“That’s the thing. I did too.”
“You did what? Got hit by a train?”
“No, I got roped in to coming home with Beau for Thanksgiving. The rink is shutting down and Beau just happened tobe with me when I found out, so he insisted. I couldn’t say no. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh.” She shakes her head so vigorously her face mask flaps off her face. “That’s not what I expected.”
“Me either. I’m so sorry. Maybe I’ll pretend to be sick in the morning?”
“No, no. It’ll be fine. I have to stay in the guest house, anyway. My animals are not welcome in the main house. It might actually be nice to have you there for emotional support. Although I can’t say it will be fun for you. My family is a lot.”
I nod, as if I know anything about what it will be like. My experience with family holiday meals is limited. A couple of my foster families prepared meals or brought me to family events. But some of them left me at home since I wasn’t a permanent fixture. So mostly I’ve always picked up shifts at whatever job I was currently working.
“But it’ll be fine. We can keep our raging hormones under control for one weekend.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay then. I guess I’ll see you Thursday.”
“See you then.”
It’ll be great to see her, but I’m not so confident I can keep my hands off her if we’re sharing space for that long. But I have to. It’s even more important now that I can see Beau is under some pressure. I don’t need to add to that.
Chapter 25
Hot And Bothered
Cece
“Okay, I’m off, butyou should really stop pacing. You’re going to make yourself dizzy. I’d hate for you to pass out and hit your head on the coffee table with no one here to rescue you.”
I’ve been nervously pacing circles with my suitcase in tow while I wait for Beau to show up, but I stop in my tracks. “Morbid much? You’re hoping I’ll hit my head and come to an untimely death, so you can tell stories of my tragic ghost haunting you.”
Her laugh is bright. “No. I much prefer your living company, but feel free to haunt me after your death. I’ll make sure you’re seen.”
“Thanks. I was going to wish you a happy Thanksgiving, but now I’mnot so sure.”
“Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Have a great weekend and try to keep your hands off your man.”
“Yeah. I can handle it. Probably better than I can handle my family.”
“Feel that. At least we have tolerable siblings.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’m off. See you Sunday night. Ta ta.”
And she’s out the door in a cloud of floral perfume and hairspray, leaving me waiting by the door anxiously.
The street is pretty quiet, so it’s obvious when Beau’s SUV rolls into the driveway. I stall for a minute.
I jump back when I swing open the door to find Beau and Dev both standing there. And the smile I force my lips into is probably a little unhinged.
“What can we grab?”
“The beasties are all ready to go. Be careful, please.”
The cages are sitting on the floor. Loki slept through the entire process of getting him moved, but Rogue and Gambit are more active than usual, pink noses twitching as they scuttle around their cage.
