I hadn’t even realized he’d understand what I meant, but it made sense. He’d been taking care of his younger siblings his entire life. And now he had help from his viramore and their new family. It was a big change.
I shoulder-bumped him. “How’s it going with you? How’s the family?”
He shot me a grin. “Really great. Everyone’s getting along really well and finding their place. We argue, like any family does, but everyone… everyone really cares, you know? The girls are so happy, Oak. They’re so fucking happy in our new home. It’s been wonderful seeing it and being a part of a huge family, you know?”
The fact that he called it his new home and his family made me smile, and I couldn’t help but wrap my arm around him and pull him into a side hug. “I’m really happy for you, Ker. You have no idea how much.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me close. “Don’t worry, Oak. I have a feeling you’re gonna find your own happiness soon.”
I snorted. “I have a crush on my dad’s best friend. Not sure how you think that’s going to result in being happy. My dad would kill me if he found out.”
Ker snorted and let go. “Honestly? I don’t think you’re the one he’d kill.”
I laughed. “You’re so right. Even though I’m the one with the crush, not Rome, he’d totally murder him.”
Ker stared at me for a long moment. “You seriously don’t think Roman has a crush on you? Are you blind?”
“What are you talking about? Roman doesn’t like me.”
Ker snorted and shook his head, then stood and held his hand out to me. “Come on, beauty queen, we have a date with the dance floor.”
I chuckled at that and let him pull me to my feet.
I was a sweaty, hot mess right now, and I was pretty sure I’d smudged my eyeliner earlier when I scratched an itch, but I was having so much fun that I didn’t care at all.
Keryth, Jed, Beshiro, Kat, and Lottie—I didn’t know Kat’s viramore as well as the rest, but she was super sweet—were all on the dance floor with me while Anton and Roman sat at our table like a bunch of grumps.
But it was fine because I was still having a ball. I loved to dance.
I grabbed Ker’s hand and gave him a spin, then dipped him, making him crack up. It made me laugh too, and I barked out another laugh when Jed stepped in and did the same thing to me, dip and all.
“Oh my Scales, you’re gonna drop me.”
Jed winked. “You’re not heavy, and I’m a vampire.” He lifted me back up and gave me another spin.
I slammed into Beshiro, and we both laughed as we stumbled, and then I put my hands on his shoulders and danced with him for a few minutes.
“You having fun?” he asked, grinning.
“Definitely.”
“Good.” Without warning, he spun me, and I wound up facing Keryth again.
Ker smiled at me, and for the next song, we sang along loudly to the lyrics and shook our hips, shimmied, danced, and laughed before Jed leaned over and said, “We’re all thirsty and going to get some water. You wanna come with us?”
Ker and I looked at each other, and then he said, “Nah. We’ll stay out for a few more songs. We’ll meet you at the table in a bit.”
He nodded, and the rest of our group followed him to the bar as Ker and I danced the night away.
The entire time I was out there, I felt eyes on me, and I knew exactly who was staring.
Roman.
Holy shit, Rome was staring at me, and it didn’t feel like a bodyguard type of stare, not even a little bit.
Hm, maybe this vest and skin-showing thing I had goin’ on had been a good choice.
I glanced over at the table where our friends were, and I wasn’t surprised to find Roman staring at me. Since I was feeling… flirty? Or maybe just a little drunk on dwarf beer, I winked at him.
