Rafe immediately goes into Prince-mode, continuing to pat Gran on the back while looking up at Luca and quietly mouthing “who is this?” Luca sighs and gestures towards her. “Rafe, this is my Gran,” he says. “She’s…a big fan.” “Oh,” Rafe says, his eyebrows going up, because of course we’ve heard
Passively, some part of me is very grateful that Gran speaks a different language from us – I want her to remember this as a nice day, not as the horrible afternoon it already is. “You can bring along any lawsuit you want,” Bruce says, giving a casual shrug as he meets Rafe’s eye. “I didn’t do any
“I didn’t do anything,” I correct, putting out a hand between us. “And it may be true that I’m good for Luca’s image, but it should have been our choice to make this announcement. I’m part of this now, and even if you are in charge of Luca’s public image, you’re not in charge of mine.” Bruce holds
“Luca,” I say, putting out my hands towards him. He lifts his eyes a little to meet mine, but he doesn’t move. I just raise my eyebrows, a demand in them, and he sighs and presses up off the door, coming to take my hands and sit by my side. “Your room is so cute,” I whisper. He laughs, though
After a moment Luca starts to laugh with me before he takes a deep breath and nods. “Fucking fight,” he murmurs, running an anxious hand through his hair. “I have so much to do.” “I know,” I say, resting my head on his shoulder. “But I don’t want your mind on me at all, okay? Put all of this out o
She beams at me, genuinely pleased. “We always sit ringside for Luca’s fights,” she says, giving me a little squeeze. “But thank you. That’s very kind.” “Offer stands,” Rafe says, coming over with Jesse, Gran between them with one arm around each of their waists. “Any concert or sporting game – if
“What’s wrong with Jacks?” I ask, a little frantic, turning to look her in the face. “See?” mom says, sitting up with a grin and pointing her finger at me, poking me in the chest. “The fact that you keep assuming something is wrong with him tells me that you know something is up too.” “That’s no
And my heart sinks, thinking of the reality of that. Thinking that my sweet Jacks – he’s really got no one in his life to hold him and coddle him and be his safety net. Well, almost no one. “He’s got us,” I whisper, looking into my mom’s eyes, which I know are precisely the same shade as mine. “Wh
Ariel bursts out laughing and gestures out to the rest of the roof. “Of all the interference to our plans, you’re going to point out this tiny, adorable, sleeping infant pup as the problem!?” Both boys look down at the little dark-haired baby, whose amber eyes flicker open to betray her mother’s w
Jesse sighs, glancing at his watch and then looking to the door, an undrunk glass of champagne in his hand. “Where the hell is your damn sister?” “Your damn cousin,” Rafe murmurs, draining his glass and then pouring himself another. “You’d better stop that,” Jesse says, turning his head to Rafe
She goes still for a moment and then laces her fingers with his, squeezes his hand. “We’re not dating or anything,” she snaps. “Just…because you got all rejected and stuff. I didn’t come running up here just because you’re single – I thought you were going to die –“ “Sure, you didn’t,” Jesse says,
“I love you, Jesse,” Midnight whispers, watching him, her little mouth trembling, her entire body feeling weak. “I love you too, Mids,” he replies. “Always.” She nods once. And then disappears. Midnight fights hard against her emotions as she flits through the castle, moving back and forth bet
“I’m saying,” Midnight says, freely crying now, cupping Jesse’s face in her tiny hands. “That I – I don’t want to have your pups, Jesse. Ever. Ever. I don’t want them.” She shakes her head, vehement. “I think I’d be a bad mom. I’d leave them at the grocery store and forget they were there. I – I jus
She has to admit though…the stars are a pleasant addition. Midnight’s wolf gives a little worried howl, sprawled out in her soul, her little legs too weak to carry her much or far these days. But Midnight smiles a little and strokes a mental hand over her wolf’s fur, pleased to see her free and cl
“What,” Jackson asks, frowning down at the little rectangular stone in his hands. “Is it like, special?” “Jackson!” Midnight hisses, standing on her toes to smack him on the chest. “They’re invaluable! This is only the second I’ve ever seen in the world! And I only know of one besides that other o
I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re feeling cheerful,” I say, grinning at her. “I am!” she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. “I don’t think that an
Jesse’s eyes open first, and then Midnight’s, slow and sleepy. “How do you feel?” I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows. “What happened?” Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a h