“Huh?”
“You good?” Tempest asked.
“Of course,” Remi said defensively.
“Everybody’s trying to call your name. Maybe you should try to pay attention, at least a little.”
“Sorry. I’m just a little surprised. This is Cristie, we were friends when we were little kids. Really little kids,” Remi said.
“Oh! Cristie… you’re Riley and Maia’s daughter,” Tempest said, figuring out quickly who she was. “Sorry I didn’t meet you earlier. I’m Tempest, Brandt’s mate. I made us run late because I had to have a snack before we left home.”
Cristie smiled when she focused on Tempest. “Of course, I’ve heard all about you, Tempest. I’m happy to meet you.Maia and Riley are my parents, and Maia is Havoc’s sister, so technically, Havoc is my uncle.”
“That’s mind blowing!” Tempest said.
“How’s this to add to it, I’m Cristie’s Aunt Hellen. And she’s older than Havoc and I.”
They all laughed, Cristie included.
“And this is Bailey. Bailey, this is Cristie,” Remi said.
“And she’s my bestie,” Tempest said proudly.
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Cristie said, extending her hand.
“Thank you. And you have to tell me stories about Remi when he was little,” Bailey said.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any. He’s a couple of years older than me,” Cristie said. “I don’t remember much more than just Remi always being there.”
“Oh, well, that’s understandable,” Bailey said.
“This all smells delicious. I can’t wait for seconds,” Tempest said.
“You haven’t eaten at all, yet,” Bailey said.
“I know! Can we get this line moving?” Tempest demanded playfully.
Tempest, Hellen, Bailey, and Remi, found a place at a table together and as they enjoyed their meal, Brandt joined them.
Cristie took her plate and went back over to sit with her parents and Poppy and Val, and Avaleigh and Daniel a few tables over.
But the entire time everyone sat and enjoyed the meal, laughing and trading stories and reminiscing, Remi’s gaze continued to wander over to Cristie.
Occasionally Cristie would glance up and meet his gaze, before very slowly turning her gaze away from him, as though denying he even had the ability to look at her without her permission.
“Cristie, you get a chance to talk to Remi?” Maverik asked.
“I did for a moment, yes,” Cristie said, smiling at her Poppy.
Maverik watched her make a point of adjusting herself so she was facing away from Remi. He looked at Remi, saw him staring at Cristie, then at Valerie to see if she was watching, then to Cristie and Remi again. His brows bunched up in question as he implored Valerie without words to take notice of what he’d noticed. Finally, he lifted just one of his brows and cleared his throat as he refocused on Avaleigh, Daniel, Riley and Maia. “Do y’all remember when Remi was a tiny little thing and he was in day care with Cristie?”
“Maverik,” Valerie said quietly, realizing he was on to something he most likely shouldn’t have even been acknowledging.
“What? Don’t you remember?” he asked Valerie. “They were so cute. These two little babies, and Remi was what just a couple years older? And he was so worried about protecting her and making sure she was okay. Only other person he ever protected that way was Avaleigh.”
Avaleigh smiled and looked over toward Remi. “He’s always been such a sweet and loving young man. Even when he was a little boy.”
“Yep. We all knew there was something special about him back then. He attached himself to Cristie, then Avaleigh and Daniel, and then Angelle came along. Once he loves you, he loves you.”
