Copyright © 2020 Kaizer Wolf

Innocent Devil's Harem | Chapter 14-3: Avoiding an Awkward Silence

I spoke again, desperate to not let an awkward silence fall over us. “Can I get you anything to eat? I sort of made enough to feed a small army. There’s pineapple, oranges, and cottage cheese, or you could have pancakes. Or eggs, if you want.”

She gave me a small smile. “Fruit sounds nice,” she agreed, only to look away abruptly when I got up, her face flushed when she focused on my waist.

In my haste to get breakfast for her, I’d sort of forgotten I’d reacted pretty strongly to her.

Although the distraction helped me cool off a little, and by the time I had cottage cheese and fruit in a bowl, I was presentable again. I then went ahead and grabbed a couple of pancakes, along with some more eggs, to have something to poke at while she ate.

When I sat back down, she seemed more relaxed.

“So how did you sleep?” she asked casually, likewise seeming to want to try to dispel the lingering awkwardness.

I scoffed, keeping my eyes on my food. “I didn’t sleep.”

She abruptly looked at me in concern. “You didn’t sleep?” she repeated. “Are you going to be okay? I’m up now for the day, so you can get some rest if you need to.”

I shrugged. “I probably will in a little while. I just couldn’t stop myself from keeping an eye out for danger all night, even though I know things are probably safe now.” I sighed, glancing up at her. “I’ll probably end up staying awake tonight too. Or at least sleeping downstairs on the couch so that I’m closer to the front and back doors.”

She frowned. “Is it also because of Nick?” she asked quietly. “Are you going to wait until he leaves before you go to sleep?”

I glanced away as I thought about that, a little shocked that she’d called him ‘Nick’ twice now, instead of Nicholas.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my tone becoming more hesitant. “He said he was going to drop the case. But he does like you,” I added quietly. “Said so when I accused him of being involved in everything that happened last night.”

Serenity took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Kai, I realize now that it kind of looks like I brought him home for a date, but I just met the guy.” She lowered her voice, as if she was afraid he’d overhear from the living room. “I just kind of wanted to know how much he knew about the case.”

My eyes widened slightly. “Did you know it was me?” I asked seriously, recalling what Gabriella had considered previously, regarding reasons why Serenity might have brought Nick over.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I guess I just wondered deep down if you might be involved, especially since the three original cases were all ones that I’d told you about. Not to mention that Gabriella had all those weird questions when I brought her home, like questions about your diet and such. Like, who seriously asks if someone eats potatoes? And not casually, but more like, ‘Are they against it like I’m against eating meat?’”

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I nodded, not really surprised in hindsight that she’d noticed that.

Serenity sighed. “But I suppose I was kind of in denial at the same time, figuring that having Nick meet you would ensure there was no suspicion when he saw that you were just a normal guy.” She grimaced, focusing on me more intently. “But I really messed up. When he started talking about the other case, that no one knew was related, things just lined up so perfectly, and suddenly all I could think about was how depressed you got when you were nine.” She shook her head again. “I barely kept it together when it hit me. And I was even more distressed when I realized you fit his target age group perfectly. But then there was that crazy description, and I wasn’t sure what to think, because you obviously don’t look like that.”

“Normally,” I agreed quietly.

She gave me a weak smile, sighing again. “I’m sorry. I was trying to help, though now I’m not even sure what my goal was. Maybe I was just trying to prove to myself that it couldn’t be you, hoping the evidence was leading Nick to some middle-aged guy or something, not you…” She grimaced.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I’ll try not to get involved again. It’s just hard knowing that someone’s going to die, and I could stop it.”

She shook her head. “I’m thankful you saved Gabriella,” she admitted. She then gave me a warm look. “And thankful that you saved me too,” she added, her tone more meaningful. She glanced away. “And I realize killing was your only option. Especially if you caught them in the act. I don’t blame you for any of that, even if the law might not see it the same way.”

I tried to lighten the tone. “Well, that’s good. Would be awkward if my own best friend turned me in.”

She smirked a little, knowing from my playful tone that I was teasing, but also almost seeming to like that I’d referred to her as my ‘best friend’ even though she should know she was quite literally my only friend.

Her grin then widened, her own tone becoming a little haughty. “I don’t know. Still could. Might hold it over your head for a while to make you do what I want,” she added, a mischievous look in her eye.

Instantly, my body shifted, causing her to yank back in her seat in alarm from the abrupt change.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “I’m sorry.” She then frowned. “Kai…” She paused, her brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean it like that…” she said hesitantly, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment as it looked like she started second-guessing what my assumption was.

But she was correct.

I wasn’t trying to take it in an inappropriate manner, but I did, nonetheless.

I stared at my partially eaten pancakes as I replied. “It’s fine,” I whispered, my tone becoming a bit too serious. “And besides, I already pretty much do what you want anyway, so nothing different there.” Which was objectively true, and had been for a long time now.

Serenity swallowed audibly, trying to clear her throat as she changed subjects. “S-So, I’m not sure how to ask this, but I was kind of wondering about the blood situation.”

I ducked my head, feeling ashamed all over again.

“Hey,” she said gently, reaching her hand out toward me on the table. “I still love you, no matter what. I just want to know. I had no idea you needed it.”

“I don’t usually,” I admitted quietly, unable to meet her gaze. “Yesterday morning was the first time I’d ever felt the urge. First time I’d ever really gotten hurt either.”

Serenity immediately straightened in her seat, withdrawing her hand. “Wait, what?” she said in alarm. “Yesterday morning? Not last night? Or the previous night?”

I finally glanced up at her. “The guy who kidnapped Gabriella had an accomplice. He came looking for her in the morning after you left for work. Dressed like a cop. Might really have been a cop too. I was the one who killed the deer, to hide his blood.”

She abruptly leaned forward, resting her forehead in her hands while staring down at the table. “Oh shit, Kai. I had no idea.” She shook her head against her hands. “Shit.” She shook her head a second time. “Shit, shit, shit.”

Copyright © 2020 Kaizer Wolf