easy. Muscle memory and peripheral vision were thankfully enough to successfully grant him access to his locker. He pulled the books from his bag while he stared at the contents already inside, trying and failing to parse the requirements for his next few classes for far too long. Then, for the second time in a week, his passive perception failed him. Two small paws pressed into his lower back, and a throaty purr resonated directly behind him, nearly sending him jumping out of his fur.
“Llyulf-sempai, why so tense?” came the familiar voice of the slim, green feline, pushing her body closer to him, and sliding her paws up either side of his spine. “I know we haven’t spoken since you left me at the Formal, but if you- Nani ga mondaidesu-ka, Llyulf-sempai?” Her saccharine lilt gave way to an audible confusion he understood, even if he couldn’t comprehend the words, as he twisted out of reach of her touch. He was very awake now. He held up his paws as she stepped toward him, taking a deep breath before he spoke, to try to slow his racing pulse.
“Midori, please, stop.” He reached into his locker, snagged the books he needed and stuffed them in his bag, shouldered it, then closed the door and spun the lock. “Also, to be fair, I’m pretty sure you abandoned me at the Formal. You were just too busy grinding on that badger to notice when I came back with drinks for us.”
“Oh, but I would have loved it if you cut in to show me who I really belonged with, Llyulf-sempai.” The exaggerated pout in her voice dripped from every word, then her eyes lidded with a practiced sensuality that should have been beyond her years. “All you had to do was grab me, claim me, and I would have been all yours, all night.” Her next words came out as a whisper, but he had no issues hearing them. “You still could too, you know”
“Actually, I can’t, and I won’t, Midori. Funnily enough, I have you and Ryan to thank for it, too. I happened to meet his date for the Formal outside that night when I went to leave, and we hit it off really well.” He reached out and put a paw on her shoulder, and smiled. “So thank you for the date, however brief, and the offer, but I really need to get to class. Don’t worry, I am sure you’ll find someone who can handle you much better than I can.”
The younger fur stared blankly for a split second before her cheerful disposition snapped back into place. As she turned away, she called back over her shoulder with a smirk, “If you ever change your mind, Llyulf-sempai, the offer’s still open. You know where I live.” Her tail flicked. “And Daddy’s gone until March.”
Leo shook his head, turning back down the hall, before the bell rang out. Shit! I'm late. He took off, sprinting towards his next period.
*******
Marblecliff, NH - Kalayo Residence
Leo rubbed at his eyes, fighting to stay awake. It was only 7, but he was full from a frozen pizza, and his body was trying to take him by force to dreamland. He knew if he fell asleep now, though, he’d be up at 3 in the morning, and have another day just like today. He needed to make it to 9, at least, preferably 10. Spinning around in his chair, he rose, and almost made it to his door before a loud buzzing pulled him up short. He slowly turned, walking over and scooping up his phone. He swiped away the lock screen, and was greeted with a name that magnified his focus far more effectively than cold water would have.
New Message - Holly
[Hey, are you free? Can I call?]
[Those are two very different questions.]
[Yes, you can call, but while I have never
priced myself, I don’t think I’d be free]
He grinned as his message sent, and was greeted by a much more constant vibration from his phone. He tapped the green circle, but didn’t even get his own hello out before she spoke.
“You know, all these talks we’ve had about dying in the cold, and you are over there trying to get the job done with terrible jokes.” He could almost feel the deadpan look permeating her voice.
“I know, I know, nothing worth doing is easy, but the easy jokes are fun, gorgeous.” He chuckled softly. “How was work?”
“It was fine. Pretty slow, honestly. Not complaining though. Gave me time to sweet talk Becca a little bit, which is why I wanted to call.”
“She bit on a swap for Valentine’s, then?” He asked, not bothering to try to hide any excitement.
“She did, but-” Holly gave a little sigh. “I had to take both of her Saturdays for the next two weeks, so I probably won’t be able to really see you at all until Valentine’s.” Leo nodded and shrugged, before realizing there was no way for her to see it.
“Er- Yea, no, that’s rough, but that just means I need to make sure I make it worth the wait. And don’t worry, no mall or fair food, or cheap deli salads this time, I promise.” he said quickly, fighting to keep silent the yawn that attempted to punctuate the sentence.
“I’ll hold you to that, Leo. Just don’t go too overboard, ok? Just because I was raised in a big house doesn’t mean that the only way to impress me is to do something way over the top. My parents have taken us to most of the ‘fancy’ places in town. Sure, they are nice and all, but just— don’t assume I need that. Some of the best seafood I ever had was from a diner in Maine with six tables.”
“Duly noted. I have a couple ideas kicking around already, anyway.” He paused, looking at the glowing monitor in his room. “Why don’t you let me do some digging, and I’ll pick you up at– Let’s say 5:00? Try and get somewhere before the biggest rush hits.”
“Sounds like a plan. Just let me know once you know where we’re going, so I can figure out what to wear.” Llyulf heard a weird collection of sounds from the other end of the line, then a resigned sigh. “Well, I’m home, gonna run inside before the warmth seeps out of the car. It’s gonna be a long two weeks, but I can’t wait for whatever you come up with. You set the bar pretty high on our first date, not gonna lie.” She paused. “It’s probably going to be too crazy, but if I can get free in the morning before work one of those Saturdays, maybe we can meet up for breakfast or something. Think I’ll get to talk to you tomorrow?” she asked, hope coloring her voice toward the end.
“I’ll see what's going on, I sure won’t turn down a chance to hear you again, even if I seem to be in the habit of getting myself in trouble right before we talk.” He chuckled, then flopped back down in his chair. “Hope you have a good night, beautiful, and tell mamma I said hi.”
“You too, Leo, and tell your dad he’s invited if we do end up finding time for breakfast. Good night. I- er, sleep well!” The beep of the call ending sounded in his ear, and he tossed his phone onto the bed. Spinning back to his desk, he opened a new tab, and started searching the area restaurants for a gem.
*******
February 14, 2014
Christian Shore, NH - Giacomo Estate
Llyulf practically vibrated with anticipation. The last two weeks had been both busy, yet somehow also seemed impossibly slow to pass. He’d managed to get most everything done he’d wanted to, at least. Well, except getting breakfast with Holly. They hadn’t been able to get that lined up. He did, however, find a nice little restaurant that wasn’t Italian, which was way harder than it sounded on its face. It was a little Mexican spot, complete with a Mariachi band that roamed the tables. They weren’t the cheapest place around, but the food was authentic and flavorful, and Dover was just around the corner, really. He took a deep breath, and snagged the two half-dozens of roses in the bag on his passenger seat, and slid out into the air that had been hovering around freezing point all day. It was way better than Wednesday though; they’d only barely avoided a negative temperature reading in town. This, by comparison, was downright pleasant.
Before he even made it into the courtyard, the front door opened, and Nicolo stepped out, spotting him and waving Leo over to the side. “Leo, come, come, indulge an old man for a moment.” As Leo approached, the older male dropped onto the porch swing, pulling out his lighter, and a pair of cigars. “Care to join me?”
Leo shook his head, leaning on the railing, holding the bag of roses in his arms. “I don’t mind chatting with you while you smoke, Mr. Giacomo, but I don’t smoke, never really felt the urge to either. Besides, I’m technically still too young to legally indulge even if I did. I don’t turn 18 until the summer.” Nicolo shrugged, but his eyes watched Leo intently.
“Bah, come now, the smoke is sweet, not like the rancid, chemical trash little cigarettes they sell in the corner store.” He lit his cigar, taking a deep drag, before letting it spill out. “Nonno mio, my grandfather, he shared his cigar with me first when I was 16. If I could have one then, you can have one now. Take it.” He waved the unlit cigar at the wolf.
“No, thank you, sir.” Llyulf shook his head more firmly, and his voice was a bit of a harder edge as well. “I don’t begrudge anyone that does, but I won’t.”
Nicolo raised an eyebrow at the wolf, saying nothing for almost a full minute as he tucked away the cigar. Then, without anything further, he nodded. “Very well. You stick to your words. I respect that. I am sure Holly is waiting for you inside. I’ll be in when I’m finished. Still debating when you- well, we’ll talk about that later.”
The wolf frowned slightly. The only thing that he could think- wait, he thought they’d made it past- ugh. No use in worrying too much until Nicolo actually said something, but in the back of his mind, as he turned away, he started running a scenario through his head, hoping it didn’t come to pass. But as he entered the house, greeted by Holly’s mother, who called up the stairs for her daughter, an idea, a contingency plan, took hold, and with it came the ghost of a smile.
That was very quickly replaced with a glowing one, as he wrapped an arm around Holly when she joined them in the foyer. She was in a knee length black skirt with smooth black leggings underneath, and a purple button up top with the sleeves rolled to her elbows.
He kissed her cheek before releasing her, and reached into the bag he was holding. “Looking perfect, as always. Theeeese are for you,” he said, pulling out the first half dozen roses, vibrant red and full, and presenting them to his blushing date with a slight bow. Turning to Lenora, he pulled the second set out, this bunch a soft pink. “And these are for you, Mamma Giacomo, I-'' he caught himself, letting out a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “Er, if you don’t mind me calling you that. It flitted through my head when I was talking to Holly the other day, and it’s kinda stuck in my head since.”
“Oh, that’s just fine, dear. I told you before, you can call me Lenora if you want. Mamma Giacomo, or even Mamma G is okay too, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest,” she said, waving her paw dismissively. “Thank you for the flowers, though. It was really quite sweet of you to bring me some, too.” She said with a smile, accepting the roses, and nabbing Holly’s as well, before disappearing and returning with the full dozen in a simple yet still elegant vase, water sloshing about within it. She swapped it for the empty decorative vase that acted as the tabled centerpiece for the foyer, stowing the old one underneath the table on the small shelf in the center between the legs. “There we go. Oh, Nico, did you see the flowers Leo brought?”
The chipmunk male looked up as he came in the door, eyes flicking to the prominently displayed roses, a half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I saw he had a bag, but didn’t peek inside. Smart boy, to butter up a woman of your skill in the kitchen.” He turned to Leo. “You will have Holly back by 7:00 tonight, won’t you? I am sure it will get quite crazy in town as the night wears on, with everyone out and about to celebrate.”
There it was. Sure it wasn’t quite 5:00 yet, but if there was any sort of delay with their reservation, making it back in time was unlikely, and even if there wasn’t, he really didn’t want to rush the date just to appease her dad. Llyulf watched as Holly whirled to face her father, shocked, and Lenora pursed her lips. Nicolo’s slip up earlier at least had given him a clue, however slight, that Holly’s dad was planning something. It had given the wolf just enough time to come up with the beginnings of a plan of his own, at least enough to execute. He spoke before Holly could give the displeasure on her face a voice.
“Sure, Mr. Giacomo, I can have her home before then. Shouldn’t be any trouble at all.”
The grinning wolf went from having just Nicolo’s eyes on him to being the sole focus in the room, with each expression directed his way markedly different. Holly’s was easiest to read, she was reeling from being stunned from two separate directions. Her mother was a bit harder to read, she just looked a little thrown at Leo’s confident response, though she was the first to take her eyes off of the wolf, shooting a look Leo couldn’t quite make out at her husband. Nicolo himself? He looked… intrigued. Llyulf moved to Holly’s side, slipping his paw around her back.
“Well, beautiful, shall we? No reason to waste the time we have, right?”
*******
Holly was muttering as she hopped into Leo’s SUV, and it continued all the way down the drive. Leo made to reach for her paw to hopefully calm her, but she pulled it away and settled it in her lap. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before turning in the seat to narrow her eyes at the wolf.
“Time to spill, Romeo, because I cannot imagine us getting in anywhere tonight that you could guarantee my dad we’d be home in 2 hours. I don’t even know what’s gotten into him.” Leo held up his paw, before returning it to the wheel.
“Okay, okay. Your dad met me outside before I came in, and something he said tipped me off he might try to pull another fast one. Rather than fight him over it, I figured I would just come up with a better way around it, and I think I’ve got a decent one, where we shouldn’t really have to worry about the clock at all. I haven’t really taken a good look past your pool, but your family’s property goes all the way to the river, right? And I would imagine if it does, whoever built it would have also built a dock?” Holly stared blankly at the wolf, blinking slowly.
“We have a dock, but I don’t see how that fixes dinner plans, Leo. Besides, it's cold out, and I am in a skirt.” Llyulf nodded slowly, his mental autopilot turning him on a familiar route into Marblecliff’s downtown area, while the gears kept churning in his head.
“Hear me out, though. The restaurant I was planning to take you to is in Dover, so not very far out-”
“Wait… If we are going to Dover, why are we in Downtown?” Holly asked, frowning.
“Just swinging by the condo to grab something really quick. Long story short, my thought is we can still have the food I planned for us, just take it to go, and be back to your house ahead of schedule. It's supposed to be chilly tonight, but not really much colder than it is now. Once we’re back, you can throw on some warmer bottoms, and between that, the hot food, and a little surprise I have planned, I figure we will be fine to be out by ourselves a little bit, and if we get too cold, we can always move up to the house. Either way, your dad didn't say the date could only be two hours, just that you had to be home in two.” Holly took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
“I just-” She stopped as the vehicle pulled over to the curb in front of Leo’s building, and he tossed the ride in park.
“Hold that thought, I will be back in no time. I know where everything I want is.” He leaned over, kissing her cheek quickly before darting out of the SUV and up the steps, taking them two at a time. He frowned as he noted the lights were off in the living room as he barreled through it, ripping open the closet door. He pulled out the medium-sized cooler at the bottom, scooping the couple loose items that tumbled out and tossing them back inside the door before closing it with his hip. He opened it to confirm that he and his dad hadn’t left it dirty the last time they used it (thankfully they hadn’t), and made his way toward the kitchen. He made a pit stop at the other hall closet to grab a couple towels, then once in the kitchen, popped open a couple of cabinets. He snagged a tall metal canister that he tossed in a paper bag from under the sink, and a pair of ceramic mugs. From under the sink, he grabbed a couple of the… ‘fancier’ candles, and stacked everything neatly in the bottom of the aforementioned cooler, using one of the towels as a buffer to keep everything from sliding around, and tossing the second on top. He ran the impromptu list through his head, praying he wasn’t forgetting anything. As he locked the door to their condo, he frowned again, and fired off a short text to his dad, a little concerned. His dad was usually home by now, and not one to really go out without a reason. Maybe he just went to grab a pizza or something. The young wolf shrugged as the lock clicked into place, and scooped the cooler back into his arms, and made his way back down the steps, albeit more carefully than he’d ascended them. After dumping the cooler in the back, he hopped back into the driver’s seat, clicked his seatbelt, and pulled off the curb. He looked over to the pretty chipmunk beside him, who smiled at him, but her eyes seemed a little unfocused.
“Sorry about that, I wanted to hurry up and grab the stuff before I could forget anything I wanted to bring. You doing ok?” He pressed gently, as she turned to gaze back at the road ahead of them.
“Oh uh- yeah, I’m fine, I just don’t get why my dad is being so– I guess ‘different’– with you.” She chewed at the corner of her lip with a frown. “I don’t think I’ve ever given him a reason to believe I don’t think things through, and I’m nowhere near as wild as the twins or Bianca were. It’s not like Bianca was sleeping with all of them or anything, but I swear she had like 8 boyfriends her senior year… Ugh! I’ve just never seen him like this!” She spat out, her paw squeezing the edge of the center console. Llyulf reached out and placed his paw on top of hers, while the other remained safely on the wheel.
“Well— how many third dates have you gone on?” he asked, receiving a shrug in response, followed by her shaking her head slowly.
“C’mon, Leo, you don't think he thinks we're gonna-? No offense, I like you Leo, a lot, but I'm not ready for anything like that yet.”
“No offense taken, but have you ever talked to your dad about it?” He shot back, chuckling. “He probably thinks it's normal for us teenagers nowadays to be at third base by the third date.” His nonchalance was met with deafening silence, and he flicked his eyes over to his passenger, finding Holly staring at him with her mouth slightly ajar. “Yes?” He teased gently. Her mouth shut and she pursed her lips before she finally spoke again.
“Golf. He likes golf. And I don’t care if you’re driving, I'll slap you if you resort to golf innuendos next.” A smirk snuck onto the wolf’s face.
“So no birdies telling secrets?” The deadpan stare he saw on the chipmunk’s face was worth whatever she planned to dish out.
“You know what? No, just no, that was so bad it doesn’t even deserve a slap. Gonna have to tell Becca you already got yourself fired from boyfriend duty already. And here I thought, if you were brave, you’d have gone with something more along the lines of balls in holes. Drivers, putters, playing my back nine–”
“Holly! What a filthy mind, you're liable to give me a stroke!” Leo exclaimed with mock aghast, barely flinching at the light smack he received, before his chuckle burst into full on laughter.
“Laugh it up, the next time you leave your jacket behind, you soooo aren't getting it back.” she warned, though her huff and crossed arms as she sat back in the seat were at odds with the smirk that refused to abandon her face.
*******
Dover, NH - Cuatro’s Cantina
Even though he was pretty confident the night was still going to go well, Leo couldn’t deny still wishing they could’ve sat down at Cuatro’s like he’d originally planned. He tipped the mariachi band to come over and play for them while they waited for the to-go order, which Holly really seemed to enjoy. He had gotten a funny look from the host, and Holly for that matter, when he handed the paper bag with the thermos in it over to the armadillo waiter that took the order, and whispered in his ear. Thankfully, the waiter nodded, and accepted the bag without complaint. It wasn’t long before the waiter had returned with two paper bags, the original Leo had given him, and the other containing all of the components for their street tacos in sealed containers, so they could construct the tacos themselves at their leisure. One swipe of his card later, and the couple was on their way back to the SUV. Leo wrapped the bags in the extra towel he’d brought to act as additional insulation, and stowed the bundle in the cooler on the floor behind his seat. Leo had to give Holly some credit. For as much as she had eyed the bag he’d brought into the restaurant, she hadn’t asked about it, seemingly content to let it remain a surprise until he revealed it. She laced her digits with those on his free paw and leaned against his shoulder as they started the drive back into Marblecliff.
*******
Christian Shore, NH - Giacomo Estate
Llyulf chuckled to himself as he followed Holly down the path toward the mostly abandoned dock. Nicolo had been quite confused when they returned just shy of 6:30. Leo’s explanation as Holly went upstairs to change out of her dress into something a little warmer had been met at first with a blank stare from her father, then a shrug as the chipmunk male wandered off, presumably to his study, muttering. Holly’s mother, on the other hand, had voiced tentative approval, though she warned that if it got too cold, the pair should come in and sit by the fire. She’d also graciously let Leo borrow a stick lighter, since he realized he forgot to grab one from home. He'd just tossed it into the cooler right as Holly came back down into the kitchen.
The glow of the full moon beaming down from the crystal clear sky fringed Holly’s hair in silver as she carefully navigated the stepping stone path. She’d kept her jacket, but traded her skirt for a pair of comfy looking sweatpants. He tried with middling success to split his attention between where she placed her feet, and the slight sway of her hips as she moved, only stumbling once from catching the outside edge of one of the stones. He managed to keep his feet pretty easily though, and was glad to set down the cooler on the end of the dock once they reached it. The dock itself didn’t look like anything special, very clearly lacking any recent use, but at least it still felt solid. There were no real creaks from the boards as they moved over them, and the railings seemed sturdy. Rolling his neck, he knelt beside the cooler, pausing before he opened it. Holly was looking out over the water, slightly bent at the waist, leaning against the railing. The night was still, no breeze disturbed them, and the only sound they could hear in the crisp air came from the water lapping against the pilings.
“You ok, gorgeous?” Leo asked as she turned, her paws coming up to push back her hair. She didn’t answer immediately, so he didn’t press. He pulled out the two towels, unwrapping the food and returning it back in the cooler while he set everything else up. He folded each one, and laid them out next to each other, taking a seat and patting the one next to him. She smiled softly as she took the offered seat, and leaned against him as he pulled out the candles. He lit them with the borrowed lighter, a muted popping crackle issuing from the wooden wicks.
“I was just thinking, I wish we still used this dock,” she said softly, as Leo began to pull out the containers and boxes containing the sustenance for their evening. Setting a pair of the cheap styrofoam platters he’d picked up at the gas station on the way back in front of him, he laid out the small tortillas and began doling out some of the meat into them as she continued. “Daddy used to have a boat he docked here. When we were little, he’d take the whole family up and down the river. There was a fish market we would stop at sometimes, on our way back, to pick up whatever fresh catch they'd had that day.” She trailed off a little as he handed her her tray, and the fresh pico de gallo and peppers he knew he wouldn't use. He took some of the pre-cut lime wedges and squeezed them over his three tacos, one chorizo, one shredded chicken, and one finely chopped steak. His were pretty monotone, just meat, seasoned rice, beans and queso. He looked over at Holly’s, which were much more colorful, the chipmunk having partaken in the pico, peppers and fresh crema.
“That sounds like it was a lot of fun for everyone. Want one of these before I close everything back up to keep the heat in?” The wolf asked, offering one of the limes. She nodded, and he went to work adding the sweet acidic dribble over each of her mounds of taco filling. “So did the boat break down or something?”
“No, we ended up selling it.” Holly lamented softly, shaking her head. “It’s– it’s kind of a long story.” Leo kissed the top of her head, before pulling out the mugs he’d packed earlier, and pulled the thermos from the paper bag. It immediately drew the chipmunk’s gaze, and he grinned as he gave the canister a vigorous shake, then unscrewed the top, steam immediately roiling from its opening.
“Well, I think this might give us enough time, if you’re willing to share.” The wolf grinned, pouring the frothy liquid into each of the mugs, and passing one off to Holly. She wrapped her paws around either side of the mug, sniffing at it before taking a careful sip. Her eyes widened, and she took another small sip, before setting the mug down next to her tray.
“Oh wow– that’s got a little kick to it. Is this what actual Mexican hot chocolate is like?” She inquired, licking her lips.
“Yeah, and it's a really good one too,” the wolf affirmed with a nod, sipping at his own mug. “I don’t generally like spicy things, but the little hint of heat in the richness of the chocolate really works for me.” He scooped up one of his tacos, folding it deftly and taking a bite. It tasted just as great as he remembered from when he sampled the restaurant, if a bit chilled this time. The bit of lime helped keep everything juicy, at least. “So– what happened?”
“Why-” she started, looking down at her own food. “It’s probably better that we eat first, don’t you think? If the thermos really is full of that hot chocolate, I think it’ll keep us plenty warm for a while after. The food, not so much.” She carefully picked up one of her fully loaded tortillas, pinching it in the back to try and keep the stuffing from escaping. She took a bite, and Leo happily watched her eyes widen as she made a sound almost akin to a moan…
*******
Up at the house, in the kitchen, Lenora stood at the window beside her husband, looking out past the wrought-iron fence, down to the flickering light and shadows that she knew were the forms of her daughter and the young wolf, Leo. She liked the boy. He was polite, and cute enough she’d have probably turned her head for a second glance herself, back in her schoolgirl days. More than that, he’d brought around a livelier, more present side of Holly she hadn’t seen in a while. These last couple years, Holly had set herself so hard to work, both in classes and at the restaurant, Lenora had only really gotten to spend time with her on Sundays, during Mass. As soon as it was over, poof, off Holly was again, back to her grind. She admired her youngest’s dedication, and she knew why she worked so hard. Lenora knew all about Holly’s desire to see the whole of Europe, if she could, and that Holly wanted to do it herself, without the family’s money. Even these last few weeks, Holly hadn’t wavered, but now she had a new spark of light behind her eyes. A spark like when she’d discovered her love of opera, or sculpture. Or when she’d dived head first into foreign languages, absorbing them like an insatiable sponge. What Lenora liked most though, was that Holly had been spending a little extra time in the kitchen with her recently just– talking. Lenora looked over at Nicolo, frowning.
“Nico, mio amato, why must you torment the poor boy? He has been good to Holly so far, no?”
“Carissima,” Nicolo kept his eyes on the dock as he answered, “I just don’t want to see Holly mixed up with another boy like-” He was silenced by a loud smack as Lenora’s paw met the countertop.
“Oh that’s nonsense, Nico, and we both know it. We have an intelligent daughter. She can tell the difference. She barely agreed to go to the dance with that badger boy after weeks of pestering, and in minutes Leo already had her attention! You don’t think there is a reason for that?”
“She has never been one to date, either,” Nicolo countered. “You know Holly feels everything harder, Lenora. Remember when Claudio and Helena died? Holly was too young to really know them. Not like we did. But somehow, she almost took their deaths harder than any of us, except Mamma Rosa and the twins. And Claudio was my brother. I’d rather irritate Holly trying to vet this wolf than see her crushed by a boy who just wants a quick romp. Is that so wrong?” The chipmunk matron’s response started with a deadpan look and silence.
“Sei cieco, Nicolo? He is sitting out in the cold just to spend more time with our daughter, because you couldn’t just let them sit down in a restaurant. Holly is our child, but she is an adult already. If they really wanted to, they wouldn’t need to ask for our permission. She has her car, they could meet up anywhere. Leo is going out of his way to play by your rules, and I think he might still be beating you at your own game. You were the reason they came back so early from their last date too, weren’t you?”
“What of it? They had plenty of time that day, and you even invited him to have dinner with us, so they still got to be together some more. I don’t see the problem.”
“The problem?” Lenora shot back. “The problem is Leo and Holly were supposed to sit down with his father that night, not us. Why do you think I was surprised when you said Holly would be home for dinner?” Nicolo tilted his head and frowned.
“But the boy didn’t say anything about-”
“Of course he didn’t!” Lenora’s exasperation leaked out in her voice, and in the increasing movement of her paws. “Because he’s not just trying to get under our daughter’s tail. He did it for you. If all he wanted was a ‘quick romp’, why do you think he is trying so hard to please you?” She took in a deep breath, paused, and let it out slowly. “I– Sorry, dear, I just– I love the changes I have seen in Holly these past few weeks. She’s spent more time out of her room, and there is a little extra bounce in her step. Leo seems like a good boy, and is going out of his way for you. Do you really think he’s playing that long of a con?” The chipmunk male sighed, rubbing his eyes and squeezing the bridge of his nose with a paw. He didn’t answer at first, letting the question hang in the air.
“You’re right, you’re right. He does seem like a respectful young man, and I have to admit, he’s surprised me with how willing he’s been to follow my rules.” He took his wife’s paw and pulled her close, kissing her forehead, then her lips. “I’ll let them be, for now. Holly is a smart girl. I’m sure we can trust her to let us know if anything is amiss. I am going to go read, I will see you in bed, amore mio” He turned, placed a light kiss on her temple and began making for his study.
*******
Nicolo shut the door behind him, and sighed. His wife was right, and he honestly wasn’t that loathe to admit it. Protecting his family was his job, though. All in all, the boy had been good to Holly thus far, and he didn’t seem to be affecting her work ethic or studies in any way. The chipmunk walked around his desk, took a seat in his high backed chair, and picked up the metal frame of the small family portrait on his desk. He looked at his youngest daughter, barely a teen in the photo, before letting it and his paws fall into his lap, tilting back to stare at the ceiling. The look he saw on the wolf’s face whenever Leo was looking at Holly was one Nico was quite familiar with. Either Leo had a career waiting for him in Hollywood, or he genuinely was smitten with Holly. But that didn’t make the boy pure, nor virtuous. Nicolo knew that as well as anyone. Life had its own way of testing people. The boy’s colors would show, for better or ill.
Fine. I’ll let them be. Sure, we can trust her. Oh, but if he hurts her– well. There were plenty of ways to ensure he learns a lesson from his folly. Speaking of which… He looked back at the picture in the frame before returning it to its precise spot on the desk. Leaning forward, he pulled out a phone from his desk, tapped out a number. He had someone to find.
*******
Llyulf leaned against one of the pilings, taking a sip of his hot chocolate. His free arm wrapped around Holly’s shoulders as she sat in front of him, her back against his torso, head right over his sternum, paws cupped around the steaming mug he’d just topped off for her. The food was gone, the scraps tossed in the cooler, but the wolf wasn’t ready to leave. They still had another couple mugs worth of cocoa in the thermos, and as long as Holly was comfortable, Leo was going to enjoy every minute he could hold her in his arms. He nuzzled into the top of her head, humming contentedly as he took a deep breath in, and sent a warm wash of air across her scalp on his exhale.
“So, you said this old dock had a story?” He inquired softly, his muzzle still buried in her hair. She wiggled a little in his embrace, before taking another sip from her cup, her breath puffing out a faint cloud in front of her.
“Well, I kinda already told you how we used to use the boat, just not why we stopped,” she began slowly. “I was still pretty little, five or six I think. That would put the twins at eight or nine at most? They’d been living with us for about a year at that point I guess, so I was probably six. We were coming back– I remember we weren’t too far from home. We were still pretty close to the middle of the river though. I didn't get to see what it was, I was just sitting with Mamma, but something went speeding past us. Daddy swerved, and Anna– she liked sitting on the side of the boat.” Holly shuddered, and she took a sip of the steaming mixture in her cup, but the sound in her voice as she continued told Leo it wasn't from the cold. “She screamed, and it stopped so fast. I didn't know what to do, I just grabbed onto Mamma and didn't let go. There was a lot of yelling. I found out more about what happened later.” She paused, finishing off her cup, and Leo quickly refilled it. As he wrapped his arm back around her, she continued. “Apparently Anna had fiddled with the straps on her life vest and loosened them. Mamma had always made sure we had them on right and secured them herself before we were allowed on. But when she fell, the vest came off, and she panicked. Dad whipped the boat around, and Luca dove in after her. It wasn’t like she didn’t know how to swim, but between the wake of the boat and her panic setting in, she had issues staying above water. Either way, once they got her back on the boat, we sped home, and— that was the last time we went out on the boat as a family.” She looked out over the water, even though he couldn’t follow her gaze, it was pretty obvious. They sat quietly for a little while, just sipping on their cocoa, before she spoke up again. “Anna was terrified of the water for years after that. Since she was staying behind, Mamma was staying behind, and Mamma was the main reason Dad had apparently bought the boat in the first place. We went out for one more trip, Daddy, Luca and me, but– it just wasn’t the same, and the boat was sold the next week. After that, we never really came back out here.” Holly sighed as she trailed off.
“Wow, that's definitely a little wild… you said Anna was terrified for years, did she finally get over it?” the wolf asked.
“Oh yeah, she’s mostly fine now.” Holly explained. “She still isn't keen on larger bodies of water, but she isn't afraid of pools and the like anymore. She got over those reasonably quickly. But she really hates boats, and is not a huge fan of the ocean. A couple years ago the family floated the idea of a cruise, and she shut that down really fast. I don't really resent her for it– but I’m sure it would’ve been cool,” the chipmunk grumbled.
“When it comes to trauma, logic just doesn't compete sometimes,” the wolf said quietly. “Cruises are a lot of fun though, and I think you’d enjoy it. Well, I say cruises, I’ve only been on one Caribbean trip. Totally worth doing though. I definitely want to go on another.”
“They are pricey, but I’ve had my eye on Mediterranean cruises. Maybe one day…” Holly trailed off, then tilted her head back and looked up at him. She grinned and reached up to gently boop Llyulf’s nose. “I didn’t know you had cruised before. What was your favorite part?” His nose twitched under her light touch, and she giggled at the soft huff that she’d have almost missed if not for the cold air making it visible.
“When you grow up next to a port, it’s a lot easier,” he stated. “You don’t have to worry about any extra travel costs except for the cost of the cruise itself, and maybe parking if you can’t get dropped off. As far as what I enjoyed most…” He trailed off as he chewed at the corner of his lip. “Probably just— the water. It's such a vibrant blue, and when you step out of it, you feel like you are stepping out of a bath. It’s clean. Back home- well, where we lived then at least- the water was a greenish color, and cloudy. You couldn’t see more than a couple feet at most. You step out, and you feel grimy, sticky. Down there it’s deceptive, how clear it is. You see the definition on the bottom, like it's only 10 or so feet away, and think you can get there, before you realize it's 30 or 40 feet and you have no chance on the breath you took.” He sighed. “It’s almost surreal, out in deep water, just how incredibly blue it is. Like that color shouldn’t be possible, that it’s something that's just movie magic, but it’s right there in front of you. ” As he spoke, the chipmunk girl in his arms wiggled, settling back down in his embrace. “Well, that and the all-you-can-eat food,” he chuckled softly. They each sipped from their mugs, and listened to the wake of the water against the dock. Leo topped off both of their cups, pouring the last drops from the thermos into his own.
“I guess the timer starts now, doesn’t it?” Holly asked softly. “Ya know, this hot chocolate really did work perfectly. Between the drink, the jacket, and the warm, fuzzy teddy bear behind me,” She paused, and giggled a little as Leo growled softly, though the rumble didn’t last long before a laugh broke through. “I think my nose and the tips of my ears are the only parts of me that feel that cold. I still wish we could’ve had dinner at that little restaurant though, it looked so cute. We have to give it another shot eventually.”
“Oh, most definitely. You are going to get the full experience at some point,” Llyulf agreed. “That is, if your dad ever lets you out for a night again.”
“About that—” Holly extricated herself from the wolf’s embrace, sitting up and turning towards him, but didn’t move away. She met Leo’s eyes, a slightly sour expression on her face. “I think I am going to talk to Mamma, then Dad and I are going to have a talk tomorrow. I get him being protective, but at some point, he is going to have to let us date without these ridiculous time constraints. Asking you to plan around his arbitrary ‘rules’ is already getting old. If you’d planned anything more complicated tonight, or worse, pre-paid for anything— I would have felt terrible. And it’s not like he’s bringing any of this up ahead of time.” Leo reached out and placed his paw over hers.
“Don’t worr-”
“No, Leo,” she cut him off. “Don’t tell me not to worry about it. I may still be living with them, and in school, but I’m also an adult, and I feel like I have proven to be pretty responsible and-” This time it was Leo pressing a digit to her lips to cut her off.
“I agree with you, but as I was going to say, don’t worry, if I had made any plans that would have been too disrupted, I would have at least said something.” He smiled. “I’ve been content playing along with the game for now, but I wouldn’t just roll over if it was something untenable. You are worth jumping through extra hoops, but throwing away money for nothing doesn’t seem like something he’d respect anyway.”
“Either way, I think I have had about enough. If you are gonna turn out to be a jerk like Ryan, I would rather know sooner rather than later.” She rolled to a kneeling position in front him, drained the remains of her mug, grinning as she rested it next to her, resting her paws on her lap. “For some weird reason, I don’t suspect that’s going to be an issue.” Leo shook his head, working himself into a crouch, before similarly draining his own cup. He scooped up hers before standing, and gently placed them both in the cooler holding the remnants of their night.
“I think not. You deserve better than that. Hell, pretty sure you deserve better than me, as it is.” Llyulf said with a laugh, turning to offer his paw to help her to her feet. As it turned out though, she didn’t need the assist. With a little rock, he watched her roll back onto her toes, standing with ease. She grabbed his paw anyway, pulling herself to his torso, and wrapping him in a hug.
“I don’t know what else I could ask for, honestly. You are very sweet, smart, and have the tolerance of a saint to put up with so much from my family already.” She moved her arms up to encircle his neck, and buried her face into the fur in his neck, nuzzling deeper– oh, n-ack! The wolf clenched his jaw and sucked in a gasp between his teeth as her nose made it past the barrier of his fur and pressed to the warm flesh underneath.
“H-Holly!” He protested. The wolf’s body tensed, but didn’t push her away, instead holding her tight to him while he waited for the goosebumps to subside, as her snickers at least sent a little warmth washing over the spot her little cold nose had pressed into. “You weren’t kidding, your nose is freezing.” When he started to relax, he felt her lips kiss the same spot, simultaneously warming it, and his cheeks. “Er— to be fair, though, I only have had to put up with your dad’s antics. Your mom has been wonderful, and her lasagna is to die for.”
“Hmmm, I guess you’re right,” Holly murmured. “No one can help loving Mamma.” She kissed along the line of his jaw, stretched up to kiss his lips softly, then his nose. “Oh! Your nose is pretty cold too. Why don’t we head back up to the house? I am sure Mamma has kept the fire going, and you can warm up properly before you head home.” Leo nodded, finally, albeit reluctantly, releasing her, and picked up the towels they’d been sitting on. He stuffed it into the cooler with all the other items, snagged the handles, and started up the path, with Holly’s arm linked with his own.
“You know, I wouldn’t mind having another picnic or something at the dock sometime,” the wolf mused. “It was pretty nice, and I think it would be cool on a spring day or something.”
“That sounds really nice, actually. Maybe if we spend more time out here, Mamma might convince Dad to get another small boat, since they’ll have an empty nest soon enough. I'm sure she’d love to go back out again.” Holly lightly bumped her hip into Leo’s, and he returned it in kind with a chuckle.
She opened the door for him, and they both hurried into the welcoming warmth, and as she'd promised, flames crackled in the fireplace in the sitting room just off the kitchen. Placing the cooler down by the door, Llyulf followed Holly over to the hearth, taking a seat on the floor facing the fire, while she sat closer to the flames, on the stone. The wolf rested his forearms on his knees, and could feel a slight tingling in his nose and the tips of his paws and ears as the heat worked its way through the chill. He watched her eyes almost glow in the otherwise dimly lit room amid the wavering golden red wash from the dancing light she stared into with the softest of smiles. The silver glow of the moonlight in her curls from before was gone, instead almost gilded by the firelight. A thought flitted up from the recesses of the wolf’s mind, and spilled out of his lips before he had a chance to overthink it.
“Holly, will you go to prom with me?” He saw her start, blinking quickly at the sound of his voice, and the words just kept coming. “I know your last dance didn't go well, and it's not for a few months, so it might be too soon to ask, I've never asked anyone before, I wasn't even sure I would even go to prom before we met, but if I do, I would love it to be with you. And… er– maybe we can both at least have one good dance. You might have been to one before the Formal, but I’ve never really wanted to go to one before. Well, till now.” He trailed off as he looked up at her, seeing the initial surprise now gone, the corner of her lips twitching upward.
“Considering I got ditched by my date at my first high school dance, and I walked out into the cold trying to escape, regretting ever going to one in the first place?” She threw out, raising her eyebrow. It didn’t stay up long though, quickly pushed away by a grin. “Or should I consider that someone, not saying who, came out, and kept me warm that night, sought me out after, and I have now followed him into the cold on dates, not once, but twice, voluntarily, and he has kept me warm, and wanting more, both times. I think, if that someone is asking me to his prom—” She let the words hang before slipping off the hearth and closing the distance between them, and taking both his paws and pulling him towards her, so the wolf was mirroring her, sitting on his ankles. She scooted even closer, so his knees fell to either side of hers. “C’mon, one more time, ask me again,” she whispered with a giggle. He gave her paws a squeeze.
“Will you go to prom with me, Hol—”
“Of course I will!” Well. He almost got it fully out before she threw her arms around him and buried her muzzle into his neck, this time, thankfully, without an icy nose. And so he held her, until long after his legs had gone numb, and he knew once he stood, walking would be difficult for a bit. But that was Later Leo’s problem. The only thing he needed to worry about right now, was not letting go of the beauty in his arms.
*******
Marblecliff, NH - Kalayo Residence
Llyulf took the steps up to the condo with a bit of extra spring. He was riding high again, and this time, he had at least remembered his jacket, though he had it over his arm already. Holly had said yes, and he hadn’t even planned on asking tonight. He’d barely thought about prom, but he had to admit, it was kinda nice not having to worry about it. He’d just abstained at his last school, and he pretty much assumed he would be sitting it out again. He wasn’t much of a dancer, and asking a random girl didn’t sound like a good time, and willing though she might be, he wouldn't have given Midori another shot to ditch him, even if he wasn’t dating Holly.
As he reached his landing, he fished his key back out of his pocket, grumbling a bit as he balanced the cooler on his hip. Sliding his key into the door, he pushed, rolling his eyes when the door didn’t budge. He leaned his shoulder into it and with a pop and a creak, the door acquiesced to his demand. Leo barely made it across the threshold before he froze in place, frowning at the snoring he heard from the living room. He pushed the door shut, using his hip to give it the little extra ‘bump’ it needed to engage, and slid the deadbolt into position. Peeking around the corner, the sight that awaited him was, well, unexpected? Niall was sprawled on the couch, head resting on one arm, the other dangling off the edge with the back of his paw on the floor. He was still fully dressed in a collared shirt and jeans, and a tall can of– Llyulf’s nose wrinkled as he caught a whiff of just what was in that can, ugh– light beer, was sideways on the coaster on the table, crushed from the side. The younger wolf slipped into the kitchen, placing the cooler in the corner as quietly as he could. He would just have to deal with it in the morning. He didn’t want to risk waking his dad. He popped open the fridge, wincing as the door squeaked in protest. After confirming the snores continued, he peeked inside, snagging a water bottle off the bottom shelf. He raised an eyebrow as his gaze fell on the six pack of tall cans with five empty rings next to the pack of water, one he was pretty sure wasn’t there last night. Must have been where he was when I came home. Leo closed the door quickly on his paw, trying to keep the squeak at bay, using his digits to muffle the impact of the door, before withdrawing his paw to let the door seal. As he made his way down the hall to his room, Leo felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t spent much time with his father in recent weeks. When he wasn’t out with Holly, he was either working on school, or projects for cash. He’d thrown a few applications out at a couple of the local colleges, but he knew Niall wasn’t going to be able to afford sending him off to college, so he was trying to develop a semblance of a nest egg. And this had been the first Valentine’s since they moved, and only the second since the divorce was finalized. He probably shouldn’t have been all that surprised that it wouldn’t be the best time for a wolf who kicked back one or two beers just to relax each night. Still, it definitely wasn’t normal to see his father passed out. He should probably see about doing something with his dad soon. What he would do would need to wait for another day, though. Llyulf took care of his nightly routine, skipping the shower to minimize the noise. Before heading back into his room, he killed the light in the living room with the switch closest to the hall, and debated looking for a throw to toss over his dad. Probably best not to, he might get too hot. Don’t want it to wake him up either, he probably needs the rest.
When he crawled into his own bed, Leo stared at the darkness where his ceiling would be. It wasn’t late, not for him at least, but it had been a day, and his body had already made clear ‘late’ wasn’t an option tonight. Still, he couldn’t quite turn off his mind. Like a video on a loop, he kept seeing Holly, wreathed in silver, then in reddish gold. Reaching above his head, he snagged his phone, he spun it in his fingers a few times, before tapping the home button. His retinas were seared by the flash of light as the screen flared to life, forcing his eyes shut in an instant. He squinted after giving them a moment to recover somewhat, and dragged the brightness slider down from maximum, to almost minimum. He could still see the negative image of his lockscreen, floating in the air, but managed to navigate to his texts. He tapped out a message, deleted it, tapped out another, and stared at it. Finally, he let the phone and his paws drop to his chest with a sigh. He took a deep breath in, releasing it slowly. Then he deleted that too, before tapping away yet again.
[Tonight was better than I could have
possibly imagined. Even if we spent it
mostly at your place, it was absolutely
worth it just to hold you]
[Sleep well, and sweet dreams, beautiful]
Messages sent, he tossed his phone back onto the headboard, and closed his eyes. Turning over onto his side, a faint afterimage remained painted on the backs of his eyelids. Words unsaid, lingering, until the image faded into the inky blackness, and the young wolf’s mind finally sank into darkness behind it.
katarinalin
