Page 94 of Puck My Life

Deacon, who was frowning, breaks into one of his mind-melting smiles. “We did. Are you happy, Hook?”

I smile at him. “You looked like you were flying.”

Deacon clearly wasn’t expecting me to say that. He chuckles and glances behind me.

“Are you taking care of her, Raynor?” he asks crisply.

“Of course. We’re sitting on the couch, watching your game, and I’m bribing her with cake. Lots and lots of delicious cake.”

“When we get back, we can sit down and talk and figure out how we want to handle things. What will change, what won’t.”

I lean back, a bit unsure about his curt words.

He looks away and rubs his face.

I track his movements and look at Mal, who just winks at me.

“I’m not sure what we have to talk about.”

Deacon scowls. “There are so many things. When are you moving back in? Or are you planning on not coming home? Where do you want your nest? Vae, what do you need for your heat? Have you thought about any of this?”

I open my mouth and close it. “I was more worried about finding an alpha for my heat; I didn’t really worry about the rest of it.”

Mal leans forward and snatches the phone from Deacon. “Oh, let me help you. We can go shopping and pick a room and just make it your space.”

I stare at him. “You’d do that?”

“Of course, Vae. Whatever you need. This is your first heat. We need to make it memorable and perfect for you.”

Their hotel door opens. “Downstairs, the coach wants to see everyone.”

Mal kisses the phone screen, getting a smack on the back of his head from Deacon, and they both say bye a bit absently, but they are going to a team dinner. I’m thrilled.

Kinda thrilled.

Deacon didn’t seem happy to see me. He seemed…frazzled. Panicked. Angry.

Raynor takes my hand and pulls me up. “Come on, I have a secret cake that you’re going to want to try.”

Deacon vanishes to the back of my mind as I follow Raynor into the kitchen.

Mal has us meet them at the arena, where he throws his suitcase at Raynor, grabs my hand, and jogs away with me. He bundles me into his car, then pauses and kisses me hard. It’s a dizzying assault that leaves the car stinking of honeycomb candy. He doesn’t seem to notice at all, though.

Just smiles widely. “I missed you.”

I’m too dazzled to answer him, but he just takes that with another smile and rushes around the side of his truck.

“Okay, where to first?”

Where?

I wish I could get my brain to function a bit better. It would help to have some kind of clarity here.

“Sure. We need nest things. Clothes. Soft plushies. What do you like, Vae?”

I hesitate. “I don’t know.”

For some reason, my answer makes Mal’s smile disappear.