Kristin giggled. “Mom told you to shut up. Na-na.” Kristin stuck out her tongue at Vaughan.
“What are you, ten years old?” Vaughan pushed her.
“Ass—” Mother Estelle pointed at Kristin. Kristin leaned toward Vaughan. “Hole,” she whispered.
“Heard it. Dollar in the jar,” Mother Estelle.
“Damn it.” Kristin turned to go inside.
“That’s two but get two from Vaughan since he cursed and pushed you.”
“God, tell Gabriel to hurry up. This family is crazy.” Sage rolled his eyes.
“Says the snake boy who screams every time someone touches him,” Vaughan said as he passed by on his way into the house.
Sage punched him in the arm. “Shut up. I don’t have any problems with Garridan touching me and he’s all that matters.”
“We don’t want to know about your sex life.” Jules rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, especially me. That’s just weird,” Bennett said and made a face.
“And me.” Lucas said without opening his eyes.
“That’s right. Sage is like the evil stepdad now, isn’t he?” Owen said with a grin. He winked at Sage.
Sage grinned and then outright laughed at the look on Bennett’s face.
Bennett narrowed his eyes at both of them. “No. Just, no.”
“You called meDadthe other day,” Garridan said and everyone seemed to hold a collective breath. Leave it to Garridan to turn the conversation from fun to serious in just one sentence. Sage burrowed in even more.
“Yeah. Is that a problem?”Bennett said.
“No. Just wanted you to know that I noticed it.” Garridan met Bennett’s gaze and smiled. “Samuel would be very proud of the dragon you’ve become.”
Bennett nodded and didn’t speak right away. He was probably trying to hold back the tears. “Uh…what about you? What do you think?” It was very cute to see how much big, strong Bennett needed Garridan’s praise.
“I think you know I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah, it’s just nice to hear it from my dad.”
“Every day they imprisoned me, getting back to you was the only thing on my mind. I’m glad that you found a family who loves you as much as I do.” Garridan turned to Mother Estelle. “Thank you for that.”
Mother Estelle smiled and nodded. “He was a good boy before he came to me.”
Bennett let Lucas go and closed the distance between himself and Garridan. He started to pull Garridan into a hug, but Sage held up a hand. “Do. Not. Touch. Me.” Since the thing with Magnus, Sage was way more vocal. He even told the Alpha when he did or didn’t want a hug.
“Yes, sir. Wasn’t going to. Just…” Bennett made a gesture with his hands for Sage to move.
Sage stepped aside but didn’t go far.
Ramsey’s phone rang.
“It’s Gabriel,” Ramsey said.
“Really? Because I thought we were waiting for the president of the universe to call,” Forrest said and rolled his eyes.
Ramsey punched him in the arm. “Quit being a smart-ass, Forrest.”
