"Yep, I’m just stopping by to see Rissa," I replied, lifting the coffees as though they were some kind of peace offering.
She waved me through with a knowing smile.
I made my way to her classroom, finding her through the window. She sat there, surrounded by a semi-circle of tiny chairs, each occupied by a Pre-K child hanging on to her every word. She was reading to them, animated and radiant, a beacon in the small, colorful room. I paused, caught by the scene before me, with tightness gripping my chest. There she was, a natural nurturer, yet fate had cruelly snatched away the chance of her ever being a mother.
She caught sight of me, her expression shifting from the warmth of storytelling to a guarded curiosity. The bond tugged at my insides, a silent acknowledgment of the change.
"Mr. Gallagher, is everything all right?" she called out, closing the book with a gentle thud. “Kids, you can have five minutes at your favorite station, okay?” The children took off around the room, cheering as Rissa walked over and leaned against the doorway to her classroom.
"Thought you might need a pick-me-up." I lifted the coffees toward her like a truce flag between us.
She didn't move from the doorway, arms crossed. "You don't even drink coffee."
"Maybe I just enjoy the spectacle of seeing you off-balance," I replied, closing the distance so that only a few steps separated us. She exhaled in mild frustration and snatched one of the cups from my hand.
"Is this supposed to sway me somehow?" she asked, skepticism lacing her words.
I took a deliberate gulp from my cup, hiding a grin behind the rim. "It's Mountain Dew." I opened it and showed her the glaringly yellow liquid.
Her brow furrowed as she peered into the cup. "Out of a coffee cup?"
"Looks more professional." I shrugged it off, watching her reaction closely.
She let out a sigh that seemed to carry all her patience away. A tiny smile followed. "You're impossible."
"Go on a date with me," I suggested, cutting through the usual dance of words we found ourselves in.
"Absolutely not," she retorted instantly, sticking her nose in the air.
"You're scared," I said accusingly, the silence between us stretching until it almost hummed with tension.
"I'm not scared," she countered, but neither of us moved.
Time ticked by before she finally released a sharp breath. "Fine. But this stays between us. Gavin doesn't need to know."
"Agreed. For now," I said, a smirk playing on my lips.
The whole way out to the truck and the entire drive home, I had a stupid grin plastered on my face. Rissa finally agreed to go out with me, even if she insisted on keeping it secret. Her hesitance only made me want her more.
Stepping through the door of my house, the grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. The weight of the day faded, replaced by a sense of accomplishment. I discarded my jacket and headed straight for my kitchen table, where stacks of pack paperwork awaited. I’d brought it home from the pack house last night.
For a solid hour, I sorted through documents, scribbled notes, and updated files. It was mundane but necessary; keeping the pack running smoothly was my job as alpha. The rustle of papers and scratch of pen against the desk filled the quiet space until an unexpected clatter from outside drew my attention.
Pushing back from the desk, I walked over to the window and looked out. Krystal was there, holding the door for Tavi to get into the car. I stepped outside just in time to hear Krystal call over to Elle, who was coming up the front steps with her backpack slung over her shoulder. Krystal had picked the kids up today, with Tavi going with her, so she wasn’t alone. The kids often rode the bus home, but with all that was going on, I preferred one of us take them and pick them up.
"Last chance, Elle! Are you coming?" Krystal called brightly at my daughter’s back. “Monster trucks only come around once a year, and I know how much you used to love to go.”
"Um, ew." Elle's response was immediate, her nose wrinkling in distaste.
I stepped out onto the porch and gave Elle a stern look. "Elle," I warned, letting a touch of authority seep into my tone.
She let out a heavy, theatrical sigh and mustered a forced smile as she turned and faced Krystal. "Sorry. No, but thank you for asking me." There was no hiding the sarcasm that tinged her wordsbefore she pushed herself off the step and stormed past me into the house; her mood clearly soured.
Tavi watched her go, a chuckle escaping her. "Teenagers, man."
I couldn't help but shake my head. "You have no idea." With Elle's antics and the pack's endless needs, it felt like I was juggling more than I could handle. But today, I had won a small victory with Rissa, and that kept the smirk on my face a little longer.
I glanced up as Marcus and Kendrick pulled into the drive, their casual clothes doing little to mask the calculated survey of the street. I knew that look well; it was the same one I carried every time I stepped outside the safety of our territory. Their presence was reassuring, a solid reminder that I wasn't carrying all the weight alone.
