Chapter Three
The night was clear. The only thing obscuring his view was the cloudy air he expelled from his lungs every time he breathed. The warm air he blew out acclimated to the colder temperature, clearing his view between exhales.
Lucas strummed the guitar. The gentle sound put Jules’ nerves at ease just enough that he could relax on Ladon’s lap.
Jules loved the nights when the whole family spent time sitting on the back porch looking up at the stars. His only issue was the chill. The cold sent shivers through his body and he pulled Ladon’s arms further around him, trying to grab more of his brother’s warmth.
"You okay?" Ladon held him closer, giving Jules more of his body heat.
Vaughan, who sat on the back stoop next to them, handed Jules his coat. Jules smiled and reached out for it, but Vaughan held on when Jules tried to take it. "Why is Ladon the only brother you like?"
"I like you."
"You don't sit on my lap or cuddle."
Jules sighed and stood. He plopped down in Vaughan's lap and let him put the coat around his shoulders before he leaned back against Vaughan's chest. He grabbed Vaughan's arms the same way he had Ladon's and wrapped them around his waist.
"Ha. I got the brother now. Suck on that, Ladon."
"Whatever." Ladon rolled his eyes and looked away. Jules bit his lip and wondered if he had hurt Ladon's feelings. Then Ladon turned and winked at Jules, giving him a small smile. "We're good, J."
Jules smiled and snuggled into Vaughan even more.
Jules had a direct view of Henri, who sat near the front of their little stoop with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap. He had a wrinkle between his eyebrows and he kept glancing at Rocky, looking at him as if he were lunch.
He kept sniffing the air and his eyes had shifted.
Two people couldn’t be more opposite than Henri and Rocky. Henri was the definition if nerdy. Any guy who studies history for fun qualified as one. He had dark hair and glasses. Rocky was a good friend of Garridan’s, which automatically made him a badass in Jules’ opinion. Of course, the tattoos and the leather helped with that status. And the fact that he didn’t say much. Ever. Jules was pretty sure he’d only ever said one thing to him the whole time he’d been lurking around Saint Lakes. Rocky was a dragon shifter so he was tall with big muscles.
Rocky looked even more badass with his eyes all reptilian and his teeth big and scary. In contrast, Henri’s eye were so dark Jules couldn’t see the pupil. If his teeth had dropped, he kept them hidden.
Vaughan must have noticed Jules looking because he whispered, “They’re mates.”
Jules tilted his head so he could whisper in Vaughan’s ear. “Why aren’t they together? Talking.”
“Maybe for the same reason you’re not with your mates.”
Jules rolled his eyes. “I seriously doubt that. And I also wasn’t talking about me.”
“Sassy little human.” Vaughan’s word held an amusement, which gave Jules hope the teasing would continue and Vaughan wouldn’t get all therapeutic on him.
Vaughan only had those two speeds. Serious or annoying ran through him in tandem.
“So do you think we should do something to help?”
“How would you feel if someone helped you with your mates?” Okay, that was a good point.
“Henri asked me out this morning. Maybe I should flirt with Henri and see what Rocky does.” Jules shivered at the thought of pissing Rocky off. “On second thought, that’s a bad idea.”
Vaughan chuckled. “Yep. Why don’t we just butt out?”
“But they’re so…” Jules held out his hands out, trying to demonstrate how far apart they were. “…separated.”
“So are you and your mates.”
Jules put a hand over Vaughan’s mouth. “Not the point.”
Vaughan chuckled again but the sound was muffled. H3 removed Jules’ hand. “I think you should go over to Rocky and tell him you like his hair. That might just piss Henri off enough to get the ball rolling.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Or you can piss Rocky off. You pick.”
Right. Henri it was.
Jules stood and walked over to Rocky. Rocky’s blond eyebrow arched and his big arms folded in front of his chest. “What?”
By the gods, Rocky was one scary shifter. “So, um…your hair is awesome.” It really was. It was shaved on the sides and long on top. He held the long strands back with a band.
Rocky never said a word. Instead, his eyebrow went up even further.
Jules swallowed the lump of fear lodged in his throat. “Um…would you take me for a ride on your motorcycle sometime?”
“No.”
Well, that wasn’t the answer Jules expected. Jules scowled and put his hands on his hips. “Well, you could be less rude. I’m just trying to help you out. I mean, it’s obvious you need it with Henri all the way over there. And through dinner you two wouldn’t even look at each other.”
Rocky grinned. “You’re trying to help?”
“Just work with me here.”
Rocky chuckled. “Work with you. Right.”
“Huh, you’re not so scary.”
“Who thinks I’m scary?”
“Like, anyone with common sense.” Jules put a hand on Rocky’s chest. “Is he looking?”
Rocky grinned. “Yep.”
A roar echoed across the yard and made Jules jump. Jules’ hand left Rocky’s chest and he stiffened. He would recognize that growl anywhere.
Hacen.
A part of him wanted that growl closer. In his ear, maybe. Jules wanted Hacen or Tommy’s arms around him. He wanted to bond with them. The need for them was a constant ache, but if he did that then he’d be giving up his family.
Henri gave him an evil look as he passed by him. He stood in front of Rocky with his hands folded in front of him. “Go make friends with someone else, Jules.”
“Well, I wasn’t trying to make friends with Rocky. I was trying to make you jealous. Friends is just a side benefit.”
Jules sat on Vaughan’s lap again.
“Hacen’s not gonna hurt you. You know that,” Vaughan whispered.
“I don’t know anything.” Jules rested his head against Vaughan’s chest and pulled his arms around again.
“Come on, Jules.”
“Not talking about it.”
“Right. Are you warm enough?" Vaughan’s breath fanning out across the top of Jules’ head, ruffling the strands of his hair.
"Yes."
"You're always cold because you have no fat on your body. You're too thin."
Jules shrugged. There wasn't anything he could do about that. He'd been living with the Somerset's for over a year and he ate all the time. In fact, he was always hungry. "I've always been skinny. And since when is this pick on Jules night."
"I've seen you pick at your food a time or two."
"That was right after I got here. I don't do it anymore. I’m doing a lot better. Mama, tell him.” Jules turned to look at Mother Estelle, who sat in a chair next to Shawn and Gabe.
"Dr. Tucker’s sessions have helped quite a bit." Mother Estelle winked at him. They both knew it wasn’t just seeing a therapist that had helped Jules’ psychosis.
Jules gave her a wink back. “And I have you guys.” How could he explain how it felt to have no one?
He owed her everything. He owed them all actually.
"Just last week you picked at your breakfast," Vaughan pointed out.
"That's because …I don’t want to talk about it.” Jules sighed. If he talked about Hacen and Thomas, it would ruin his night.
Vaughan tightened his arms around Jules. “I think you’re hurting. More than you're letting the rest of us believe and your mates can help. I think they want to. If they didn't they wouldn't still be lurking around town."
Jules winced. "So you just wanted me to sit with you so you could lecture me. Sneaky." He wanted to be pissed but wasn't, so he didn't move away.
"That's only half true." Vaughan lay the side of his cheek against the top of Jules head. "You're the cuddle brother. I like that about you."
"Glad I can be of service."
Vaughan chuckled again. "Yep. You're one of us definitely. You gained the Somerset smartass-ness and it didn't even take you that long. I blame Ladon. You spend the most time with him."
Jules chuckled. "Is your teasing an initiation or something?"
"No. That's Vaughan being annoying." Ladon smirked.
"I like it. I feel included." Jules yawned and snuggled in to Vaughan even more.
He noticed Henri and Rocky talking finally, which made him smile.
His night was complete.