“That was nice,” Mom says, shivering.
“Mom, Chicago is just as cold as it is here,” I remind her.
“It feels worse here,” she says with a grin.
The four of us chat as the hostess escorts us to our table, and I have to say I’ve missed being this comfortable around my family. I’m always holding a secret, or feeling over defensive when they ask me about my life. It also helps that they can bug my sister about these things too.
“How are you enjoying working at the school?” I ask her, looking over a menu. I’m starving.
“The principal makes me insane, but I love everything else,” she says. “The main focus is music and dance, so I’m always working on something new with students. Then, at night, I’m practicing for the orchestra.”
“A good busy?” I ask.
“For now, yes it is,” she agrees. “New York always has something to do, the food is amazing, and I love my friends. School is back in session next week, which means my vacation is ending.”
“It’s been fun though,” Mom admits, sighing happily. “We missed so much when you were kids because we worked so much. I’m so proud of you both.”
“There are days when I wish we could do things differently,” Dad says. “I’m glad you’re both working in fields you love.”
“They say that’s what grandchildren are for,” Mom says wistfully.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
KOEN
“They’ll come at some point,” Rhodes says from behind, surprising me. Craning my head back, I see him looking down at me with a pleased look on his face.
The bond also tells me he’s just happy to see me.
Skylar and Rhodes sit down, and Mom thinks about what Rhodes said.
“How does that work?” she asks.
“There’s adoption and surrogacy,” Skylar says easily.
“Or fostering to adopt,” I say without thinking.
Skylar’s eyes burn into me, but he inclines his head in my direction as he silently agrees with me. The conversation finds a natural progression as we order food and drinks, and Rhodes and Skylar seem to be in some type of contest of sorts that makes my ears burn in embarrassment.
“Tell me, Mrs. Jeffries,” Rhodes says with a grin. “Do you have baby photos on hand of Koen? I’ve only seen ones where he’s older.”
My mother gladly shows him, and Skylar and Rhodes ooh and ah at how cute I was. My sister can’t stop watching them, and I know it’s because of how amazed she is.
My alphas are genuinely interested in my life. They have a lot of questions about me, finding ways to ask the things I’m not a great narrator about. I see myself differently from others.
“What was Koen like as a kid?” Skylar asks.
“Quiet and really intense,” Silvia says. “He knew what he wanted, and worked his tail off for it.”
“He still does,” Dad says. “He definitely got in fewer fights back then.”
I shake my head in amusement because he’s right.
“It’s just on the ice,” I groan. “They also usually deserve it.”
“Mmhmm,” Rhodes snorts. “I almost had a stroke watching him from my crease during that game we played as Angels.”
“Isn’t that about the time you were traded?” Dad asks, his eyes narrowing.
