Gypsy Moon

Chapter Thirty-nine: Lilian

. . . . . . (mid July)

The boy stirred again, finally, when we stopped for breakfast in the morning. He never spoke, just silently obeyed anything he was asked to do. He didn't manage to hide his surprise when Sinah handed him the warm egg sandwich, and his reaction to the first bite almost made me cry.

Sinah sat with him after breakfast and let Selene take her body to heal him more. Most of the minor cuts and bruises were gone. He nodded slowly when she asked if his sight was a little better, and she told him to eat slowly, but often while she slept. He nodded and frowned as she walked away. I sat on the couch next to him and scrolled through the music on the player.

"Any opinion on our morning music?" I glanced at the boy, he'd turned his face towards me and looked like I had spoken another language. "Right, sorry, do you like music with a thumping rhythm?" He nodded slowly, and I put on a techno album I liked. I waited until I saw his fingers tap lightly with the beat.

"Awesome, and good taste, my friend. I'm going to get some work done, emails and such. Kyle is driving and Aiden, Sinah, and Bryce are resting. So, it's just you and me. Tap the table, or poke me, or something, if you want me to change the music, or you need anything, 'k?" He nodded at me warily, and I turned to my tablet. I pulled up a chat window with the contractor River Talon contacted to potentially build the pack house.

"Concepts are drawn and will be emailed by this afternoon."

"Cool, we can look at them over dinner."

"Mm-hmm, I'll put them up on the big screen too, they'll be easier to really look at. Though I have to say, I wasn't very impressed." I almost didn't feel the timid touch on my arm, and I gently set my hand over his to let him know I was paying attention. "Yeah?" He hesitantly mimed drinking.

"Oh yeah, sure, hang on." I patted his hand gently and stood up. "Do you think you can drink a protein shake? Selene said you need a lot of calories." He looked confused, and I morosely assumed he didn't know what a protein shake was.

"Well, I am about to rock your world, my friend." I grinned and pulled a can from the mini fridge and shook it gently. I popped the top and pressed the cold can into his hand. "Be prepared to be Double Fudge Brownie'd into Seventh Heaven. Drink it slow though, it might be a lot for you all of a sudden, 'k?"

He nodded slowly and sniffed the can, his eyebrows lifting in surprise. I smiled when he sipped it and hummed reflexively in pleasure. He looked scared briefly, but I chuckled, and he looked confused and embarrassed.

"I told you, my friend, nectar of the Gods in that can."

"Don't let her lie to you, kiddo." Kyle laughed. I giggled, and the boy tilted his head in confusion. I leaned close to him so that he could easily hear my whisper past the music.

"He used to be military and he hated the food so much he bought a diner when he finished his tour. He has a grudge against convenience food now." I giggled and turned back to my tablet when it chimed. "Hey, what does the GPS say our new ETA is, Desert Falcon's Luna wants to know if we will be there in time for breakfast or lunch tomorrow since we deviated from my scheduled time table." Kyle hummed a laugh and glanced at the display.

"Ten-ish, not counting breaks."

"I'll tell her lunch, then." The touch on my arm was more confident this time, and I smiled as I put my hand on his again. "Yes, friend?" His brows furrowed slightly, and he set the empty can on the table. He squinted at me like he was trying to focus.

"Hey, hey, careful, don't strain your eye, we're working on healing that still." He huffed and turned his face away, glaring blindly at the floor. "It's okay, I understand, I wouldn't believe us either, not after the little bits Selene picked up from your memory." He looked startled.

"Yeah, she's a special wolf, and pretty damn strong. I'm so happy for her." I patted the boy gently on the shoulder. "I'm thinking of pasta for lunch, what do you think?" The teen's confusion was palpable, but he nodded slowly and shrugged.

"Awesome. Hang on a sec." He tensed as I gently put my hands over his ears and leaned my head past him to the back. "NEW KID WANTS PASTA FOR LUNCH." I put my hands down and snickered as a muffled and sleepy 'okay' reached us. He scoffed in disbelief and turned away.

I still caught his soft huff of laughter, though, so I returned to my work with a smile.

. . . . . .