Werewolf Boyfriend: Konni Part One (special preview)

“So,” I say as Rudi serves dinner, “I’ve heard tales about this place for ages. Any of it true?” I ask.

“And just what has Rudolf told you?” Cheslie asks.

“Like the courtship ritual thing,” I shrug. “Did Rudi do that to you?”

“Not really,” Cheslie scrunches up her face. “Rudi and I had been close when he first lived here in Hearthway Hollow with your moms. We traded letters a lot, he told me all about how you got adopted.”

“Not the bucket story,” I whine.

Cheslie giggles and shrugs. “I won’t say. But Rudolf and I-” The way she looks at my brother then, I feel a strange mix of jealousy and awe. There is so much love in her gaze, so much reverence, that my mind goes haywire trying to figure it out. “We’ve always had a connection so, when he came back, we just slid into place.”

“But you knew he was a werewolf?” I ask.

“I’m one of the few non-werewolves in my family,” Cheslie sighs. “My cousins, Rowan and Canvas, they’re in the wedding too, are close friends with the Alpha of Hearthway Hollow.”

“The Eva lady?” I ask.

“No, Adam, her grandson,” Rudi replies as he lays down food on the table. “He’s an amazing guy, runs the butcher shop.” He then looks at me. “By the way, watch out for Rowan.”

I furrow my brow. “Excuse me?”

“My cousin,” Cheslie sighs. “He’s blind and he’s a handful. He will try to get your goat for any sort of laugh.” She then rolls her eyes. “Back in the day, him, Canvas, and Adam used to get into all sorts of trouble. I remember one night before graduation, they had stolen every single balloon from the graduation setup, released them, and they flew directly into the power line. It caused a massive fire and the power to go out in the entire town!”

“Wow, they sound smart,” I scoff.

“Separately, they are,” Rudi laughs. “Together? They share one brain cell.” 

The next morning while Cheslie and Rudi get the store ready, I go out to visit my Moms, Anna and Mimi. They over feed me, slap me upside the head a few times for not calling, and I end up falling asleep on the sofa.

I am woken up by the sound of a vacuum going off. As I raise my head from the pillow, I see a girl running an attachment up and down the curtains. I yawn, stretching as I stand up off the couch. As the girl turns, she sees me and screams.

I scream in response and clutch my chest. “Oh my god. What?” I gasp.

“Sorry!” She quickly turns off the vacuum. “I was trying not to wake you.” She tugs down her long sleeves, making sure they’re tucked under the rim of the gloves she’s wearing.

“You’re vacuuming, kind of hard not to.” As I look into her frightened, gray eyes there is a tug in my chest. I lose my breath for a second as I look over her freckle covered face and lipgloss covering her lips. She has blunt bangs with small strands framing the sides of her face, the rest is tied up in a poofy ponytail at the top of her head. Her hair is a mousy sort of color, almost ashy in the light. She steps aside, moving the vacuum cleaner out of the way but ends up tripping over the very attachment she is holding.

I race over, grabbing her before she topples and hurts herself. In my arms, she feels like nothing, but in my mind, she weighs heavy like a ton of bricks. My heart is sputtering out of control and all I want to do is somehow impress her. I want to show off, show out, just do something to make her notice me.

She giggles gently. “Oh wow, thank you.” She stands up right, her hand still on my arm. “Not many people catch me in time.” I notice she has a gap in her two front teeth and it’s the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Her freckled cheeks turn dark as her hand lingers on my bicep. “Oh, sorry.” She quickly steps away. “Uhm, I’m Jess-Belle. I work for Anna and Mimi sometimes.”

“Jess-Belle,” I whisper softly, my eyes totally focused on her. “Cute name.”

“My parents thought they were cute.” She rolls her eyes. “My friends call me JB,” she grumbles. 

My mouth is dry and my palms are sweaty. I’ve been around dozens of beautiful men and women, but none of them have ever made me feel the way that Jess-Belle does.

“I’m uhm-” My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. “I’m Konni,” I manage to spit out. “Anna and Mimi are my moms.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh! You’re Konstantin! Yes, of course,” she nods her head. “Anna and Mimi have been bragging about you so much. They gave me some of your hair stuff you make. I love them, uhm-” she waves her hand around her head. “The dry shampoo thing with the nozzle thingy.” Jess-Belle then laughs. “Oh god, sorry, I’m awkward.”

“It’s cute,” I murmur, in absolute awe of her.

“Konni!” Mama Mimi comes out of the back. “Don’t bother Jess-Belle, she’s a hard working young lady. She doesn’t need you messing her up.”

“It’s ok, Mimi,” Jess-Belle giggles. “It’s nice to finally meet him.” She smiles up at me. 

Mama Mimi grabs me. “He’s still in trouble with us.” She tugs on my hand. “When you get hungry, Anna and I have made a pasta salad.”

“Thank you, Mimi,” Jess-Belle says with a smile. “It was nice to meet you, Konni.” She turns the vacuum back on and continues to work as Mama Mimi drags me out onto the lanai. 

“There’s my sleeping beauty!” Mama Anna lifts her hands up and grabs my face as I come to her. She leaves bright red lipstick all over my face from her kisses. “Did you sleep well?”

“I haven’t napped like that in ages,” I sigh as I sit down. I keep glancing to the sliding glass door, catching glimpses of Jess-Belle working inside.

“I suppose it’s a comfort only parents can provide.” Anna says as she pours me a glass of pink lemonade. “You were so cute all balled up on the couch. Reminded me of when you were little.”

I keep looking towards Jess-Belle, feeling that pull in my chest as if I have to be beside her at that very moment.