Tongue in cheek, she weighs her options for a moment before compromising. “Two; take it or leave it.”
Grinning, Cinjin immediately agrees. “Deal, so long as I’m one of the two.”
Boden flips him off. “Let her pick which one of you she wants to come with us.”
At that, Reid raises an eyebrow. “What makes you think you get a default spot?”
Rolling his eyes, he gestures to his size like that’s enough of an argument. “You heard that phone call, we’re near enemy territory. I get default bodyguard status for the indefinite future, so where she goes, I go.”
“What phone call?” Kaige demands, and Slade quickly fills him in. He runs a hand through his hair in agitation, but beyond that says nothing, simply looking at Sabrina then swiftly away to scan the surrounding area.
Throwing her hands up in exasperation, Sabrina growls, “Why the hell did I let you guys convince me that seven mates was a good idea, again? Because it’s not feeling like a lucky number, but a recipe to always be outvoted.”
Coughing into his fist, Hunter points out, “You mean five, princess. Haven’t claimed Reid or Kaige, remember?”
Pressing her lips into a thin line as a blush stains her neck, she flips him off. “Fine, Bo and Damian. The rest of you go do literally anything else.”
“Are you sure?” I’m not sure what possesses me to ask, but to say I’m surprised is an understatement.
She meets my eye with a determined fire I’m relieved to see again. “Is there a reason why I shouldn’t be?”
A multitude of responses fly through my mind, and I hesitate, but ultimately, I decide that she values authenticity above all else and go with my initial gut reaction.
“Only if you value your budget.”
Lip twitching, she gives us her back as she strides over to the door, the shop less intimidating now that she’s leaving the majority of us outside. Boden’s a step behind, opening the door for her and following, but I don’t immediately follow. Waiting for it to click shut, I seek out Cinjin, because of all of them, I think he’ll be my best bet.
“I need you to get her a swimsuit, trunks for us, too.”
Casually biting a hangnail, he cocks his head. “I’m listening.”
“Umm, that’s pretty much it? If you can get that squared away while we’re here, we can meet up at that hotel on the west side. The-” grabbing my phone out of my back pocket, I curse.
“Eden Lakes?” Kaige tosses out, and I snap my fingers, pointing at him.
“That’s the one. Massive outdoor pool. She’s beyond overdue for a real date, but I don’t think she’s interested in any of the over-the-top things we’d like to treat her to. This seems more her speed; low pressure, relaxing, and something we can all do together.”
Cin rolls his eyes. “I know the purpose of swimwear, I was waiting for you to add the ‘P’ word.”
Sheepishly rubbing the back of my neck, I amend, “Please?”
Snorting, he shoulder-checks me on the way past. “No, clearly it was ‘penis.’ We’re standing in front of a toy shop, for fucks’ sake.”
Reid falls into step beside him as they head off down the sidewalk. “We should have haggled with her for another spot, it’s wasted on him.”
His twin pulls out his phone to bring up directions to the nearest clothing store. “Agreed on both counts.”
So much for a fresh start all around.
Pressing the tip of my tongue into the point of my tooth, I remind myself that the annoying son of a bitch is the only one that hasn’t done something to upset her, so I won’t be doing myself any favors by knocking him down a peg. And for whatever reason, she has a soft spot for his doppelganger even though he’s got a stick wedged farther up his ass than Hunter these days.
As I reach for the door, I catch a glimpse of Slade’s silent laughter at my expense, knowing better than anyone what it’s like to deal with the twins and enjoying the absolute hell out of them being my problem now. After the brutally psychotic things I saw Cinjin do to some of those lycans, and his brother coming out of being one with a fun new attitude problem?
I may as well accept my losses now, because those two aren’t going to listen to me for shit.
Striding inside, I hone in on Sabrina instantly. Being apart from her since being claimed always leaves me restless, but when I’m near her, it sets off my other half in a way I can never predict. Sometimes, he rages with desperation to be free, whereas moments like now, it feels like I’m suffocating. My entire existence I’ve lived with a constant state of pressure of some form in my chest, but moments like this? They steal my breath away in the best of ways.
Boden’s voice is a low rumble, still easily picked up across the nearly vacant store. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
