“Cocktail shaker is above the fridge,” I added since she seemed to be on a mission.
“Thanks.” Silence fell in the kitchen until the sounds of the ice machine and Simone shaking the hell out of a cocktail shattered the quiet of the living room.
“Who wants one?” she yelled.
Dad frowned. “What is it?”
“An espresso martini, I think. They’re delicious.”
“Yes, please,” Dad called.
Garrett waved his hand.
“I’ll have one. Mom and Moira are in the greenhouse. How many did you make?”
“A lot.”
“Good. I’ll text them.”
A moment later, Simone shoved a drink under my nose, and Mom and Moira burst through the door.
“Gimme!” Moira said.
Simone jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “There are two on the kitchen island.”
Mom shoved Moira so hard the vampire flipped over the back of the recliner and crashed to the ground.
She cackled and sprinted to the kitchen. “Me first!” Mom crowed.
“Looks like you two made up,” I drawled as Moira tried to untangle herself from the blanket I’d draped on the back of the chair.
“Your mother is a damn menace.” She finally freed herself and rose.
“Here.” Mom handed her the drink and grinned. “I wanted the one that was a little fuller.”
Moira took the drink and narrowed her eyes at my mom. “Did you do anything to it?”
Mom sipped her cocktail. “Mmm. This is delicious. Who’s the bartender?”
I pointed at Simone who’d sprawled next to Garrett.
“We’ll have to keep you around,” Mom said before she nudged Moira out of the way with her hip and took the chair for herself.
“That’s actually why we’re here,” Simone began.
“She doesn’t want a job at the shop,” I said.
Garrett groaned. “For the gods’ sake. Do women always take this long to get to the point?”
Simone nudged him. “Shut up,” she hissed.
“Yes,” Dad said.
“We left Caelan,” Garrett said. “Permanently. As such, we can no longer live in his territory.”
I sucked in a shocked gasp. “What. Why?”
Both the shifters looked profoundly uncomfortable.
