Page 37 of Puck My Life

I don’t look away from him.

“Boys, calm down. I’m hungry.”

My attention snaps to her. “What are we having?”

She grumbles and shoves at me; it does nothing.

“How about garlic chicken? I’ll make sure we have extra helpings.”

Good, I can make sure she eats.

Raynor relaxes, and, suddenly, my alpha lets go, too. Happy and content to be fed.

PRESENT

This game has suddenly gotten more interesting. I drum my fingers on the kitchen table and watch as she fusses with the line of cans. She’s always got to have things organised and neat. It drives me nuts; I just want to mess her up.

But that kiss. It was something else.

I could taste honeycomb candy, which was strange; I hadn’t seen her eating any.

“All right, so I’ve got your protein shakes over here-”

“Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you were less you?”

She turns around, and I see the pain in her eyes before she hides it. “Sure, Deacon, I imagine I had a family, a home, people who loved me. I’ve thought about it a lot over the years. If I were less me, I wouldn’t be living like this.”

I ignore the barbs because I’m watching, waiting to see something.

“And us?”

She pauses. “Strangely enough, I never imagined what your lives are like. Who you might be other than who you are. I like who you are.”

Ah-ha. I pounce on her, aggressively lobbing the question at her. “So, why are you trying to change us?”

She turns away, hiding in the cupboard. “Because things can’t stay the same.”

“Sure, they can.”

She shakes her head. “No, they can’t.”

“All right, fine. They can’t. I’m calling everyone over.”’

She gasps in outrage. “You have practice tomorrow.”

“So?”

“So, you can’t have a party. If you don’t care about yourself, at least think of Mal. This is his career, his chance. Marilyn said no more parties.”

Her argument has me whirling towards her, raking my eyes over her, furious that she’s going to baby him again.

“He loves parties.” I pull out my phone and scroll through my apps while I pretend to search my contacts. “Unless, of course, you want to make another deal?”

She steps back, right into the bench, and jumps in surprise. I don’t even try to cover my smile.

“What is a night without a party worth to you?” I croon.

Her eyes are delightfully wide, she looks like a little frightened kitten. I stand up, moving slowly so I don’t spook her.