“You’re talking about mating?” Liv called, emerging from the empty house Ben took her into to pee.
“How did you hear that?” Fern yelled. “Also, you’remarried?”
“Yes! Sorry.” Liv shrugged an apology and continued across the sloping yard toward them.
“Oh, yeah, shifters have enhanced eyesight, hearing, and a sense of smell that we can tap into at will,” Noa said before pursing her lips and tacking on, “and strength and speed.”
“You guys are fucking superheroes. I’m so jealous,” she deadpanned. “How can I become one?”
Grinning, Noa explained, “If you mate with a shifter, you become one. It’s part of the process.”
Fern’s heart soared. She could become a shifter. Shewould, somehow. It was too fucking magical to consider not trying. She caught Noa’s eye. “Are you into chicks?”
Noa sputtered with laughter.
“That’s a no?”
Adam chuckled from the middle of the pond. “No one tell Fitz she asked that, or he’ll come for Noa. I don’t think your fox would hold up as well as my bear did.”
“Wait, what? Did he fight you? Why would he do that?”
“I’m fine. You should’ve seenhim,though.” Adam swam toward the side.
Confused, she looked around for someone to offer an explanation.
“Elliott’s got a crush on you,” Liv said with a soft smile.
“He— Maybe.” She shrugged. “I dunno. I thought he did when he brought me food and kissed me, but then he apologized for it, and he keeps running off.”
Noa dropped her beer, and the bottleclangedon the stone before rolling into the water with a soft splash.
“I’ve got that,” Adam offered before taking a deep breath and diving for it.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” Olivia asked.
“Did you hear what Fern said?” Noa yelled to Ben, who was crossing the yard after cleaning up from lunch.
He shook his head.
“Elliott kissed Fern.”
“Noa,” Fern groaned. “I don’t need everyone to know.”
“Eh”—Noa waved her off—“everyone knows everything about everyone in Beckett Falls. I need this whole story.”
“No.”
“Will you tell us in the car on the way home?” Olivia pleaded, pouting with puppy dog eyes.
“I guess,” Fern replied before tossing back her beer.
“Awesome. We’re done here,” Noa announced, hopping up and sparking a spurt of laughter from Fern.
“I’m ready too. Let’s go,” Liv said with a smile, holding out a hand to help Fern to her feet.
“Oh my god, fine. I need to talk about this shit anyway.”
“Fuck yes, gossip,” Noa hissed as she grabbed her towel and skipped to the car.
