Rowan gets entirely too flirty, while Ryland asks about the rescue and likes to keep me updated on Ash and the kittens.
They’re letting me set the pace for what I’m comfortable with.
Which, from what I hear, is extremely difficult for Rowan to do.
I shrug. “When I invite them,” I answer.
“They need to visit!” Maeve exclaims. “They should come volunteer! They should be cat experts now, based on how many cats they own.”
“Maeve, I’m not going to ask them to volunteer,” I say.
Piper snorts. “I’m pretty sure those guys would do anything for you,” she says.
“You don’t know that,” I protest.
“Blair, you’re the coolest person on earth. I’m pretty sure they’d do anything for you,” Maeve says.
I roll my eyes but smile fondly at Maeve’s kind words.
“Yeah, Blair Bear,” Piper adds. “Why the hell haven’t you invited them?”
The door to the rescue chimes open, and a familiar, friendly scent fills the room as a blonde head of hair comes into view.
Avery, Piper’s packmate and Maeve’s brother enters, holding a potted plant that I immediately recognize as cat grass.
Likely grown by Poe, the leader of Piper’s pack.
“Hey,” Avery says softly. “I can’t stay too long, I have to get back to campus—but I wanted to pop in. This is from Poe. He said he’ll be by to pick you up later, Pipe.”
He places the pot on the counter, and Alvin immediately moves off the blanket to inspect Avery’s delivery.
“Did you bring me food?” Maeve asks excitedly.
Avery rolls his eyes at his younger sister. “Yes. There’s a spicy tuna roll and miso soup in my car.”
Maeve squeals, and Avery and Piper laugh at her reaction.
My best friend’s face lights up when she sees Avery, and warmth blossoms in my chest.
Piper has been through a lot—when she was struggling, we focused on her problems, not mine.
But now, Piper is doing well and finally went no-contact with her abusive parents with the help of her pack.
My issues were on the backburner while I was concerned with Piper.
She still doesn’t know how shaky I get when I have to drive.
She doesn’t know that I’m terrified that one day all of my trauma will bubble to the surface and I won’t be able to handle it anymore.
Piper catches me staring at her and raises an eyebrow. “What?”
“Nothing,” I sigh. “I was just thinking?—”
The door chimes again, and this time, two very familiar faces walk in.
Rowan and Ryland enter, and Ishouldbe annoyed that they didn’t tell me that they were stopping by, but instead, I smile.
I missed them.
