“Yeah, but that was atschool.Now you’re in my house. It’s different!”
“That’s true, it is different,” I confirmed gently. “But remember, we need to ask before we put hands on people. Even if they’re friendly hands.”
Benny’s bright face faltered slightly, and Ihatedraining on his parade, but it was important that he learned to be responsible for how he interacted with people. With shifters’ accelerated strength and speed, it could be oh-so-easy to accidentally hurt someone, especially a flimsy human.
“Sorry,” Benny murmured. “It’s just really cool you’re here.”
“It’s okay, Benny. I’m happy you’re so excited to have me in your home. But now you know to ask before hugging in the future.”
He nodded. I knew my son well enough to tell he was embarrassed. My brain scrambled for a way to de-escalate the situation for him, but Giselle was already on it.
“Man, it smells incredible in here. Do you wanna give me a tour on the way to your dining room?”
Benny brightened instantly. “Sure!”
He offered his hand, and Giselle took it without hesitation. While I was aware my son liked his teacher—he was attuned enough to her scent to save her life—I hadn’t known he wassofond of her.
Then again, it could simply be that she washisfirst visitor, in the sense that he had a relationship with her outside the home. Anybody else who came over was either there because of Natalie, or was one of the elders from other packs in the area checking in. Benny didn’t bring friends over and instead went over to their houses. It was safer that way, since all his friends were human and we were a shifter household. Not that I wouldn’t be on my best behavior, of course. Really, I had to wonder if that was more of an excuse I’d come up with so I wouldn’t have to be social.
Maybe I needed to work on that.
“Your house is lovely,” I heard Giselle say as they walked forward. “Oh, hello.”
“Hello,” Natalie said. “You are Benny’s teacher.”
“I am,” Giselle said nervously, and I hurried to her side. She gave me a look that asked a whole lot of questions and my brain rushed to think of how to answer those questions with both of my kids none the wiser. Not that I had to worry about Veronica. Benny was the issue. Sometimes my son was too smart for his own good.
“I told Natalie all about the adventures we had last Friday when she babysat,” I said, forcing an easygoing smile.
“Ah, good to know,” Giselle said and I appreciated the relief that washed over her features. I liked that she didn’t enjoy being secretive. It made it easier to trust her.
“You guys are talking about the date you went on, right?” Benny interjected as he went over to his seat. “I thought it went bad.”
I nearly choked on my own spit. “Why did you think that?”
“Because you were crying in my room after.”
Goddamn it.
He wasn’t lying, so I really couldn’t be mad at him, but the tips of my ears burned with embarrassment.
“Our date was lovely,” Giselle said, as sweet as ever. “That’s why I’m here again. I had so much fun, I had to come visit and spend time with all of you.”
“Oh, you want time with all of us?” Benny said, eyebrows going up just like his mother’s.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m here to take the kids to my place so the two of you may have… privacy.”
I picked up on the spike in Giselle’s nerves whenever Natalie spoke. I couldn’t blame her. Natalie was intense even when she wasn’t trying to be.
“Let’s have dinner first, then maybe play a board game, and see how we feel. How about that?”
“Yay!” Benny shouted. It was louder than what was polite, but I let it slide. It was doing my heart a lot of good to see him so enthusiastic. I knew he was fond of Giselle, but I’d had no idea just how jazzed he’d be to hang out with her outside of school.
“Aeee!” Veronica agreed enthusiastically.
I wasn’t about to be a stick in the mud if both my children were so enthused, so I threw my arms up. “Aw, yeah!”
