"It is long story," he answered, cheeks coloring. "Later."
"I'm surprised to see you two."
"You're sick." Doc twisted his lips wryly. "And so are we. We need to talk, and we can't do it here, so I canceled my classes for the day, and you have a doctor's note if you need one for any of yours."
"I only have two today, and I'm caught up. Let's go." I wanted to ask what had happened, but I knew we couldn't talk about it until we were someplace safe.
I fell in beside Doc, Nikolai trailing behind us. I reached for his hand, but managed to remember at the last minute that I couldn't while we were around other people. At least, not yet. I shoved my hands in my pockets instead.
The parking lot was full of vehicles, but there weren't many people, so no one would see us leave together.
Nikolai opened the passenger side door of Doc's truck for me.
"Thanks." I grinned at him.
He smiled, looking pleased about something.
I glanced at Doc, who frowned slightly, watching us. I wondered what bothered him. Something had upset him the night before, too, but I hadn't had a chance to ask him what was up.
I pulled out my phone and texted Victoria, letting her know I would probably be back the next morning and not to worry. She replied with a winking smiling face and a thumbs up.
"We need to get Nikolai a phone," I stated, not sure how that would work.
"I already did," Doc replied. "I haven't had a chance to teach him to use it yet. We'll get his number programed into yours today sometime."
Once Doc had pulled out onto the road, I twisted around in my seat and repeated my earlier question. "What happened to your neck?"
"Eh, vampires. You know how they are."
My eyes widened, and I turned to Doc.
His cheeks were red, even over his darker skin, and he looked seriously embarrassed.
"Do I even want to know?" I didn't think Doc would try to hurt Nikolai unless the mage was actually attacking someone he cared about, and I didn't get the impression that the Russian was inclined toward random violence. Especially since being surrounded by werewolves and a half-vampire, he was physically outclassed.
Doc looked like he was going to say something, but then he shook his head and sighed.
"It is not his fault. I was trying to explain to them resonance. They required a demonstration."
I twisted back to study the mage. He shrugged and also looked embarrassed.
"I am afraid I took a bit of advantage of your boyfriend. My apologies."
My eyebrows rose as what he meant dawned on me. "Uh, sure. Apology accepted, I guess." I did not even know how I should actually respond to that revelation.
Doc glanced at me before returning his gaze to the road. He didn't say anything.
Maybe I was a little jealous. But jealous of what? I was quite certain I could imagine what had happened, especially with the fading bruises on both sides of Nikolai's neck. Doc wasn't usually rough, so the mage must really have provoked him. Did I even have cause to be jealous? I mean, I was dating three guys. It wasn't like they were hiding anything from me. I sighed. This was so complicated. Maybe I was just jealous that I hadn't been there?
"Do not be mad at Doc. It was my fault." Nikolai leaned forward until he was close to me.
"I'm not mad. I'm just…well…this is really complicated."
"Yes," the mage agreed.
Doc looked relieved, and that made me think for a minute. I knew Allan was interested in Doc in a more than brotherly fashion, and Nikolai had to have known what he was doing. Was there any way I could ask them to keep their hands off of each other when I wasn't around? Or even when I was around? It wasn't fair, especially when they shared their blood with Doc. And the thought kind of turned me on.
"You know." I smirked at Doc. "Whatever you guys want to do with each other is completely fine with me. I don't really feel like you need my permission, anyway, but seriously, enjoy yourselves. There's only one of me, and I'm not always around."
Doc's eyebrows rose, and he stared at me in surprise, perhaps a bit longer than was strictly safe while driving, before tearing his eyes off of me and focusing on the road.
"Just, you know, try to keep it in the pack."
I winked at him when he glanced at me again. He nodded ever so slightly back toward Nikolai.
Twisting around in my seat, I studied the mage. His face was a mask right now, and I wasn't sure what he was thinking, though I thought I saw a little relief. Probably that I wasn't mad at him. "That could include you. If the guys agree."
His mask broke, and his eyebrows rose. "I see." He opened his mouth as if he were going to say something else, before snapping it shut and nodding.
"We do," Doc said quietly.
I hesitated, surprised they had already discussed it without me. Of course, if Nikolai had been making out with one of my boyfriends, the subject had obviously come up.
"Good. Well, as interesting as this development is, it can't be why you pulled me out of class." I was worried about what possibly could have happened to concern everyone that much.
"Ed was hurt pretty badly last night," Doc stated. "While they were out running."
My heart clenched. "Is he okay?"
"He will be soon. He needs you," Nikolai said.
They filled me in on the details as we drove.
"Shit," I snarled when they finished. "Why didn't you call me?"
"He was fine last night. We thought today would be early enough to fill you in. He's not nearly as okay this morning."
I glared at Doc.
"Yeah, so we needed you to talk with Ed, and we
