The next few minutes pass calmly, the girls getting lost in their games, Jesse splitting a can of orange soda between him and Midnight, pouring some into a glass for her and taking the can for himself. Then he sighs, leaning back on his hand, studying his mate.“What?” Midnight asks, taking a sip of
Midnight grumbles something about not wanting to be fair, turning her face away from him.Jesse sighs, not enjoying making her unhappy but knowing that it all needs to be said. “And,” he continues. “While I want you to enroll if that’s what will make you happy, I have to say – I don’t think Uncle Do
“Okay, okay,” I say, smiling at Pippa, giving her hand one last squeeze. “Good luck, Pips! I’ll be right outside the door!”Pippa gives me a nod and a smile, her face flushed and sweaty. She squeezes my hand back. “See you in a minute, Ari,” she says, turning away to Elias and my mom and Cora – Alph
I beam at my friend, thrilled for him, and fight heroically against my urge to turn towards Mark’s jealous little snarl.“Is there a but coming?” I ask quietly, intending that it’s not all roses.“Of course there is,” Ben says, laughing a little. “My mate – he’s married, isn’t he? He’s got a Luna an
Laughing with excitement, I move past Cora into Pippa’s room, heading immediately for the new mom. Cora follows behind me, heading to the corner to pack up her doctor’s bag. “Pips!” I say, grinning and reaching for her hand, sitting down on the stool next to her and beaming at her. “How are you? A
But my grin falls when I turn my head to look up at Mark, because that devastation…it persists. “Mark,” I say quietly, leaning towards him, wanting very much to play the big sister right now. “Still not yet, Ari,” Mark says on a sigh, glancing down at me. He gives his best attempt at a smile, bu
“I’ve been really busy,” I say, wrinkling my nose at him, unable to help my wide smile. God, he’s just…so precisely the same, isn’t he? All tall and sexy and confident. “You know, since you left me naked and crying on the floor of your bedroom.” “Aw, come on, Ari,” Luca says with a sigh, the smile
“No, they didn’t,” I say quietly, shaking my head. “I’m good.” “And the pictures of you in a crown…” I shrug, giving Luca a quick summary of my time, holding out my wrist so he can see Gabriel’s mark there too. His eyes widen at first when he sees it and I note, with a bit of a smile, that his f