I turn to look at him, and he nods, his gaze glued to Boris' in the reflection.
"Great, I'll take you one day.Maybe next weekend."
I stare at him."You're taking my son to see a crazy person?"
"Hey, don't talk about my mother that way!"He grins at me, and my heart speeds up.Stupid.
* * * *
Chapter 11
Boris
I park outside Beantopia and swallow a groan.The parking lot is packed, and I recognize several of the cars.Half the pack is here.Maybe it was a dumb idea to bring Simon and Ira.
I turn to Simon."Whatever you hear today, it's completely made up and grotesquely exaggerated."
"And?Both completely made upandgrotesquely exaggerated?"He widens his eyes, and I want to lean over the center console and kiss him.Instead, I give him my best puppy eyes.I'm a werewolf, puppy eyes come naturally.
"I don't know if I should laugh or be terrified."
"Oh, don't be terrified.They can smell fear like sharks smell blood.Soldier on, head held high, and if someone talks to you, pretend you're deaf."
There is a low chuckle from the backseat, and my chest overflows with warm feelings.Who'd have thought it would be fun to have a kid tag along on a date?
"Ready, Ira?"I look at him in the rearview mirror."The best apple pie in Rutchester.Unless you want to go visit the crazy person with the chickens.She bakes a mean apple pie."Fuck, now I want Mom's apple pie.Conan's is good, but Mom's is filled with good childhood memories.
We get out of the car, and I notice Zahrah waiting for us by the corner of the cafe.I grab Ira's hand before Simon can."See the woman over there?"I point at Zahrah.She's wearing a thick winter jacket and an orange beanie."That's Zahrah."
She walks toward us, and I can tell she's a bit unsure of how to act.Not something you normally see when it comes to Zahrah.
I stop in front of her."Zahrah, this is Ira.Ira, Zahrah is my best friend in the whole wide world."
Zahrah shakes his hand."It's nice to meet you, Ira.I hear you like wolves."
He shrugs."I don't like them."He speaks so low it's nearly impossible to hear, and his gaze is glued to the ground.
"You don't like them?I believed you liked them.Did you only come for the pie?"I sigh dramatically."I guess it's as good an excuse as any."
He sends me a pleading look I don't know what to do with, so I give him a small smile and squeeze his hand.
"Simon, Zahrah, Zahrah, Simon."I wave between them.
Simon holds his hand out for Zahrah."Hi."
"It's good to meet you.All I hear is Simon this, Simon that."
"Zahrah!"Normally, I'd have growled at her, but I can't now.
She grins as if she knows exactly what dilemma she's putting me in.
"Eh..."Simon looks confused."We don't...know each other."
Zahrah waves a hand as if it's neither here nor there, then she focuses on Ira."So, Ira, ready for some banana caramel pie?"
The poor boy looks between me and Zahrah.I scrunch my nose."Don't listen to her.Everyone knows we're here for apple pie."
"Don't deprive the child, Boris.You can have apple pie any day of the week.It's nothing special--" I gasp, "--whereas banana caramel pie is divine and should be enjoyed at least every other Saturday."
