“Yes.” I shouldn’t have been as close as I was but thankfully the roads were fairly empty. “I’m pulling into the parking lot right now and I see…yes…I see Dorian’s car.”
As well as five other trucks that seemed to be strategically placed around it.
“Did Mr. Stein ask some of his friends to help keep you guys safe?”
Before Emeric could answer, a deep voice came from the phone. “My brothers.”
Interesting.
“Thank you.” I blocked in several vehicles as I parked halfway between the building and Dorian’s car, but I wasn’t worried about it. “I’m here. Let Mr. Stein know I’m wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.”
There was no point in confusing worked-up cats who’d gone into defensive mode.
“He heard and he’s texting the men outside.” Emeric still sounded excited and not afraid, but I wasn’t sure how much was relief and how much was him ignoring reality. “I…I think I’m ready to go home, Alpha. We…we could go on a run or…or watch a movie?”
So both…but he was just really good at ignoring realty?
“We are going home right now, and if we’re lucky, my mother will leave us alone long enough to pick out the best goodies to snack on while we’re putting stuff away.” Emeric found that funny, so I kept chattering as I jumped out of the car. “She woke me up first thing being nosy.”
“Uncle Dorian was right.” Emeric snickered as I climbed out of the car. “He said she wouldn’t leave you alone too long.”
Sighing, I played up the drama to make him laugh again. “You guys left early just to put me at her mercy and save yourself.”
“Uncle Dorian rolled his eyes.” Emeric thought that was hilarious. “But we’re bringing home food so you have to pretend he didn’t try to throw you under the bus to save himself.”
“And you.” I couldn’t let him forget that part. “He saved you too. I’m the one he ditched.”
“You got to sleep in, drama queen.” Dorian’s teasing was cut off by the cat making a godawful noise.
It even startled Dorian because he stopped halfway out the door of the grocery store as he pushed one cart and pulled another. “Are you alright?”
No, cats were too easily riled up to ever be considered anything other than insane and high-maintenance.
“Okay, the grocery to bus ratio is good enough that I won’t complain too much.” My ridiculous response got a laugh from Emeric as he raced the last few feet and threw himself at me. He was technically too old to carry but I swept him up in my arms. “As long as you got me something to eat. I’m starving.”
Grinning ear-to-ear, he cocked his head as he grabbed onto me like a monkey instead of a wolf. “Your mom doesn’t feed you either?”
Good fucking grief.
“Nope, but I bet Dorian will.” Yep, he was trying to shake his head and look like he thought we were ridiculous but I could see him weakening. “My ace in the hole is going to be to remind him that I didn’t have any healthy food in the house, but I’ve got lots of coffee.”
Dorian knew his job and groaned on cue but he confused the cat that was following close behind him. “Don’t tell me that.”
Emeric pretended to be sneaky and whisper. “Did you eat the brownies?”
“Ancestors above.” Dorian went back to shaking his head. “I don’t know how you haven’t died of scurvy yet.”
I could tell Emeric had added something new to his list of questions, but the cats chose that moment to circle ranks around us. It cut off the teasing but I tried not to look too serious in front of Emeric. “Okay, you’re going in my car this time because I think Dorian’s going to need all his room for groceries.”
He was at Jenga levels of stacking and I wasn’t sure how he’d get it all in the car. I was just going to leave the safety issues unsaid for the moment. “You plan what we’re going to have for dinner while I help Dorian.”
I took him over to the car and set him down, then handed over my phone and traded him for Dorian’s. “You figure out that cabbage question. No calling Mars, though. I don’t think my plan will work there.”
He went back to giggling as he climbed in the back seat with his new treasure. “I don’t have anyone to call. You’re both here.”
Emeric clearly thought I was ridiculous but I could see the cats going still.
They were going to have questions, but they waited until he was safely in the car.
