Fighting With Him

Chapter 8

Stood over the hob I watch the water bubble and the white of my egg gets pushed around the pan. The toast pops out of the toaster so I fish the poached eggs out and place them on top of the warm bread, but when I look at my meal I realise that I don’t have an appetite. I’m too nervous.

Today is my first session with Mrs Miller and although I know that she is lovely I am still scared. What if she ends up not liking me, or she tries to instruct me but I just can’t do what is needed, or be what is required to fill this particular position. I prod at the yoke of my egg with a fork and the yellow liquids trickles down to the white of the plate, I still don’t want to eat it.

“Morning.” I jump slightly as I hadn’t heard Liam leave his room.

“Hi. You okay?” It is obvious to see that he has just woken as his hair is stuck up in all directions and he’s only wearing a pair of loose shorts. He heads straight for the kettle and pours a large portion of coffee granules into a mug. “Had a late night.” He grumbles. “You?”

“Little nervous but okay.” I  can’t help but wonder why he had a late night, he wasn’t in when I got back from lunch and  I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room, to be honest I didn’t ever hear him come back in.  I want to ask him about it but I’m not his keeper. He takes the seat opposite me and stirs the contents of his mug, the strong scent of coffee, however doesn’t completely mask the smell of alcohol. “Are you… hungover?” I can’t help myself, the question slips out without my consent.

“Yes and I’m never drinking again.” He says placing his forehead against the table. For a shifter to be drunk they have to make the conscious decision to drink a lot, and I mean a lot, a bottle of wine for instance isn’t going to cut it, you’re going to need a few.

“That’s what everyone says.” I get back up from the table and throw away the food I just made along with all thoughts of telling him how I feel, what a waste. I straighten my linen trousers, I had picked an outfit that I hoped was appropriate for Alpha female training but was also easy to get into, comfy but smart beige trousers and a white halter neck with a cardigan. Walking back to Liam I ruffle his hair without really thinking about the action. “Get some coke, the sugar will do you good.” I pull my hand away and he plucks it out of the air with his own without even looking up.

“Are we okay?” He mumbles into the table.

“We will be.” I state. “But we need to do things together, hang out, talk...”

He raises his head to look at me. “Sit and talk to me.”

“Can’t, I’m meeting your mum in like ten minutes.”

“Crap! He jumps to his feet. “I’m supposed to come with you; she wants to talk to both of us.” He is gone in an instant but doesn’t close his bedroom door so as I tidy up the kitchen I can hear the banging of draws and Liam’s grumpy mumbling and surprisingly it brings a smile to my face.

Liam’s mum is waiting for us in the same room as we had lunch the other day. The big room is full of light and the scent of roses. Mrs Miller is in the same chair as she was the last time I saw her so I take the same one that I had sat in too. Liam once again takes the one between us. Penny takes in Liam’s appearance and looks at her son disapprovingly, I have no doubt she can smell him. “Rough night?” He just nods his head. “And yet Scarlett here looks fresh as a daisy. Good morning dear.” She beams at me and I smile back.

“Good morning Mrs…” She frowns. “Penny.”

“Scarlett wasn’t with me.” Penny frowns again.

“Oh.” She readjusts her position in her chair before changing the subject. “So the three of us are going to have a little chat and then we are going to shoo Liam away for some girl time. Sound good?” Neither of us say anything but Penny continues on anyway. “I want to talk to you about forced bonding.” Liam groans next to me and I feel my cheeks turn bright red.” She places her balled up hands on the table fingers crossed together elegantly and leans forward. “I figured that this conversation would be better without my husband or my youngest in the room.” She says directly to me, well I am grateful for that… I guess.