The Secrets Of Dragons: Book One

Chapter 22

Elsie Jackson

What a strange two weeks.

I rolled halfway over in my bed; curling up slow and neatly as to not wake the sleeping bear next to me. I smiled to myself thinking how things had panned out over the last few weeks and how differently I was starting to view my life. The bear groaned and I held my breath until he settled. Nick Black was the last person I had in mind when it came to men. Was he attractive? Duh. But I wasn't used to getting attention from men that were out of my league.

His body rose and fell with his deep inhales, and his jet-black hair was crazily spiked all over from his restless sleep. I tried to keep my worry to a minimum. Nothing shouts crazy girlfriend like being obsessively worried over the little things not that far into a budding relationship. Or it was not a relationship. It wasn't like we had talked over that subject at all in our spare time. I really did not think of myself as a perverted type of person, but when it came to the attention Nick had thrown my way, it was hard to say no.

I had to force myself not to giggle as I got up, slid into his t-shirt, and journeyed on my regular routine of finding caffeine in the form of a small black bean. He hadn't moved again and luckily Eddyson was not home for the next couple of days. She preferred to stay with her girlfriend off campus most nights. I leaned over the counter, inhaling the aroma stirring from my mug and looked down at my phone. Strangely, there wasn't a usual morning text from Jay.

Now that I thought about it, I hadn't heard from her in the past couple of days. I turned and leaned against the counter, holding on tightly to my mug as I messaged her.

Hey. Haven't heard from you. Still alive?

Don't be dumb.

Grouch.

Sorry.

You okay?

Yeah.

Movies and snacks later?

Sure. Come whenever.

Bet.

Nick made his grand entrance, the morning sun glinting off his shoulders.

"Good morning." I smiled with my cup in tow.

He hated mornings, but I did not mind. Coming over to me, he wrapped his arms over my shoulders and leaned down to kiss the nape of my neck. "Morning, beautiful."

"There's coffee in the pot, creamer in the fridge."

"I drink it black."

"How ironic." I giggled with my try-hard sarcasm.

He shook his head as he poured himself a cup and quickly took a drink. "Any plans for today?"

"Yeah, actually." I answered between small sips. "I made plans to hang out with Jay later. Movie day."

"Did she say anything about Ryker, by chance?"

"No." Confusion. "Why?"

"He just left me a weird message. We were supposed to work on our cars today, and he cancelled. Didn't really give a reason, so I figured Jay might know."

"Oh, well, no. I'm sorry. Want to come hang out with us instead?" I tried to not seem hopeful.

"Oh, no, baby. It's fine. Go and enjoy your day with Jay and I'll just see you when you get home or something." He smiled and kissed my forehead. "I can always rope Giovanni into helping me anyways."