“Go, I’ll order.” He passes me Danger and walks off.
I hesitate, unaccountably nervous for some ridiculous reason. I force myself to start walking. But when Elijah sees me, his face lights up, and I don’t know what I was nervous about. He meets me halfway and pulls me into a hug that makes my bones ache in the best of ways.
“You look beautiful as always.”
“Divine,” Mack says. “And you, too, Mr Handsome, you look bigger.”
Danger barks and wiggles, so I pass him to Elijah, who immediately gives him all the attention he needs.
Mack hugs me quickly, glancing around. “Shall we go down to the beach where we aren’t the entertainment for Main Street?”
I look up and catch a whole heap of people staring, but they are all smiling. Instead of the embarrassment I would have felt once upon a time, I just feel amusement.
Elijah croons to Danger. “Hello, my baby boy, look at you, I swear, you’ve grown a whole inch. You are so big, aren’t you? Oh, thank you for the kisses.”
Mack laughs. “How have you been? You know, since the heat?”
“Oh, fine. I’m sorry,” I say in a rush. “It’s not you; well, it was partly you, but it’s definitely a me thing.”
Mack’s lips tilt up. “It’s not you; it’s me?”
I glare at him.
He bites his lower lip. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
I huff. “It’s true, though, in this case. I don’t know if I want to start a life in Sunshine Cove, so I needed to do some thinking.”Be cautious Sofia, don’t give anything away.
“What did you decide?”
“That I’m even more confused than I was before,” I say wryly.
“There’s nothing confusing about it. This is where you are happy, where you feel safe, where your family is. This is home,” Elijah says without looking away from Danger.
“It’s not that simple-”
He stands up, his blue gaze holding me captive. “It is that simple.”
I look away, shaking my head. Frustrated.
“Okay, okay, let’s table this conversation and enjoy our lunch,” Mack says.
“I’ll take Danger for a quick run and come back.”
I watch Elijah leave, a disquiet growing inside me. “He’s angry with me.”
“He’s not angry; he’s hurt. He thought the heat would end, and you would stay.”
“I can’t promise that, but I’m working on it,” I whisper.
Mack cups my cheek. “You don’t have to explain to me, Secret. I know about not staying. About doing things because you have no choice. Whatever is eating you up must be strong because you are fighting to be here with us.”
I close my eyes, my lower lip trembling. I don’t deserve this alpha.
“When you are ready, the words will come, and it will be okay.”
I launch myself at him, hugging him tight and burying my face in his chest. He strokes my back and lets out a slow, deep, rumbling purr.
I love him.
