“I missed you so fucking much I went a little crazy, and that’s no exaggeration,” I said, nuzzling her neck.
She laughed, smiling down at me, and I forced myself to grin back when I realized she thought it was a joke.
Right.
I was supposed to be giving her space.
Not smothering her.
Definitely not acting like I couldn't live an afternoon without her. Maybe I really was crazy.
“Just joking,” I added. “Yep. Hyberbole.”
“Oh, Boone,” she breathed, and I was calmed by her saying my name.
I carried her back to the group, and she kicked her feet against my back with glee. “Permission to keep holding you like this all night?” I asked.
She laughed and pushed at my shoulders, and I reluctantly lowered her, so her feet touched the floor, still keeping contact with a hand on her hip.
“Does everyone here know Boone?” She presented me to the group gathered at the tables that were clustered in front of the stage. Last night, the space had been for dancing. Tonight, the place had more of a lounge vibe.
“Boone, good to see you.” Rob stood and slapped me on the back then turned to the group. “This is my cousin. He and his brothers are like bears because they hole up on that mountain more than half the year, hibernating.”
Damn. I was called out by my alpha, but because he was a straight shooter, he was only being honest.
It was true, and the pack always busted my balls for it, but in front of Summer, it suddenly felt like a fault I should’ve fixed by now. Except, I’d thought everyone would be safer if I stayed away. Rob Wolf included. He knew all about my father’s keen interest in me becoming alpha in his place. How I’d almost killed him in a rage. Instead of being investigated by the Shifter Council, I’d gone to college and stayed away.
Now that I was back, it seemed Rob held no grudge. It sounded like he thought my isolation was a bad thing, but I’d done it for him. For everyone in the pack. But now that I had Summer–
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling like the flaw was an obvious detriment to me wooing my mate.
She must’ve seen the misgiving on my face because she wrapped her arms around me from the side and squeezed. Fuck, that felt good. “I love a big, burly mountain man,” she declared to the entire group, who probably were told that she was my mate.
My heart–and dick–seemed to swell and grow warm.
She loved a big, burly mountain man.
That meant me. ME.
She was probably just trying to make me feel better, but I filed the words away.
The guy singing on stage finished to a round of applause, and the emcee took the mic back. “Next up, we have Summer! Summer, what are you singing, doll?”
14
SUMMER
* * *
Boone stiffened when the emcee called me doll, and I tensed, too, for a completely different reason, my stomach twisting. It seemed I’d been conditioned to avoid drama after all of Marty’s hissy fits because if he’d been the one at my side and the guy had called my name, he’d have lost his shit.
He’d have thought I’d flirted with the guy, maybe even fucked him, to get a spot on the karaoke list. He’d have thought my outfit made me a slut. He’d have thought… all kinds of ridiculous shit that had brought my life to a standstill of low self esteem.
I looked up at Boone to catch his glower at the emcee. Felt the squeeze of his fingers at my waist.
Oh, God. He was looking at the emcee just like Marty would have. I felt a little queasy. I couldn’t do this again. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.
Then Boone’s dark gaze swiveled to me, and his brows dipped in concern. “You okay, baby?”
