Operation Honey Trap vs The Emperor of the Apocalypse-Chapter 168: Wolf Gets Cute

"I know I’m the luckiest of men," Alton said seriously, "and I’m glad to hear you’re out of the competition. I can’t say I wasn’t angry when I saw that footage."

"You two weren’t an item then, and I told you, I play hard for what I want," said Brenner.

"You and I will be just fine, so long as you don’t play hard for my woman anymore."

"On my honour. So long as you’re good to her and you’re together, I’ll be an angel."

"And no more accidentally grabbing her boobs either," Alton added, for good measure.

"That was truly an accident..."

Alton raised his eyebrows sceptically at the man.

"But I’ll be extremely careful around her so there’s no chance of those kinds of accidents in the future," he offered.

"Good," Alton grunted.

"By the way man... This is a bit delicate, but I need to say it. Don’t punch me or anything."

"Do you really need to say whatever it is, private? Think long and hard about it first. I can’t always control my temper where Delphi’s concerned."

"I haven’t noticed," Brenner joked, "but even so, I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t say it. Not after what you did for me today."

Alton glowered at the man under heavy brows. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like whatever it was.

"How to put this delicately; I’m not really a delicate kind of guy..."

"That hasn’t escaped my notice, private."

"Your girl seems to have a problem... you know... with her sugar puff," he looked sideways at the General, searching for his reaction.

"Alright. That’s it! Thanks very much, private. It’s been a good chat."

"I knew you wouldn’t take it well, but I needed to tell you."

"I’m already aware of what you’re getting at. Much more so than you are, I hope. And let’s leave it at that. You’re talking about the woman I hope to marry, private. I don’t ever want to hear you mention Delphi, and ’sugar puff’, in the same sentence again. Anything that relates to her sugar puff is my domain, not yours, and I’ll sort it out myself. I most definitely don’t need your help with Delphi’s girly bits!"

Delphi jogged up to the pair at that moment, very surprised to see them walking and talking together.

"What are you two talking about?" she asked, squeezing in between them and putting a hand on each man’s shoulder.

"Nothing!" they both replied.

Alton reached over and removed her hand from Brenner’s shoulder, pulling her to his side.

Arrie and Wolf walked side by side behind the two men and Delphi.

Wolf smiled at the General’s little act of taking Brenner’s hand off his woman.

"It seems like the General’s a bit possessive of General Chastain," he laughed.

"Now that she’s agreed to be his girlfriend, we’re going to see that go into overdrive," Arrie predicted. "He was bad enough over her when he was just a suitor. I mean he gave Brenner a black eye just for trying to get with her."

An awkward silence fell between them when they both realised this was a bit close to home, what with Wolf’s recent fights with Baer in defence of Arrie.

Wolf scratched the side of his head uncomfortably. "Araminta," he said, turning beet red all the way up to his hairline.

What on earth could have him that embarrassed, she thought. "Mm?" she answered.

"What you said in the bunkroom at Squeaking Point..."

Oh Lord, here we go! she thought.

"What in particular, Wolf?"

"About liking me."

He was so shy he could barely string the words together; it was kind of sweet, she thought. She had never imagined she would have the ability to make a man tongue-tied. Especially such a large handsome soldier like Wolf.

"Mm," she nodded, noncommittally.

She was not helping him out. She couldn’t. She suddenly found herself also inexplicably tongue-tied, despite being a bubbly extrovert who was used to filling in the silence with introverts.

"Did you mean what you said? Because it’s been playing on my mind ever since you said it. I just needed to ask you if you just said it to get rid of that pest? Or did you mean it? Any of it?"

He sounded ridiculously hopeful. If he had been trying to sound nonchalant, like her answer didn’t matter to him, it was a dismal fail.

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to rush you. I know you’ve been through such a big trauma with Baer, and it wasn’t very long ago. You probably still have feelings for him..."

"I don’t!" she said, more forcefully than she’d intended.

She didn’t want to talk about this. It was embarrassing enough having said those words in front of him. She was hoping he would just think she had been trying to get rid of Baer.

"So did you?" he persisted, "mean any of it?"

She looked into his still red face, trying to read his feelings, but she was very under-confident in her read of men after Baer.

"Wolf, I don’t understand men very well," she said, uncharacteristically unsure of herself.

"That makes two of us, because women are a total mystery to me," he said honestly. "It’s okay. You don’t have to answer me if it makes you uncomfortable."

"It’s just very hard for me after Baer, Wolf, I’m sorry. I don’t have feelings for Baer anymore, at least I’m not pining for him. I’m still angry and sad. I think it will take a while for that to go away."

"I don’t want to pressure you, Araminta. There’s no rush. I’m happy being your best friend."

"I’m your best friend?"

He nodded. "Yes. The best friend I’ve ever had."

That was sweet, she thought. "Is that all you want?" she asked him, without looking at him.

"I... I wouldn’t say no if you wanted more."

She smiled at him. He was so cute the way he was trying to hold back from putting her under pressure.

"What’s that meant to mean? Do you want more than friendship with me or not?" she asked him.

He nodded. "But if you don’t want more that’s okay," he rushed to say. "I’m okay to be your best friend."

"I don’t want to be your best friend."

His face fell. "Really, well that’s okay. I guess you’re best friend is Winter, actually."

"She is, that’s right. But... I want to be more than friends with you too."