“I’d take her with!” she protested.
“And who’d take care of the kids while you and her are off gallivanting?”
“You and Mom can fight for the honor.”
“Mom?” Marco asked. “Are you and Mama going somewhere?”
She laughed and knelt to look him in the eyes. “No, Marco. Uncle Randy has a friend who goes to visit all sorts of places. I just said I wish your Mama and I could go places too.”
“What about me an’ Michelle?” he asked, frowning.
She ruffled his hair. “Sometimes grown-ups like to go to boring grown-up places. But you don’t need to worry, we’re not going anywhere. I was just being jealous of Uncle Randy’s friend.”
He made a face, but didn’t argue. “Ok.”
“You ready for Michelle to try to pull you up the hill?”
His eyes lit up. “Si!”
She reached out and slid her hands under his arms. “Up you go!” Then she lifted him and set him in the wagon.
“Still want to pull?” she asked, turning to my niece.
Michelle nodded. “Yeah!”
“Ok, let me know if you need help.”
Michelle grabbed the handle of the wagon and started back toward my driveway, Jessie and I following behind. She made it halfway up before asking for help, which I considered rather impressive. Then the three piled into their SUV and left.
∞∞∞
I embraced my best friend as soon as he reached the table. “How was Harris Cove?”
He pulled back, grinned, and turned so that I could see the back of his neck, which bore a fresh mating bite.
“You?” I asked, grinning as he turned back to me. “The man who swore he’d never mate?”
He nodded. “I know right? I’m just as surprised as you are.”
I pulled him into another hug. “Congratulations! Where’s your new alpha?”
“Parking the car. He’ll be in soon.”
“And you’re happy?” I asked as we took seats across from each other.
He nodded. “I didn’t know I could be this happy.”
“Well, I’m sad that we can’t commiserate about the single life anymore, but if you’re happy, then that’s all that matters.”
A tall, lanky alpha strode into the cafe, spotted Kerry and me, and strode over with a grin. “This seat taken?” he asked—words relaxed with a Southern drawl—as he motioned to the chair next to Kerry.
My best friend grinned up at his new mate. “Saved it just for you.”
The alpha leaned in for a quick kiss before sitting. Then he reached a hand over the table. “You must be Randy. I’m Callum.”
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Kerry speaks highly of you.”
