Page 23 of Howl Me to the Moon (Moonlight Siren Supernatural Cruises #2)
VAN
The show went great tonight. It was the best one yet since Rex had joined us. But hey, adjustment pains were expected when going from selkie to furball, especially with their different personalities both onstage and off.
Luna Blue Shadows closed the night with drinks at the crew bar. Piper and Kylie joined us, each with a sly grin as if they shared a private joke.
“What’s with that look?” I asked them.
Piper took a sip of her drink. “What look?” she asked with faux innocence.
I snorted. “Come on, now. We don’t all have heads made of stone.” I threw a playful grin at Caleb. Funny how he could take ribbing when it came from anyone else but our former bassist, Angus. The two of them just breathing in each other’s space could set the other off as though one had exhaled fire in the other’s face. Fortunately, that aggressive tension was gone now as we moved on with Rex. I leaned back in my chair and glanced at Piper. “Spill.”
A mischievous glint gleamed in her eyes. “Okay, Kylie and I had an interesting chat this evening. We were going to bet on who’d find their fated mate next.”
I rolled my eyes. “Here we go.” I fake gagged, knowing where this was going. “Whenever someone gets mated, they start to play Cupid.” I raised my index finger. “Keep your arrows away from this fine gluteus maximus.”
I lifted myself off my chair just enough to smack my ass.
Rex growled beside me. “Keep your gluteus maximus away from my mate.”
I laughed. “Damn, mated shifters are possessive as hell. Keep it in your pants, furball.” I turned back to glance at Piper and then Kylie. “So, who did you bet on?”
“Definitely not you,” Piper said.
“Smart,” I acknowledged with a nod and tapped my temple. “Or I’d think all those paint fumes got into your head.”
Kylie chuckled while shaking her head. “The odds on you…”
Damien added, “About a million to one, I’d wager.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him. Mates. I shuddered at the sickeningly sweet display of affection.
Cal, who’d been quietly observing as if perched in stone, perked up. “Not me.”
Piper flashed him a what-are-you-nuts look. “No, I’d have better chances playing blackjack with my eyes closed in the casino.”
“Good. Because that’s not happening,” Cal grumbled. He crossed his arms across his chest and frowned like a disgruntled statue.
Rex turned to Piper. “So, who did you pick?”
Piper shrugged with nonchalance. “I couldn’t decide.” She took a long sip of her drink while appraising me and then Caleb. She raised her brows with a challenge. “I guess one of you will surprise us all.” A small smile emerged. “Maybe even yourself.”
I groaned. “Witch, you’ve definitely inhaled too many paint fumes. I’m not interested in settling down—especially with anything as permanent as a fated mate.”