Amazingwas a stretch, but they were solidly good. Made from scratch and definitely fluffy. I just reserved words like ‘amazing’ for Deva’s cooking.
"Sold." I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. "Lead the way, oh wise one." My phone buzzed, and I fumbled with it, almost dropping it on the concrete, before I managed to get it together. A text from Daniel greeted me.
You guys grabbing breakfast?.
I typed back quickly, trying to balance my phone in one hand and my purse in the other.
Yeah, at The Morning Griddle. Want to join us?
Sounds good, I'll meet you there.
My heart fluttered just a bit. Even something as simple as a friendly text had that effect on me when it came to him. My big, sexy bear shifter just made me feel alive in the best way possible. And, lucky for me, my friends loved him just as much. They wouldn’t mind him crashing girl time.
"Daniel's meeting us for breakfast, if that’s okay," I said to the girls.
“Of course!” They all chimed in.
I smiled. “Awesome. He was hanging out with the wolf pack since early this morning, so I bet he’s famished.”
We all continued walking in comfortable silence. People were already out and about, although the streets would be far busier in just a couple of hours. Anyone who passed us greeted us and smiled. It was one of the things I missed when I left Mystic Hollow, the friendliness, that small town feeling. Everyone knows everyone here, creating a sense of community, like a big family.
Even though it sometimes has its disadvantages too.
“How’s that going?” Beth asked, grinning.
“What?” I asked, my thoughts being pulled back into the present.
“Daniel living with you.”
“Ithasbeen awhile since you lived with a man,” Carol said, then shook her head. “I mean, I know you live with Henry, but that’s not the same as sharing your space with a romantic partner.”
“Basically, we’re asking if he hogs the covers, farts when he’s eating, leaves his socks everywhere, you know, all the typical annoying man stuff.” Deva looked pleased with herself, like she was enjoying putting me on the hot seat.
I felt my face get hot. “Having him move in has actually been amazing. He sometimes leaves his socks in places, but I do too. He sings in the shower, but I love his voice. I worried a little that having another person at the house might throw off Henry’s routine, which Henry really doesn’t like, but Daniel took to it like a duck to water. Actually, the two of them hang out almost as much as we do.”
Beth sighed. “It’s like the world gave you that toad Rick and then felt you deserved something much better after putting up with that lying, cheating bastard.”
To my surprise, I didn’t feel any anger at the mention of Rick’s name. “Actually, I think Karma already came for Rick. He threw away someone who would have taken care of him, no matter how old and feeble he got, and replaced me with a woman I’m sure will be gone as soon as his business and money dry up. And what did I lose? Just a cheating, disloyal man. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad the whole thing happened the way it did because, if not, I wouldn’t be here with Daniel and all of you.”
Carol squeezed my arm. “Alright, fine, you can have the best pancakes! Darn sweet talking girl!”
Exchanging a look, we all started laughing. I was right though, I was happy with my life now. It wasn’t like I could ever forget what it was like to be in that low place where I felt unloved, betrayed, and alone, it was just that now I knew those dark moments don’t last forever. Sometimes they had to happen so a person could step out into a new light and find even more happiness.
Suddenly, my phone rang, and I squeaked, almost dropping it again, before looking at the screen. “It’s Travis.”
They all laugh, and then Carol says, “Answer it! When your twenty-something year old kid calls you, you answer it, no matter what you’re doing!”
I grinned and swiped to answer his call, stepping down a little alley between buildings as I did so. “Pumpkin! It’s so good to hear from you!”
There was amusement in his voice. “Thanks. Sorry, I know I’ve been really busy.”
I shook my head, then stopped when I remembered he couldn’t see me. “No, don’t worry about it at all. I know between Jacqueline and studying abroad in Europe, you have your hands full.” Speaking of which. “Is that beautiful, witchy girlfriend there with you now?”
“No, actually, I wanted to talk to you by myself.”
My back stiffened. I liked Jacqueline. I liked their relationship. He was absolutely right when he said that I was sometimes worried about him being as straight-laced as his father, only because I was concerned that he wouldn’t let fun into his life. Those concerns went out the window when I met Jacqueline. Not only was she fun and quirky, but she was a witch, and he was okay with all of that. So, I wasn’t worried because of him or her, I was worried because this was my son, and he didn’t often ask to talk to me alone.
“Go ahead,” I said, holding my breath.
