Ben waited until the light in his parents' room clicked off and set his watch for five minutes. Three minutes later his father was snoring. By the time the alarm chimed, his mother's soft breaths reached his ears as well.
Ben quietly opened his door and tiptoed down the stairs.
Reaching the living room, he smiled.
Dad had left the computer on.
Somehow, Ben had a feeling his dad knew he was getting on the computer at night.
Ben wiggled the mouse to get rid of the screen saver then double clicked the Messenger icon, gently tapping the side of the mouse while he impatiently waited on it to load; he spared a moment to be thankful that they'd gotten rid of dial-up a couple years ago, or else there'd be no way he'd be able to get online without his parents knowing.
His heart hammered as his friends list popped up, and his eyes searched for her username.
Yes!
He pumped his fist into the air. She was online.
He double clicked her name and started typing.
Wildcat86: Hey, Gray. Sup?
GrayGirl78: :D Hi, Wildcat! I was hoping you'd be on tonight.
Ben's heart hammered. She had hoped he'd be on tonight too?
Wildcat86: Oh?
GrayGirl78: I missed you. It's nice to have an adult conversation, you know?
Wildcat86: I missed you too. So, what's going on in Gray's world?
GrayGirl78: I moved back home recently. It's been nice to be around old friends and family again. Oh, and I got my dream job *blissful*
Wildcat86: Hey, good for you! I knew you could do it. You don't give yourself enough credit.
GrayGirl78: Says the man that's met me all of once.
Wildcat86: Touché, Gray, but I like to think I know you pretty well. We've talked at least once a week for over a year now.
GrayGirl78: True. Hey... can I ask you something?
GrayGirl78: You're a guy--you are a guy, right?
Ben snorted but typed back.
Wildcat86: Last I checked. What's up?
GrayGirl78: There's this guy that likes me. Or says he does. I've never seen him that way, but recently...
Ben sat straighter, heart hammering as he waited for the next message.
Wildcat86: Recently??
GrayGirl78: Never mind. It's silly. Anyway, What's going on with you these days?
Wildcat86: Don't change the subject, woman. What's going on? If you can't tell an almost-stranger on the internet, who can you tell--am I right?
His heart hammered, and his gut twisted at the lie, but as far as she knew, they were almost-strangers. She'd talked to 'Wildcat' in ways she'd never talked to 'Benji'.
GrayGirl78: He's younger than me, by a lot. He's barely legal, for goodness' sakes, but I can't get him out of my head. And he knows how to flirt--he knows exactly what to do with that killer smile and those strong arms.
GrayGirl78: Sorry if this is getting weird. I didn't mean it that he 'knows' what to do in a sexual way. I'm not going to mess with somebody that immature, obviously. He's still figuring out who he is, and I'd never take advantage of him.
YOU ARE READING
The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)
Romance*Complete but still subject to edits* Ben Cougar and Eileen Grau have been best friends since they were kids. For the young cougar-shifter, it was love at first sight. For the ostracized Vampire girl, it was good to have a friend--even if he was s...
