Chapter 103

And it was very funny; at one point Nika started throwing thin pieces of logs to the dogs so that they would go look for them. Richie stayed with me on the porch, and we sat on the stoop, drinking more coffee, while we watched the games. Or, rather, I observed the enchantment with which Richie followed the werewolf’s every movement.

“So… you and Nika?” I said, without bad intentions.

He swallowed what was in his mouth before smiling. He was handsome.

Much more so when he smiled with that dazed air.

“Finally,” he answered, with some shyness.

“Finally? What does that mean?”

“Let’s say that she was begged for many years; her mind was elsewhere.”

I could imagine what that “other part” was, and perhaps I was too shameless to point it out:

“It was for Ivan, right? Nika didn’t want to admit it, but she was in love with him.”

Richie turned to look at me with a deep frown, as if I had said something rude. And when I was about to regret it