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I smirk and shake my head. I guess it would be an interesting fight to see. Fox versus wolf. My plate is full mostly of protein and some carbs. Kimiko's has a bit of everything since the staff didn't know what she would need more of.

I eat mostly in silence, not wanting to force awkward conversation. I think about where I tossed my clothes earlier, knowing I'd have to go retrieve them along with my phone from the SUV.

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After about half of my plate is gone, I push myself away from the table and stand. “Did you need more?” I ask Avery, offering him the rest of mine if he needed. I’m not quite as ravenous as he seems to be. I’m more sleepy than anything and I think of the comfortable bed calling my name from my room.

“It’s been lovely, but there’s a bed calling my name right now.” I’m not lying - once he stopped treating me as a threat, the tension between us eased a bit. Hopefully our truce will last.

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I eye her plate before pulling it over to finish it. I watch her stand and nod at her announcement.

”Good night, Kimiko.” Maybe she'll be okay. Only time will tell.

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A genuine smile lifts my lips. “Goodnight Avery.” I say in return before heading out of the kitchen and towards the side of the house where I was staying. Maybe he isn’t so bad after all.

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I woke up earlier than usual the next morning. It takes a lot to get me up and moving since I went to bed so late, but Caden wants me to drop off the car at Nic’s house. I wake one of the other drivers so we can convoy into town. In order to help myself wake up, I decided to take advantage of Caden’s gym and get in an early morning workout.

With all the excitement of people arriving, my usual training session with Caden hasn’t been happening. I’m going to have to get him back into a routine, and I may as well loop Nic in when I see him today.

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When my alarm goes off the next morning, I debate on sleeping for another ten minutes or so. I pick up my phone and open it up to the video Nic sent last night. I feel suddenly hot and don’t have an issue getting up and getting ready anymore. Damn him.

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Hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, I carry my tennis shoes with me towards Caden’s gym. I typically have a workout regime to upkeep my muscles that includes mostly cardio. Thinking that Avery was probably still sleeping after last night, he’s the last person I expect to see in the gym. Only letting myself be thrown off for a moment, I walk all the way in and sit down to pull my shoes on.

“Good morning.” I say with a little wave before I focus on tying my shoes and tucking the excess laces in so they don’t get caught in anything. Without looking up, I ask, “Just getting started or are you almost done?” I don’t care either way - we both agreed to play nice - but I was curious.

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Already up, I went ahead and clean my place up while waiting for Caden’s car. There isn’t really any trash or garbage laying around, but there is a lot of clutter from the service and vigil that haven’t quite found a place to live in my apartment yet. I should really have a conversation with my dad about where we’re going from here. If he wants us to live together, we would need a bigger place.

Having at least sorted all the clutter, I pull my phone out to text Cass. Good morning beautiful! I send with a little sun emoji.

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I stop when I hear my name and pull one of my earbuds out. I look behind me and see Kimiko. I can’t help but smile and shake my head. Of course. Of course I can’t go more than twelve hours without seeing her. I set the weights down on the floor and pull out my phone.

”I’ve got ten more minutes in my set before I have to head into town,” I tell her. I slip my phone away and glance at her, wondering what she was going to start with first.

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I’m busy trying to decide what I want to do with my hair while eating breakfast. I have the waffle in my mouth while I pin my hair this way and that to get a feel for it when Nic messages me. I smile and let go of my hair to text him back.

Good morning… How’d you sleep? I set the phone down and looked in the mirror. I pull the waffle from my mouth and eat it. Beautiful. Hmm, if only Nic could see me getting ready with my hair half-crazed and waffle crumbs everywhere.

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I cock my head to the side as I finish tying my shoes. I do some stretches from my sitting position with my legs outstretched as I reach for my toes. “Your Caden’s trainer, right?” I roll my eyes to myself as I stand up to bend over and touch my toes now. “Stupid question, sorry, I wanted to know if you knew of any trainers I could reach out to.”

Glancing up, I finally look at him and just as quickly avert my eyes, my ears warming. I know he’s a trainer and a werewolf, but his muscles are entrancing. I almost ask him if he wants to be my trainer, but refrain, immediately reminding myself that this man does not like me nor do I like him. Putting us together in a ring seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be here for, but I’d like to keep my regime I have in London.” I add for clarification. I finish stretching with some arms and back twisting before I go for the elliptical. To be honest, I don’t know what a lot of the machines are for without my trainer back home telling me, so this was a safe choice.

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I smile, happy to find out she’s awake as well. Like a baby thanks to you and Wayland being the last thing I saw before falling asleep :) It’s true, I had stared at her photo again until I finally succumbed to sleep last night, finding myself wishing I could sleep beside her sooner than later.

My ears burn as I realize my thought - I hadn’t meant it in a sexual way, just that I’d love to wake up next to her. Cheeks joining, I run my hand down my face and focus on stuffing the clutter into a closet.

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I continue to lift weights while Kimiko talks and chuckles. ”Well, Caden could train with you. Or you can join him and I. I have to start training a human soon. Or I can refer you to one of the other staff members that do their own thing opposite to me.”

I watch Kimiko go over to the elliptical, nodding unconsciously in approval of her warm-up choice.

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I finish my waffle before Nic messages me back and I blush. I’ll make sure to tell Wayland :)

I finish with my hair, opting for a high pony in a half up half down fashion. I curl it slightly to give it a bit of substance and a fresh look from yesterday.

Has Avery dropped the car off yet? I ask. It was still early but I was curious.

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“Well, I think Caden is otherwise occupied right now with his little one… When you say human, are you talking about Shouren Wu or his son?” I ask, remembering that Caden had mentioned that he and Avery were going to start training him. I keep a slow steady pace on the elliptical for now, watching Avery through the reflection of the mirrors set up, but in my excitement I can feel myself starting to speed up.

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Managing to stuff the clutter on the high shelf in my closet, i take a couple of breaths, happy that I was able to find room for it. Finally done, I plop onto the couch. My dad was going to spend the day at his shop with one of his friends to keep him company today so is truly had some time to myself at the moment.

Let my boy know I love him too please <3 And no car yet, but I’ve been promised an update when there is one ;P

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I laugh and nod in agreement. I finish up my set and put the weights away before I start my cool down. ”Yes, I have to get Caden back into a routine.” I say and start doing some push-ups, crunches, and stretches. [olor=#B0C4DE]”Uh, the son, Nic. He wants to be more involved, so we decided he needed to bulk up a bit. Poor kid doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into,”[/color] I say, focused on my stuff that I don’t even register Kimiko staring.

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I roll my eyes and shake my head. Wayland comes over for pets before dashing away. I get myself dressed and hang my jacket up by the door with my bag. I tuck the bottom of my shirt into my pants and play with the billowing so it looks right before I text Nic back.

Speaking of Wayland, if you want to test out having a cat, I’m sure he would love a sleepover. I set my phone back down and grab some of my silver jewelry to put on.

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I try not to openly stare at Avery but… well I’ve always had a soft spot for muscles and watching him work out is… I lick my lips and focus my eyes on the elliptical’s monitor as I mentally tell myself to keep it together, slowing back down to the warm-up pace I had set for myself.

“Do you think I could join those sessions? That family is actually the reason I’m here.” I take the opportunity to guzzle down some water from my bottle in an effort to cool myself down.

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I look down from the tv to my phone and can hardly hold in my excitement. OMG, wait really? Could I? I stop myself from sending about 30 more texts of excited messages, but I start bouncing my leg to exert the energy somewhere.

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”Uh sure, I guess. Save the gab sessions for breaks though. The more you talk during my training sessions, the harder I make you work,” I warn. I stand up and drink some water. I pick up a towel and wipe off my face and the back of my neck before I toss the sweat soaked towel at Kimiko.

”Have fun!” I call before dashing out of the room.

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I laugh, picturing how excited he probably is. Yes, I’m sure it would be fun for the both of you.

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“Is that a threat or a promise-” I was turning to say to him but instead I’m greeted by a sweat soaked towel hitting my face.

Trying not to gag, I throw it off of me to see the asshole is no longer in here. “AVERY!” I shout. I don’t know if he’ll hear me - I know Caden gets pretty perfectionist about his soundproofing, but I’m kicking his ass the next time I see him. I try not to blush as I think of us wrestling, stopping my mind from going there. I glare at my reflection in the mirror.

”You need help you deprived lunatic” I tell her.

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I grin widely, already excited at the prospect. I would Love that! I get up and start going through my plants, pulling up a list of plants toxic to cats so I can make sure I keep those away. The only issue is the white lily plant I have - I got it after Kiki died, so I would need to find a place for it where it couldn’t harm Wayland.

I’m sure my dad will be as equally excited. I add.

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I just manage to hear Kimiko yell my name I laugh loudly before I leave Caden’s house and walk across the yard to the staff house. I find myself still smiling while I shower and don’t stop until I see myself smiling in the mirror. I scowl and finish getting ready.

I did tell myself I would try, but I don’t like the fact that I forgot I was trying. She was still annoyed with this little kid energy that rubbed me the wrong way. I dress in all black, despite the fact that I am not driving anyone anywhere, and I meet another staff member by the SUVs. I hop into one, and we head out, making our way to Nic’s to drop off a vehicle in time.

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I smile, reading Nic’s joy over and over. Wayland pops up on the couch next to me and purrs loudly while I scratch him. I haven’t dropped him off at Nic’s yet, but I feel a pang of loss all the same while I sit with Wayland.

I’m glad the two of them have connected so well and that Wayland seems to be choosing Nic, but it still makes me sad.

Oh, I’m sure your dad would love him! scoop up Wayland and cuddle him close.

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I finish my warm up, still fuming a little. Maybe I’ll enlist the help of a little pranking demon I’ve made the acquaintance of. I pull my AirPods out of my pocket and put some music on to drown out the silence as I go over to the weights. Those don’t need instructions either.

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Me too :D I send to her. Where’s a good hiding place for a white lily to hide while he’s here? I keep an eye on my phone’s clock and other notifications, not wanting to miss a call or text from Avery or whoever was dropping the vehicle off. I grab a shoulder sling back, putting items that won’t fit in my pockets inside.

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How do you even know of these places shorty? :P I take the plant with me into my kitchen, placing it on the table for now but I will move it to on top of the higher cabinets once the sleepover is set.

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Um, sorcerer, remember? I just magick them up there :P I retaliate.

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I lean my head back to fully laugh at that one. You got me there, lol XD I go to check that I have everything in my sling for a third time and quadruple check that I have everything in my wallet as well. Can you use your magic to fly? Should I expect you to ride a broomstick at some point? :P