Page 2 of Tinsel Time Treasure

“If your date is buying this, he must be all of five.”

“Sounds like she had a good life.”

Kaleb wailed on demand, loud enough that one of my date’s eyebrows rose.

“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” I announced. “You wrap yourself in a blanket and I’ll pick up your favorite ice cream. Is there a date for the funeral yet?”

Another wail from Kaleb.

“I’ll wait with you until your mom calls with more details.”

“Thanks Just,” Kaleb sniffled exaggeratedly. “I’ll see you soon.”

I hung up the call, noting the deep scowl on the alpha’s face. I pulled out my wallet, estimated my half of the meal and threw some cash on the table.

“You’re leaving?” my date asked incredulously.

“Sorry. My best friend just lost his grandmama, and they were super close. He’s devastated.”

“We’re in the middle of a date!”

“And he’s at home, sobbing his eyes out.”

“He can call somebody else.”

“He doesn’t need to, because I’m going.”

I walked away before my date had a chance to respond. I’d figured out almost immediately that he was a pig, but any man who argued with the ‘dead relative’ excuse was automatically upgraded to piece of shit.

Sure, it was a lie, but that was one of those situations where a person should be believed. Though I bet he had more sudden emergencies during dates than not.

I got into my car and placed a to-go order from Cluck Hut—fried chicken for me and a chicken pot pie for Kaleb, then I drove to the nearest grocery store and grabbed a couple pints of Rocky Road.

It was only about twenty minutes after his call that I pulled into the parking lot for his apartment and carried our food to his place.

“Uh-oh,” he said, eyeing the bags.

“Yeah,” I sighed as I carried them in and set them on the table.

“How bad was it?”

I passed over his chicken pot pie, and he shook his head. “Damn.”

“He tried to argue that I shouldn’t leave.”

“The fuck?”

“Yeah.”

Kaleb stood, put the ice cream in the freezer, and returned with plates and silverware.

“So who did I lose this time?” he asked.

“Your grandmama.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I swear, she has more lives than a cat.”

“How’s she doing?”