I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” I said.
“We’ll send you ticket,” he said.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Amy wants to get it for me as a birthday present.”
“Well, that’s nice of her. Extend my thanks to her,” he said.
“Will do,” I said
“Your mom will be so pleased to hear your coming for a visit. Hang on a second!” he said. “You do realize you have to get on a plane.”
I chuckled. “Yes, daddy I am aware of the plane situation. Caeden has promised to keep me sufficiently distracted.”
My dad choked into the phone. “Tell that boy to keep his hands to himself!”
“Daddy!” I scolded again.
“I was an eighteen year old boy once too, you know? How do you think you ended up in this world?”
“Eww, dad! Can we please stop talking about my conception! It’s grossing me out!”
He chuckled. “I’m just not ready to be a grandpa, that’s all.”
“You have nothing to worry about, grandpa,” I said. “I’m not ready to be a mommy.”
Caeden was snickering in the corner. I glared at him and he quickly shut his mouth.
“Alright, well we’ll be seeing you soon, baby girl. I love you,” he said.
“Love you too, daddy. Tell mommy I love her too and I miss you both.”
“Bye kiddo,” he said and hung up.
“I miss them so much,” I said looking up at Caeden. He wrapped me in his arms.
“I know, baby,” he said.
“It’s getting harder to be away from them. I’ve never gone so long without seeing my parents.”
“Well, you’ll see them soon,” he said.
“If it’s alright with Gram,” I said.
“Why would she object?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Well, call her and find out. I’m going to go see what my mom’s whipping up for lunch.”
“Okay,” I said already dialing Gram’s number.
“Sophie,” she breathed into the phone her relief evident.
“Hey Gram,” I said.
“How’re you feeling? How’d it go? Are you sore?” she rattled off her questions.
“I feel fine. It went as well as I’m sure can be expected. And yes I’m a little sore,” I admitted.
“I’ve been so worried,” she said breathing a sigh of relief.
“I slept until about ten,” I said. “And I just got off the phone with my dad.”
“Oh,” she said.
“I was wondering if it would be okay if I go visit my parents over Spring Break?” I asked biting my lip.
“Of course, sweetie,” she said. “I know you miss them,” Gram said.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll talk to you later, Gram. I’m starving.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you are. The first shift is always the toughest on the body.”
“Bye,” I said and hung up.
I followed the delicious scent that filled the hallway. I found Amy stirring something at the stove. Caeden and Bryce were sitting at the island.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked Amy.
“No sweetie,” she said giving me her sweet mothering smile. “You have to be exhausted after your shift. Just sit down and relax. I’m almost done anyway. I’m sure you’re starving. Have one of these,” she said and handed me a wire basket with cheddar biscuits wrapped in a napkin. I snagged one before the boys hogged them down. I took a bite and it was delicious. Gram and Amy should open a restaurant everything they made was so good. “Done,” she said and shoveled whatever it was she had made into plates for the each of us.
She sat the plate in front of me and I saw that it was shrimp alfredo. It looked far better than any you might find in a restaurant. I took a bite and the flavors exploded over my tongue. “Mmm,” I said. “This is delicious.”
“Thank you,” said Amy grabbing her own plate and taking the chair beside of Bryce.
Bryce was shoveling the pasta into his mouth like he was a starved child. It was a Shark Week moment when the great white jumps out of the water with its jaw wide open. Yeah, that’s what he looked like, a shark devouring a poor, defenseless, baby seal. I felt for the baby seal. What a tragic death and now the pasta was experiencing a similar fate. It didn’t look like he even chewed it. I turned away and focused on my own plate. I purposefully took small dainty bites.
“So Bryce,” said Amy. “It looks like it’ll just be you and me this Spring Break.”
Bryce groaned. “Do we have to go camping? You know I hate it.”
Amy shook her head at her son. “You’re a shifter,” she said, “you’re supposed to like the outdoors.”
“I prefer to go against the grain,” he said.
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “Do you do it to purposely drive me crazy? Because it’s working?”
Bryce laughed. “I just don’t want to spend a week in a tent with my mom.”
Amy sighed. “Fine, we’ll do something else.”
“Like what?” asked Bryce chomping on his food.
Amy shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe we should go to the beach.”
Caeden slammed his hand down on the table. “That’s not fair. We never go to the beach.”
Amy tilted her lips up in a smile. “Maybe you can go over the summer.”
“You say that every year,” he said.
“I’m not stopping you,” she said. “So what do you say Bryce? The beach?”
“Sounds good to me,” he said. “Anything’s better than a tent.”
Amy chuckled. “You’re such an optimist.”
“I try to find the good in everything,” Bryce said and I thought he was ready to lick his plate clean.
“I’ll get everything set for us then. The sooner you book the cheaper it is,” said Amy springing from her seat and cleaning her plate. She put it in the industrial sized dish washer. “Don’t forget to wash your dishes,” she called over her shoulder no doubt heading to her office to secure hotels and plane tickets.
I finished my meal and washed my plate. I grabbed the boys as well and then added them to the dishwasher next to Amy’s.
“Oh!” I said grabbing my head as I swayed dizzily back and forth.
Caeden’s hands were instantly on me supporting me. “Babe, are you okay?”
“Just tired,” I said.
“Do you want to go to bed?” he asked. “It’s perfectly normal to be extremely tired and sleepy after your first shift. Bryce practically slept for a week straight!”
“Hey!” said Bryce offended. I saw that Bella and Murphy had joined us and Bryce was petting his familiar soothingly.
“Sleep sounds good,” I said and before I could move and inch my legs were swept out from under me.
“Show off,” muttered Bryce. Caeden chuckled as he swept out of the room with me in his arms. He easily carried me up the steps and into his room.
He gently laid me on his bed and pulled me against his chest. He kissed my cheek. “Sleep for as long as you want. You need your rest so your body can prepare for your next shift. The next one will be much easier,” he said sweeping my hair off my face.
“Will I just picture myself as a wolf like I did to become human again?” I asked scooting against his chest so we were nose to nose.
“Yep,” he said. “Pretty soon it’ll be second nature and you won’t even have to think about switching forms. It’ll just happen on the fly.”
“That sounds… exhilarating,” I mumbled.
He chuckled and tapped my nose with his finger. “It is. You’ll see. You’ll grow to love it.”
“I know I will,” I said, “the taste I got yesterday… It was amazing, incredible, insane! And then bonding with you… Caeden, I’ve never been happier than I was in that moment,” I said taking his hand in mine.
He smiled and laced our fingers together. “It was the best night of my life.”
&
nbsp; I looked at our entwined hands and saw our names twinkling together. Caeden. Sophie.
I like it. Caeden thought as he looked at my name tattooed on his skin.
I do too. I thought and traced the skillful lines of his name forever imprinted on my skin as much as he was imprinted on my heart.
He smiled and my stomach did that little flip flop. I kissed his adorable dimple and his stubble rasped delightfully against the smooth skin of my lips.
He began to hum a soft melody and my eyes gradually began to grow heavy. My muscles still ached but once sleep overcame me the pain was gone and my dreams were filled of Caeden.
Darkness had fallen when I opened my eyes. Caeden’s arms were wrapped snuggly around me and my face was buried in his neck. His snores softly filled my ears. I couldn’t believe that I had slept so long after I woke up so late this morning. But my muscles no longer ached and I felt oddly rejuvenated.
“Caeden,” I whispered pushing at his shoulder to wake him. He mumbled something incoherent. “Caeden,” I said again. “You’re squishing me,” I giggled.
He opened his eyes and smiled lazily. “Hey,” he said.
“Hey yourself,” I said. He gently traced the curve of my cheek bone with his finger.
He pulled me impossibly closer and snuggled against me. His nose skimmed the side of my neck. “I love the way you smell,” he breathed.
“I know, like cookies,” I giggled.
“The best cookies ever,” he said.
I motioned towards the window and the growing darkness. “I should probably get home.”
He shook his head in denial. “I mean… you can go if you want but Gram okayed it for you to be here for the whole weekend.”
“How on earth did you finagle that?” I asked shocked.
He grinned. “My charm. I’m just irresistible.”
“You wish,” I said and smacked his arm.
“Do you want to stay or go?” he asked.
“I don’t have any clothes to change into.” I said and bit my lip.
He gently tugged at my lip so I would stop biting it. I sat up and brought my legs up to my chest and rested my chin on my knees. Caeden reached down and grabbed a small duffel off of the floor. He tossed it to me and I caught it. “Don’t worry, Lucinda packed it, not me. I promise I didn’t try to steal your panties,” he chuckled.
A giggle bubbled out of my chest and turned into a full blown laugh. I wiped tears out of my eyes. “Panties? Did you just say panties?”
“Yes… why is that so funny? Panties, underwear, boxers, briefs… knickers… whatever you want to call em’ it’s still the same thing,” he said.
“It’s just funny hearing you say panties,” I laughed.
“Woman, you have a strange sense of humor,” he laughed along with me.
“I know,” I said.
He patted my leg and said. “Well get in your Jammie Jams and we’ll watch a movie,” he said jumping up from the bed.
“Jammie Jams?” I asked trying to suppress another laugh.
“Yes,” he said eyeing me, “that’s what our mom calls them and by default we do too.”
I laughed and slid off of the bed. I held up the duffel bag and said, “I’ll go put my Jammie Jams on.”
“Don’t mock it,” he said with a light laugh. “Jammie Jams sounds much cooler than plain old pajamas,” he spat the word like it was an expletive.
My laugh floated behind me as I strode into his bathroom. Once in there I decided I’d feel much better if I went ahead and took a shower. It meant using Caeden’s guy scented soaps but I didn’t care. At least then I’d smell like him.
I scrubbed my scalp and skin until it was a raw pink color. I dried off and towel dried my hair. I didn’t want it in my way so I braided it away from my face. Maybe the braid would produce some soft waves. Normally my hair hung limply like a noodle with a slight curl at the end. Other than the ends it was pretty much straight.
I pulled on my pajamas, or Jammie Jams as Caeden preferred to call them, and my favorite cozy sweatshirt that Gram had had the forethought to pack.
Caeden wasn’t in his room when I opened the door so I headed downstairs to find him. I could hear popcorn popping so I figured he was in the kitchen.
I found him and Bryce, with an almost empty bag of popcorn, tossing the popped pieces back and forth to see if they could catch them in their mouths.
Caeden caught a piece in his mouth and turned to grin at me. “Sorry, we had to pop more,” he said holding up the now empty bag.
“That’s okay,” I said, “it was cute watching you try and catch it.”
“Try? Try? Baby, did you not just see that? I caught it with my mouth on the first try. That takes skills,” he said and we both laughed. Bryce joined in our laughter.
“So, what are we watching?” asked Bryce rubbing his hands together.
“I don’t know,” said Caeden, “I was going to let Sophie pick it.”
Bryce groaned. “Do not pick some girly chick flick,” he said. “If you do, you best sleep with your eyes open. I don’t do Princess Diaries and all that crap,” Bryce said.
Caeden looked at me and smirked. “Don’t listen to him. He was obsessed with Beauty and the Beast when he was little.”
Bryce rolled his eyes. “Only because dad said that when I was a man I would turn into a Beast. I was curious.”
I patted Bryce’s arm. “Don’t worry. I’m more in the mood for The Fast and the Furious,” I laughed.
“Oh thank God,” he said and sauntered off with a skip in his step.
“Beauty and the Beast?” I asked Caeden quirking my brow.
He chuckled. “Some parents give their kids the ‘birds and the bees’ talk. Our dad gave us ‘you’re going to turn into a hairy wolf beast’ talk,” he shrugged his shoulders.
“Does that make me the Beauty?” I asked with a smile.
He grinned and his dimple showed. “Most definitely,” he said and pecked me on the lips. The microwave dinged and he pulled it out. He opened it and deposited it in a blue bowl that was hand painted with pieces of popcorn and various candies, Williams, was written on it. He stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth and mumbled, “Come on,” around his mouthful. He took my hand. His were sticky with butter but I didn’t mind.
Caeden led me through the endless maze of his civil war era house. There were many rooms that I had yet to discover and I thought for sure I would get lost if I was left to wander on my own.
He led me to a hallway just before his mom’s office that I had never noticed. Wall sconces were set at intervals and cast an amber glow down the hallway. Caeden opened a door and motioned for me to enter. Bryce was pulling down a screen and powering up a projector. Four rows of five chairs each were set on different levels just like in a real theater. The seats were plush red leather. The walls were a thick burgundy fabric. I wondered when it would finally hit me that Caeden had money. I wasn’t sure it ever would. After all no one ever seemed to work, except for Caeden at the cupcake shop. Where did shifters get their money? Gram lived like regular person. I just didn’t understand it.
“Where do you want to sit?” asked Caeden taking another bite of popcorn.
I slid into the back row and plopped down. “Please save me some popcorn,” I said kindly.
“You better take this then,” he said handing me the blue monogrammed bowl. It was already half empty, or half full, depending on your perspective.
The movie blared to life. My hands instinctively reached up to cover my ears from the bombardment of the loud noise. Caeden grabbed the popcorn bowl before it could fall.
“Sorry,” said Bryce turning the volume down. He plopped down on one of the front row seats. His curly head suddenly popped back up. “Uh, can you two please not make out back there? I really don’t want to be sick.”
Caeden grabbed a handful of the buttery yellow popcorn and tossed it at Bryce. His little brother ducked out of the way but not before most of it hit its mark
and lodged in his hair.
“At least it’s not gum,” said Bryce. He pulled a piece of popcorn from his hair and stuck it in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed. “Still good,” he said and shrugged his shoulders before hitting play.
I cuddled against Caeden’s side. I was right where I wanted to be. Nowhere was more perfect than in his arms. Of that I was certain.
twenty.
“Ew no,” I said to the puce dress that Charlotte held up.
“Sophie!” she groaned. “You have to pick a dress! You did agree to go you know!” she squawked.
I was really beginning to regret my decision to go to prom with Caeden. The whole thing had turned into my worst nightmare. I didn’t like dresses. I didn’t like to dance. And here I was being forced into both.
I groaned and put my head into my hands. “I’m not going to wear that,” I said. “I’m already going to be miserable I at least want to be miserable wearing something I sort of like.”
“You haven’t even tried anything on,” said Chris holding up a silver dress against her slender frame. I would never be as model thin as her. I was too curvy. At least Caeden seemed to like my curves.
“I don’t see the point in trying on something that I hate on a hanger. If I hate it on a hanger I’ll despise it on myself,” I reasoned.
Charlotte sighed and said, “You’re hopeless.”
They scanned through the racks while I laid back against the velvet covered ottoman I was sitting on. I tapped my black converse against the floor. They had dragged me to this ginormous mall in the hopes of finding a dress. But I knew it wasn’t going to happen.
The annoyingly helpful sales lady came by yet again. Her white blond hair was pulled back into a ballerina style bun. She wore a black pencil skirt with a tucked in ivory blouse. Her pale blue eyes bore into mine and she pouted her red lips. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can help you find?”
“We’re good thanks,” I said rudely. I wished she’d leave us alone. Didn’t she see that it was my plan to not find a dress? Could the annoying blond not take a hint?
Chris and Charlotte came screeching after her before she could take three steps. I groaned. This was bound to be bad.
“Actually,” said Chris, “we do need your help.”
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