Chapter Eleven
It had been a week since Jojo and Tommy joined the pride, and not a single word had been heard from Alpha Langston. I knew Jojo saw the man as a monster of epic proportions, and I believed him. But I was also starting to think if Tommy didn't get outside to run around and play, the kid was going to implode.
"Hey, Squirt." I swung Tommy up into my arms. "Want to go play in the park?"
Tommy's eyes sparkled. "We can go to the park?"
"If your dad says it's okay."
Jojo's eyes rolled. "Way to pass the buck."
I grinned.
"Can we, Dad?" Tommy was practically bouncing in my arms. "Can we go to the park? Please?"
Jojo sighed before looking at me. "Is it safe?"
"It should be. I'll have Bob and Shade go with us just in case."
Jojo's lips thinned.
"I can see if a few of the others want to go, as well, if that will make you feel better."
"Not being afraid to take my son to the park would make me feel better, but I guess this is all I have at the moment." He huffed out another sigh. "Okay, Tommy, go get your jacket and shoes on, and we'll go to the park."
"Yes!"
Tommy started wiggling so hard, I had to either set him down or drop him. The moment his feet touched the floor, he was off and running.
I couldn't help chuckling. "He really wants to go to the park."
"He's a rambunctious three-year-old. Being locked indoors is not his natural state."
No, I supposed it wasn't.
"Why don't you go make sure Tommy is ready to go play in the park, and I'll round up some people to go with us?"
"Okay."
When Jojo started to walk away, I grabbed his arm and pulled him back long enough to press a kiss to his lips that made me question the insanity of going anywhere except to our bedroom. I never knew I'd enjoy kissing so much until Jojo came into my life. Now, I wondered how I ever did without it.
I watched with a bit of pride as Jojo weaved just a bit as he started to walk away again. I smiled and slid my hands into my pockets as I started down the hallway. Maybe I wasn't the only one so affected by that kiss.
"Oh, hey, Sampson," I called out when I saw the man leave the dining room. "Jojo and I want to take Tommy to the park so he can play. Any chance you can go along?"
"Yeah, I think I can do that. Mind if Henry comes, too?"
"No, not at all. Jojo would probably enjoy that." I gestured back down the corridor. "I'm going to go see if I can round up a few others. The more the merrier."
Sampson lifted an eyebrow. "And safer?"
I chuckled. "That, too."
The man knew me better than I thought he did.
"You know they're going to want to take the cats."
"Yeah." I winced. "That might not be a good idea quite yet."
