“Stop worrying about them. They know I’m out here. Hell, they sent me.”
Jessica jerked her gaze back to his. “What?” Embarrassment made her cheeks burn, though she doubted they could get any redder than they already were from the cold wind beating them.
“Hey, they were just hoping if they sent someone else, you might be willing to talk since you sure aren’t really confiding in them.” Justin threw his hands in the air.
Jessica exhaled, defeated. It was true. She was going to have to come clean. Soon. Later. Not now. “Look, this is just weird. Let’s go back inside.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“Yes. Please, don’t tell them. I’ll figure something out.”
“You have to ask? Come on, Jess. There are only two people in that room who haven’t known you were lupine for the last seven months. You don’t think we can keep a secret?” He laid a hand over his heart in mock wounded gesture.
True. He had a point.
“Hey, join us for Christmas.”
“What? No. I couldn’t.”
“Why? You have other plans?” Justin narrowed his gaze. “Look, I don’t know what your secrets are, but I do know you don’t have any family, at least not family you are willing to acknowledge. I know you’ve spent every Christmas for the last four years at either Kara’s or Lindsey’s house. I’m just asking you to join a bigger group this year.”
Jessica tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Ever since she’d started growing out the thick brown locks in order to look more sophisticated as a teacher, she’d been in a constant battle with the new bob to keep it out of her eyes. She’d loved her shorter spiky hair for several years.
She wasn’t ready. She’d been ignoring her genes for so long now she couldn’t remember what it had been like to be a wolf. Not that she’d ever shifted. Females didn’t until they mated. But still…
Sensing her hesitation, Justin rambled on. “We’ll all be there. Even Charles is coming home.”
“Your brother? Where’s he been?”
“He went to Texas with his friend Reese Becker to ‘sow their wild oats.’”
Jessica laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I can’t imagine why any of you would have to go somewhere else to sow wild oats. Isn’t that all you do around here?”
“Hardy har har. I have my theories about those two.”
“You think they’re gay?”
He laughed this time, loud and short. “Hell no. Not any more than I think you are. I think they share women.”
“And? There aren’t any around here? They needed to go to Texas to find women?” Jessica furrowed her brow. This family was so complex she couldn’t even begin to understand the dynamics. And why on earth would Charles need to hide that fact? Hell, both his older brothers shared women with other men.
“It’s tough.” Justin turned to stare out across the land and then lifted his gaze to the sky before inhaling a deep breath of the clean air. “I’m only speculating here, of course, but Trevor and I have known each other since we were kids and shared women almost as long.” He turned back to face her. “That’s a hard way to live. Society doesn’t accept it. Even our society finds it a bit unusual. Rare. Well, it was rare until recently.”
Jessica smiled. “I guess so.” Hell, first Justin and his best friend, Trevor, had claimed Kara, and then right on their heels, Justin’s brother Ryan had claimed Lindsey in a similar threesome with Alejandro. There must be something in the water around here.
Justin could surely sense her thoughts as she pondered all this. “Yeah, it’s rare among wolves, but not unheard of. Not sure how all three of us happened to enjoy that way of life. I think Charles was embarrassed. Maybe he didn’t want us to know. Or maybe he thought we would think he was a copycat or something.”
“How are you so sure? Just because he went to Texas with a friend doesn’t mean they’re having sex with every woman they meet.”
“I saw them together, once.” He scrunched his nose, chagrinned. “They were with a woman in the barn. They didn’t know I was there. I slipped back out unnoticed, but there was little doubt.”
“Oooh.” Jessica squeezed her eyes shut, imagining walking in on three people having sex. In the barn.
“Anyway, we should get back inside. Before they cut the cake and play pin the tail on the wolf pup.” Justin flashed a proud grin.
Jessica cringed. There was something just wrong about that.
With a glance back at the perfection of the gorgeous northwestern landscape, Jessica followed Justin back into the house. Right on his heels, she walked straight into the crazy world she was quickly coming to realize she was going to have to own up to.