“Shadow.”
Grim’s shout and the firm set of his jaw didn’t bode well.
“We need to talk.”
Again? Fuck. I could never seem to catch a break. It was Christmas Eve, and all I wanted was to meet Stefanie and exchange our presents. I’d barely spoken to her over the last week. She was busy with finals. I’d kept my distance like Grim demanded, but it sucked. Missing her was a given. Feeling the dull ache in my chest with her absence? That was unexpected.
“Don’t look so down, kid,” he scolded, closing the door behind us after we entered his office. “I’m not here to give you shit. I know you’ve been doing as I asked.”
Okay. Why was I here then?
“I know you want to see her, and I’m giving you permission.”
“No shit?” I asked, beaming a fat grin.
He snorted at my exuberance. “On one condition. You don’t cross the line. Don’t let your dick call the shots. Feel me?”
Scowling, I was about to get mad a second time about the whole sex talk.
Grim held up a hand. “You need to understand where I’m coming from. I’m not that old that I don’t get how amped up you are or how crazy your hormones are and shit. Just use the right head, that’s all.”
Blinking, it suddenly dawned on me that he was having the same type of conversation a father might have with a son. If I had an old man who gave two shits about me or if I hadn’t bounced around from home to home since I was a baby, maybe that wouldn’t have meant as much as it did right now.
My hand rose and slapped against my chest as a tidal wave of emotion threatened to crash over me. He cared. Grim genuinely wanted the best for me, and he was saying what he felt he needed to because it was important to him. He didn’t want me to screw up because he didn’t want me to experience pain or regret. There were no words for how deeply that affected me. He was the father figure that I never had. Grim and Rael both.
“I won’t mess up,” I choked out, swallowing down the lump that formed in my throat.
He blinked and then wiped the corner of one of his eyes. “Damn contacts are fucking with me.”
Grim didn’t wear contacts.
“Thank you.” My words were spoken right from my heart, and I hoped he could see that I truly appreciated having him in my life.
He dipped his chin in acknowledgment, and I decided not to make him suffer by sticking around or pointing out that he had shed a tear over me. Someday though, I’d bring it up and give him shit—all in good fun. Wait until Rael learned about it.
The stupid smile on my face must have been infectious because Grim smirked.
After a brief shake of his head, he gestured toward the door. “Merry Christmas, kid.”
I took three steps before spinning around and rushing up to him, throwing my arms around his broad shoulders and giving him a hug. “Merry Christmas, Grim.”
His body stiffened for a second and then relaxed, probably shocked that I practically tackled him, which is precisely what I intended. I didn’t turn back to see his expression before I left his office, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if those contacts were giving him trouble again.
Out in the hall, I nearly bumped into Rael.
“Hey, prospect. Got somethin’ for you.” One of his hands wrapped around the back of my neck as he steered me toward the common room.
Most of the club was gathered around, drinking liquor or playing pool. The music wasn’t quite as loud as usual, and I wondered if Rael was up to something. If that was even a thing because Rael was never happier than when he was in the thick of shit and giving someone a hard time.
“The guys all chipped in, and we got you a gift for Christmas.”
Shit. By the look on his face, I was about to be humiliated. “Uh, okay.”
Toad leaned against the wall by the bar and shook his head, already knowing this would be a disaster.
Rael snatched a brightly wrapped package from underneath a short three-foot tree and placed it in my hands. The gleam in his eyes was downright frightening.
“I’m not gonna be exposed to some toxin or something, right?” I asked, carefully ripping the corner of the paper as I stared at the present like it would bite.