Free The Lariat (Finding Justus Series) by Ashley Dotson Page A

the next day walking around the apartment and lounging on the couch. Cyrus had no choice but to leave. I didn’t know where he was, but I figured he wasn’t far. I was under strict doctor’s orders to keep Ben inside. Samael was still the threat on which we had to focus.
    After our conversation in the kitchen, Cyrus backed off. He didn’t mention his feelings again, he didn’t try to kiss me or pressure me. He didn’t need to. His presence was pressure enough.
    I wanted more than ever to talk to Orrin. I needed to know how he felt, what he was doing. I felt the need to gain his permission. We were tied together forever, for better or worse. My choices would affect him, just like his choices affected me. Right or wrong, it was how I felt. But I wasn’t ready to face him. Until I conquered my cowardice, good old-fashioned girl talk was needed.
    “No guy has ever said anything like that to me,” Ben complained.
    I gave her a safe version of the truth, excluding otherworldly details that she wouldn’t understand.
    “And he’s a doctor to boot!”
    I let her believe that one too. Cyrus technically was a PhD. just not of Internal Medicine.
    “I still can’t believe you brought such a fine male specimen into our apartment and let him see me at my worst. I ought to hate you for that, you know?”
    “Ben, you were sick. Dr. Williams said blood poisoning is very serious.”
    “I know. I still don’t understand why we he doesn’t work at a hospital. What kind of doctor only makes house calls? You’d think he would have an office or something. And why does he need to knock me out before every treatment? If you weren’t sitting right beside me, I would totally protest. The whole scenario sounds like something off the Investigation Discovery channel.” She paused in her rant, “You aren’t trying to kill me or anything, are you?”
    “No,” I laughed. She was definitely feeling better, “I’m just happy that you’re okay. Going to the Montrose was the dumbest idea you have ever come up with.”
    “It may have been my idea, but you were totally down with it.”
    I shook my head, “What, do you have selective amnesia too? I just went so you wouldn’t be alone when your brilliant plan crumbled, literally, like that building. And I was right, too.”
    She was exasperating, “I thought you had permission from the city. I should have known better.”
    “I’m glad you came with me. If it wasn’t for you, I would have suffocated up there on the top floor. I remember the air tasted so strange. You know I had the weirdest hallucinations right before I passed out.”
    “Really?” I asked her, hoping she didn’t remember much of the truth.
    “It’s kind of hazy. The whole world turned red and black, like I was looking through a colored filter on my camera lens. Your eyes did funny things when I looked at you. I saw big splotches floating all around us, and then…nothing. Hmm, weird, right? I guess that’s what oxygen deprivation will do to you.”
    “I guess so,” I mumbled and rose from our ugly second-hand sofa. “I’m going to go make some lunch. Want some?”
    “Sure whatever you’re having. I’d really like to order take-out. Chinese maybe?”
    “I can have something delivered, but I’m not about to leave you alone. Doctor’s orders.”
    “Nah, we’ll wait until tonight. I can get good and hungry. We can watch a movie or something. I know you need to finish your thesis again. I still can’t believe your bad luck to lose it so late in the semester. Do you know when the Coffee Shack will re-open? I don’t worry about the bills. This is definitely one of those time to call the parentals.”
    I hadn’t even thought about any of that. I should call in and see if they opened and I had a job. I did need to finish my thesis. I needed a new cell and a new computer. Ben offered to let me use hers, but that would have to wait. The top of my to-do list was calling my father and tell him about Samael’s