Page 14 of Cowboy Bear’s Hope (Motley Crewd Shifters #3)

“ A re you feeling any better?”

I lifted the pot of freshly brewed tea and poured some into Penny’s mug before sliding it over to her.

My BFF looked green around the gills, and I didn’t envy her. But that was morning sickness. A big old bucket of fun.

“I don’t know if I can even swallow this,” Penny murmured, lifting the mug to her face.

Speaking of buckets .

I grimaced and inched the small garbage bin Penny had been keeping beside her— just in case —a little bit closer to her chair.

“Mama! Mrs. O’Hare says I can help make cookies, can I?” Rosie asked, running into the living room where we were sitting and chatting.

I grinned at the picture she made with a too big apron tied around her small waist and her curly hair pulled back from her face with a kerchief.

“You sure can, Sweetheart,” I said with a grin.

“Aw, she is so sweet,” Penny said, going in for a sip. “Oh, no.”

She quickly put the cup down and grabbed the garbage bin, spitting into it as another wave of pregnancy fun hit her.

“Okay. It’s gonna be fine,” I said, grabbing the package of Saltines from the tray and taking two out for her.

“Here, try these.”

“Ugh, this is so awful. When will it end?” she moaned.

“That depends. It could go away tomorrow or last the entire pregnancy, but don’t worry! That hardly ever happens,” I said when her face started turning red.

“What?” Penny wailed, just in time for Jezebel to come in through the front door.

“Is someone dying?” she asked, grinning as she juggled a stack of DVDs in one hand and a huge bag of movie theater popcorn in the other.

My stomach rumbled. It was just about the best salty snack ever. I was partial to sweets but come on. Who didn’t love popcorn?

“Wow! Do people still use DVDs?” I asked, grabbing the pile of movies before they fell.

“Thanks. Well, yeah, before streaming service came along, you betcha. Plus, we have this projector at the drive-in that runs these. Anyway, I thought maybe you could use some cheering up, Pen,” Jez said and joined us.

“Oh my gah! Did everyone know I was pregnant before me?” she hollered.

Jezebel looked decidedly guilty, and I just bit my lower lip. Truth was, I suspected she was pregnant weeks ago.

“I’m gonna kill Max,” she growled, and damn, her skin really did turn red for a second.

“Pretty Penny, take it easy. You know you shouldn’t get worked up,” I cooed, using my pet name for her.

The fact that all the Shifters around her didn’t tell her was something she’d have to come to terms with.

That or she could get them back.

And knowing Penny, she would come up with some pretty clever forms of retribution once she was feeling better.

I wasn’t worried.

“How could my fiancé be such an idiot?”

“Oh, Sweetie. Max went to an ivy league school. He’s not an idiot,” Jezebel said.

“What does that have to do with being an idiot?” she growled, and I had to admit she had a point.

Having a degree didn’t make you smart. The same way going to church didn’t make you a good person.

But I wasn’t saying any of that to Penny. I knew how she felt about her man. While she might be allowed to call him names, it wouldn’t be okay for any of us to do the same.

Not that I would. I liked Max. Especially for her. The two of them together were one of those power couples the tabloids loved to write about.

Truth was, I’d been jealous of Max and Penny’s love affair. Not in the I hope they break up kind of way.

More the why can’t I have that in my life kind of way.

I bit my lip as the sudden realization hit me that I did have that in my life now. With Dante.

My very own mate.

I might be human, but I had feelings for the man. Big feelings. No, he hadn’t made any declarations of love, but claiming me had to mean something, right?

He just has to care.

“Right, Avery?” Jezebel asked, and I felt guilty cause I hadn’t been paying attention to the conversation.

“I think we need some movie therapy. Let’s see what we have here. How about a romcom? I am always up for one of those,” I said, looking through the goldmine of chick flicks Jezebel brought over.

“I vote for Clueless, ” she said, naming the 90s redo of the classic tale Emma by Jane Austen, starring Alicia Silverstone.

“Oh, I love that one,” I said, handing it to her.

Truth was, it didn’t matter to me what was on the TV. MY thoughts were all over the place.

Okay, well, that wasn’t entirely true. My thoughts were focused, just not on anyone in that room.

They were on Dante. I bit my lip, my entire body lighting up at just the thought of him.

Having sex with the big man was one thing. But loving him? That could lead to my destruction. And I had Rosie to think about.

Oh my God. What have I done?

“Here. Let me put this in a bowl,” I said and grabbed the popcorn and a big bowl from the side table.

Penny must have known Jez was bringing popcorn, I mused as I poured.

“Thanks,” Penny murmured.

She was frowning, but at least she wasn’t turning red anymore.

While Jezebel futzed around with the DVD player, I had to admit to feeling a modicum of guilt. Me and Penny used to be in each other’s pockets. But nowadays, we just didn’t see each other like we used to.

Lately, I’d been stuck in town, and she’d been at the ranch more and more. Ever since she hired a baker to take over her duties, she barely even worked at the bakery.

I knew, of course, it was because she was trying to get control of her new supernatural side. But that didn’t account for her and Jezebel having gotten so close.

Ever since Emmet and Jez got married and moved into his cabin on the property, I’ve felt the distance between me and Penny grow.

Truth was, I’d been feeling left out. Like I’d been losing my friend. And that wasn’t fair or true.

Penny had always stood by me and Rosie. She deserved better than for me to be petty about her newfound happiness. And I was so glad she and Max had found each other. They were perfect together.

Besides, there was no longer a reason for me to feel envious. I had my own happiness now, too.

At least, I really hoped I did.

“I have a confession,” I blurted, never one to sit on my feelings.

“OMG! I knew you looked different. Okay, spit it out. What is it?” Penny asked, eyes wide.

“Up until a few months ago, I thought Jezebel’s name was Jordan!” I blurted and slapped my hand over my mouth.

Penny laughed and Jezebel snorted.

“What? Why?” Jez asked, but she didn’t look mad.

“I don’t know, but I am so sorry. I don’t know why I thought that.”

“That’s okay. Not like we talked much before then, Av. It’s no big deal,” she said with a grin and a shrug.

“You are awful with names,” Penny agreed, and then snorted a laugh.

Heifer.

“Also, I was jealous of you two becoming friends. And well, I just thought you should know,” I said, owning up to my shortcomings.

“Oh, no! I hate that you felt like that. But well, I understand,” Jezebel said and came to sit by me.

“What? Avery! Why on earth would you be jealous?” Penny asked, and she looked totally surprised.

“I don’t know. It’s ridiculous, I was lonely, I guess, and feeling bummed out. Can you two forgive me? I feel like such an ass!”

Both women moved closer to me and threw their arms around my shoulders. We hugged and cried a little and laughed at the end.

What the hell was wrong with me? This wasn’t normal behavior for me. Like at all.

I was just an emotional mess. Penny was still wiping at her tears when she leaned her head on my shoulder. She froze suddenly and turned her face into my neck.

“Penny!”

Then, she sniffed me, and well, that was when all hell broke loose.

“Oh my God!” Penny screeched and jumped up, pointing at me like my hair was on fire.

“What is it?” I asked, patting my head to check for fire or spiders, or I didn’t fucking know what.

“Girl, what are you doing?” Jez asked, mouth agape at her ridiculous shenanigans.

We both glanced at each other, but neither of us had a clue why my bestie was squealing like a newborn piglet and pointing at me like a crazy person.

“Penny? You tell me what is going on right now!” I said, using my best professional voice, and slapping my hands against my thighs.

“You-you did it! You got naked and nasty with Dante! Our Dante? And you didn’t even tell me,” she whisper-screamed.

“Oooh, okay, she did this when Emmet and I got mated. It just makes her a little crazy, like you know, having another woman in the Crew,” Jezebel said to me.

“Spill! Come on, Av, and you better not leave anything out,” she said, landing back on the couch in a huff right next to me.

“Fine, first of all, what do you mean our Dante ?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

“Oooh, she’s got a little green monster sitting on her shoulder,” Jez said, chomping on some popcorn.

“He’s Crew. Now, I want to know what happened. Are you going to tell me or not? Are years of our friendship going to be thrown out the window like so much trash? Don’t you remember Girl Club? All our rules?” Penny said, and dear Lord, was she laying it on thick.

“As if I could forget Girl Club, Pen. I’m the one who made it up!”

I sighed and closed my eyes, praying for strength and patience.

“Rule 27, Avery. We share our big D stories! And I know Dante must have a very big D! Have you seen the size of that man?” Penny said and held her hands extremely far apart.

“Geezus, Penny! He’s not that—oh, okay, actually maybe,” I mumbled and tilted my head sideways.

Truth be told, she was pretty on point.

“Oh my God! Is he really hung like that?” Penny asked, her eyes bulging.

Jezebel snorted. Then she choked on a kernel. Spit it out. And snorted some more.

Penny and I turned and watched the pretty woman as she sat there, laughing hysterically at the two of us.

She even covered her face when she started crying, she was laughing so hard.

“I can’t believe I apologized to you,” I said, pretending to be scandalized.

“Y-you shoulda seen your face when Penny held her hands up!” Jezebel laughed and hiccupped loudly.

Then Penny started.

And soon, I joined in.

“You’re both enjoying this, aren’t you?” I said and side-eyed the two of them.

I grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed a few kernels at Penny first, then Jez next. But I wasn’t an idiot. I ate the rest of the salty, buttery goodness.

“Don’t blame me. You thought my name was Jordan up until recently,” Jez replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Hilarious. You both are so fucking funny. Now, I am not one to kiss and tell?—”

“BULLSHIT!” Penny replied.

“Fine. I might have done that when we were kids. But I am a mated woman now,” I said, and tilted my head, showing off my claiming bite.

That led to another round of squeals and giggles. Real camaraderie was a rare commodity in my life, but it was a good feeling.

“Oh my God! Avery, I am so happy for you,” Jezebel said first, and I gladly accepted her hug.

She was a really special woman, and the truth was, aside from Penny, I hadn’t known a lot of them.

But Jez was one of a kind, and having a second best friend was a gift I wouldn’t take for granted.

“Thank you,” I told her sincerely.

“What about you, pretty Penny? Aren’t you happy for me?” I asked my suddenly quiet bestie.

I waited for her to look at me, a little confused, and more than a little hurt by her reaction.

But the vibes she was giving weren’t happy ones. In fact, she was frowning. Hard.

“Oh Av, I mean, of course, I’m happy for you. But it’s just, you always act like the person you’re about to date is going to be the love of your life. Ahem, Mark,” she said and made a face like duh before continuing, “Avery, you pick them, then you run when it gets serious or when he has an annoying quality?—”

“Cheating on your taxes isn’t an annoying quality, Penny. It’s criminal behavior. And Rosie hated Mark. She puked on him!”

But Penny was on a roll, apparently. Drumming up my disastrous dates like they were some sort of proof I was a flake and couldn’t be serious about Dante— and the hits just kept on coming.

“Plus, you never act like you like Dante. And well, mating is for life. I don’t think you get it. If you leave him,” she whispered, leaving the last bit unsaid.

“What are you talking about? I do not act like every date is my potential forever, Penny. And I haven’t been on that many,” I argued.

“I know that, Av. I just mean you can’t dump him like you normally would?—”

“Why would I do that? What are you even saying? That I’m not good enough for him?” I asked.

It was true, in the last couple of years I’d tried dating again. But it was only a few times. I wasn’t flippant about men or my feelings, for fuck’s sake.

“No! I didn’t say that. I know you’re not flippant,” Penny started, and dammit, I realized I’d said all that aloud.

“You know what? I gotta go,” I said, shaking with emotion.

“Avery, wait! I just want to make sure you understand how serious this is. Shifters can die without their mates. You can’t just throw him aside when you get scared,” she said, and I hated that even a part of that made sense to me.

“For your information, Dante and I spoke at length about what it means to be mates. I’m sorry if you don’t think I’m good enough for him, or that I’m too emotionally immature to understand, but what you think doesn’t matter because he disagrees with you,” I told her, ignoring the metaphorical knife she just stuck in my back.

“Rosie? Rosie, get your coat on, Sweetheart. Say bye to Aunt Penny and Aunt Jezebel. We have to go,” I called out.

Standing up quickly, I walked away from Penny and Jezebel. I ignored the sound of my name coming from the two women and found Rosie standing by Mrs. O’Hare plating up the cookies they’d just baked.

It smelled great, but I was in no mood. Shock and anger mixed with grief and sadness, but I had to keep it together for Rosie.

“Wow! You two were busy!” I said with false gaiety.

Rosie narrowed her eyes, and she nodded towards the cookies.

“Mama? Are you okay?”

“Yep. I’m fine.”

“The cookies are ready. Want one?”

“Not yet, Baby. Get your stuff,” I told her.

“Think Danny will want some?” Rosie asked, smiling at the mention of his name.

I was glad she was chatting about cookies. That meant she hadn’t heard me argue with Penny. That was something, at least.

“Nice. I’m sure he will. We can take some to go. Mrs. O’Hare, would you be so kind,” I said, clearing my throat and trying to hold my tears at bay.

The front door opened, and with it a burst of chilly wind flew inside.

“Sugarplum? Hey, Avery. Is Jez here? Emmet is coming in a few minutes for her,” Max said and went straight to the living room.

I barely acknowledged his greeting. My eyes were on the figure standing behind him.

“Danny!” Rosie yelled and ran to Dante who scooped her up in his big, capable arms.

He nuzzled her cheek and said all the right things to Rosie’s million questions, but his velvet eyes were on mine. I knew he could tell something was wrong, and right then, that meant everything to me.

“Coat on, Baby Girl,” I said, and Rosie went to grab hers off the hook.

I sucked in a sharp breath, the kind that felt like it expanded every corner of my chest, and Dante stood there, waiting.

His posture was steady, unmoving, but there was something in his eyes. An intensity. A quiet plea.

It spoke louder than words. I felt something tugging inside my chest. Like a thread wrapped around my heart, and it was leading me to him.

He didn’t hound me. He was giving me space, letting me come to him when I was ready.

Without thinking or hesitating, I ran straight into him.

Dante didn’t falter. Not an inch.

The moment I reached him, his arms opened wide, enveloping me in a hug that felt like home.

He pulled me close, holding me tightly to his warm, solid body, and I let out a shaky exhale, everything in me finally releasing.

The scent of him wrapped around me. Crisp, clean, like winter wind carrying the fresh bite of pine trees.

It wasn’t just comforting. It was grounding.

Like stepping barefoot onto cool earth after wandering lost for too long.

Dante was great at giving hugs. His embrace was firm yet tender, as if he knew exactly how much strength I needed without overwhelming me.

I pressed my cheek against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear.

That sound, that steady thrum of life, soothed my frayed nerves in a way nothing else could.

Dante didn’t speak yet, and neither did I. We didn’t need to. In that moment, his presence said everything I needed to hear.

I’m here. You’re safe. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, my angst began to fade, replaced by the calm certainty that I wasn’t alone.

“What happened, Honey?” he asked, kissing my temple.

“Nothing. It’s nothing. My emotions are just all over the place.”

“Did you wanna stay for dinner? Max invited us.”

“No,” I replied too quickly. “I want to go home.”

“Home?” he asked, and my heart jolted.

“Oh, um, I meant your cabin,” I said, tearing up and feeling like a fool for thinking of it as my home.

“That is your home, Honey. Yours, mine, and Rosie’s,” Dante said, his big hands cupping my face. “Got it?”

“Got it,” I whispered, needing to hear that from him.

“Good. Let’s go. You ready, Rosie Posie?”

“I’m ready,” Rosie said as Mrs. O’Hare walked back inside with her and a wrapped plate with cookies.

“Good evening, Dante,” the older woman said and nodded her head at me.

“Mrs. O’Hare,” he said and dipped his chin.

She’d always been kind to me and Avery, and I appreciated her not saying anything now about the argument I’d had with Penny.

“Look! I made cookies, Danny,” Rosie interrupted stated matter-of-factly.

“They smell great,” he said.

Dante took the plate from Rosie with one hand, keeping the other on the small of my back as he ushered the two of us outside to his truck.

It was still warm inside, thank goodness. The icy wind bit through my jacket and the temperatures were dropping. Rosie didn’t seem to mind, but that was normal.

She prattled on and on about her baking adventure with Mrs. O’Hare, which made me feel guilty for not paying attention. But it did give me a slight reprieve from having to speak.

My heart was hurting and for the first time since I found out I was pregnant, I felt bereft.

Penny had always been my lifeline.

My person.

In a totally platonic way, of course. But maybe I’d been wrong to think of her as family.

I mean, my own didn’t want me. Maybe it was dumb to expect someone who wasn’t related to me to really care.

Shit. I hated this. Hated feeling like I was less than.

But sometimes emotions needed to run their course.

Sometimes sadness needed to be felt.

I just wasn’t expecting now to be one of those times.

How could she think that about me? How could she?