Grinning, he lifts me off my feet, pressing a lingering kiss on my neck. “I love you, beautiful.”
“Go check out your car,” Knox suggests, tugging me out of Elias’s arms and nudging me toward it. “We were going to do this on the weekend so you could take it on a longer drive, but a spin around the house will have to do for now.”
“Okay.”
I head for my new car and climb in, adjusting the seat so my feet can actually reach the pedals. One of my alphas was definitely the one driving it last; the seat is way back to account for their much longer legs.
Even though I’m only driving around the house, Wyatt shouts, “Seatbelt!”
I roll my eyes at him, but I do it with a smile and snap my seatbelt on. The gas gauge shows a full tank, and the Honda starts up first time. On my quick spin around the house, it feels smooth and comfortable to drive. It’s a used car, but knowing my alphas, they took it in for a full service at an auto repair shop before considering letting me drive it.
My alphas are waiting for me near the front porch when I cut the engine and get out.
Wyatt has his arms crossed. “How’d we do, darlin’?”
With a grin, I slam the door shut and pocket the keys. “Runs like a dream. I love it.”
He holds his arms wide, and I step into them.
Hunter clears his throat and points at the watch on his wrist. “Go call Lina and let her know you’ll be going in later. We can finish breakfast together, but we’re going to be late to work.”
“Then let's go,” I say.
The drive into town is uneventful. A lot less fun with just me in the car, but I listen to the radio and enjoy being behind the wheel again.
Before my alphas went to work this morning, I promised to call before I left and again when I arrived. Knox had already shown me how to use the security system.
I park a few feet from the diner, cut the engine, and call Knox to let him know I arrived safely. I lucked out by even getting a parking spot, since it’s nearly lunchtime and there weren’t many left. This will be the first lunch shift my alphas won’t be coming in for. None of the construction workers will be. With this being the last week, the only breaks they’ll get will be too short to leave work.
After giving the street a quick scan, my shoulders relax, and I climb out of the car. There’s no sign of Derek, and it’s been weeks since my apartment fire. Wherever he is, it can’t be in Rios.
I push open the diner doors, and the room explodes in applause, scaring the shit out of me. Everyone is grinning at me as they clap, but I’m not interested in being the center of attention at the best of times. If I’d known I would be walking into a roomful of applause, I’d have reconsidered pulling on a pair of scruffy sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt in anticipation of changing into a spare uniform in the employee bathroom before my shift starts. Face hot, I turn around to leave.
“Not so fast.” Nico snags my arm, grinning as he steers me back inside. “Everyone wanted to celebrate your coming back to work.”
I place my palms on my hot cheeks, embarrassed. “But I didn’tdoanything.”
Nico says, "Everyone worried about you, and when they heard you'd be covering for Lina, they wanted to show they missed you and that you're an important part of this community."
Patrick, a regular sitting at the counter, lifts his coffee and calls out, “And we appreciate the pie.”
A round of groans rings out, and I glance around, confused. “What’s with the groans?”
“He’s always in first asking about your pies, and everyone thinks we need to ration him,” Nico explains.
“But…” My eyes slide to the glass pie cabinet.
It’s empty. It’s barely midday, and there is not a sliver of pie to be found inside it.
I shake my head. “Wow, Knox told me the pies were selling out, but I wasn’t sure I truly believed him.”
Nico steers me away from the front and to a booth. “We need to talk about that.”
I slide into the leather booth opposite Nico and eye him warily. “What is it?”
He must have seen to all the customers already because no one seems surprised. When the bell in the kitchen rings, signaling an order is ready, Winston takes it to the table himself, flashing me a grin on his way that I return.
“I’m firing you,” Nico says.
