Next to her stood a smirking Uncle Andrew.
Typical Mom, appearing like this with no warning. She had been a wereball captain back in her Scottish pack, absolutely ruthless at our age. The women’s league? Just as bloody and brutal as the men’s. Maybe worse.
“Husband.” She nodded at Dad, excluding him from the ‘sweets’ nickname.
Dad bolted up so fast, his chair was knocked to the floor. “Wife.”
His jaw flexed, nostrils flared like a bull about to charge.
“Andrew,” he added as an afterthought.
“Hello, Richy-Rich,” Uncle Andrew slurred.
Dad exhaled sharply. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back today? I could’ve picked you up.”
Mom shrugged, already ruffling Lachlan’s hair. “Because I didn’t come backtoday. We landed last night.”
Electricity crackled in the air. Incoming fireworks.
“I wasn’t going to miss my pup’s game,” she cooed, kissing Lachlan’s cheek. “Oh, honeybee, next time you kick, aim higher. More ribs.”
My father pinched the bridge of his nose.
I bit my lip to hide my smile. Of course she’d parrot Dad’s exact advice. She knew what she was talking about.
Dad prowled toward her, his silver rings catching the light. Looming over her, he glowered, “So you were at the game.”
She placed her hands on her hips, her chin tilting another notch. “I was. Got a problem with that?”
“Hell yeah.”
And just like that, he scooped her up and carried her toward the exit while the whole diner watched.
“If you’ll excuse us,” he called over his shoulder, “my wife and I need todiscussher behavior.”
Mom just laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, utterly unfazed.
“Put the bill on Andrew’s tab!” Dad yelled at the waitress.
Uncle Andrew rolled his eyes so dramatically that they vanished into the back of his head, but
Lachlan and I barely blinked. We’d grown up withTeen Wolf: Married Edition.
“I haven’t missed you either, brother-in-moon!” Uncle Andrew shouted after them.
Andrew and Dad didn’t get along at all back when Dad first chased Mom across the Highlands, trying to convince her to move to Montana as his Luna, a pack’s female leader. Things didn’t get much better through the years.
“I hope I’m still like that after twenty years of marriage.” Tiziano sighed dreamily.
Lachlan patted him on the head. “First, you need a mate.”
Tiziano swatted my brother’s hand away. “Please! If I wanted a creature to follow me everywhere, I’d get a puppy. I’d prefer a non-mate, with a little pain…and some psychopathic traits. I just think it’s cute your parents are still so passionate.”
“They’retoomuch, believe me.” My twin winced, and before I could comment on that, oxygen vanished from my lungs. My uncle’s bear hugs were infamous, spine-aligning, and a big part of my childhood.
“Hi, Uncle! Missed you!” I grinned, hugging him back. “How are the chiefs?”
“They’re mad because you haven’t visited inyears!”
