Chapter Nine

Merton couldn't help shaking, just a little bit. He couldn't even force himself to step away from Tommy. "You love me, like, uh, you love chicken from the hungry bucket?" Yeah, right, Merton, Tommy's a good werewolf. He doesn't want to chew on your flesh. That's not what I was thinking! Yes, Merton, yes, it was.

Tommy looked embarrassed, a faint flush covering his cheeks. Merton couldn't remember ever seeing Tommy embarrassed. It was . . . endearing, somehow, masculine and rare. It made Merton regret that when he was embarrassed, he went all red and squirmed like a little girl. That wasn't endearing.

 "I just love you." Tommy said, sounding as shaky as Merton looked.

"Like you loved Sparky?" Merton asked. That would be something he could understand. Sparky might have peed on the carpet and set things afire, but Tommy had loved him. Because Sparky had been . . . Well, adorably cute. Merton didn't have that going for him, but it was more than that, Sparky had been – "Like a pet?"

"Not at all." Tommy crossed out that line of thought softly.

Merton was rapidly losing control. There had to be a box somewhere that he could throw Tommy's love into. "Like a brother?" An annoying obnoxious little brother, who tagged along too much, ruined everything, but you had no choice but to love him. After everything they'd been through, Merton guessed Tommy could feel that he was family.

Tommy blanched. "Not like a brother. Like a – Like a best friend." And he immediately smelled Merton's disappointment.

Oh. Well. Not quite enough to be a brother. Not good enough. Not loved enough. Tommy didn't love him enough. "OK, I understand." Was that a tear on his cheek? Better not be, he was just about ready to die from humiliation. He knew he was letting out huge quivering breaths. Why? Because Tommy loved him like a best friend?

"You don't understand anything." Tommy tilted Merton's head to meet his deep green eyes. And Tommy kissed along the salty trail his tears had left.

Oh. Oh! Uh. . . Ohmygod. Tommy lips were moving against his lips. And was this what kissing was supposed to be like? No wonder he had no girlfriends. He must kiss like a dead fish. Ack! Merton, this is Tommy, TOMMY. And oh! The kiss ended and Merton jerked away. "Like that? You love me like THAT?" Ohgod, Ohgod, Ohgod.

"No – Yes." Tommy wouldn't meet his eyes. "I love you. Like family. But not like a brother."

Family, but not a brother. Translation: "You want to jump my bones." Merton couldn't quite believe the words he was saying. No one would want to jump his bones. The world was going to end ~ it's one of the signs of the apocalypse. No wait, its Merton's best friend. A guy. A GUY. Maybe the world isn't going to end after all. The world always survives when the defining force in the universe reaches out to kick Merton in the derriere.

Tommy was no longer a little flushed, he was pink. "Maybe, you're not going to explode into little Merton-bits are you?"

Merton blinked. Twice. "What?"

"Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm okay. Everyday I get ambushed by my best friend who likes me THAT way and kisses like liquid fire and he's a guy, and yep, just another boring old day. Dear Diary; Nothing unusual today – Tommy just kissed me. Maybe after supper I'll drive the Hearse to the moon."

"Liquid fire?" Tommy arched an eyebrow.

Merton was reduced to helplessly moving his lips. And look, baby noises, gah, gah. . .

Tommy took a step forward.

Merton immediately jumped back. "No! I mean, I'm sorry, but . . . I can't."