The First Hug | Kate Ladew
Paul stared at the fire. The hunting was done. The cave was warm. His belly full, his head filled with nothing at all. Neanderthal times were not bad. Paul did not know it was Neanderthal times. It was just now.
‘Wait – what? – Stop – stop –‘ Paul struggled against furry arms. ‘What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing?’
‘I don’t know,’ Chevy shrugged and squeezed. ‘It felt right.’
‘Are you killing me? Are you trying to kill me? Is that what you’re trying to do? Are you trying to kill me, Chevy? Is that what you’re trying to do? Trying to kill me?’
‘Why would I try to kill you?’ Chevy blinked. ‘I was thinking about how much I like you.’
Paul’s eyebrows quirked, ‘You were thinking about that?’
‘Mmhm.’
‘Do you think about that a lot?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘All the time?’
‘Sometimes. Most of the time I’m thinking about mammoths, but sometimes I think about you.’
‘Oh,’ Paul did not understand what was happening. ‘I do not understand what is happening,’ Paul said. They sat in silence for a few moments.
Chevy squeezed again and pulled his arms away. ‘It just seemed like the thing to do.’