Page 7 of Outnumbered

“Your mimosa,” the hot waiter said, bowing as he set it in front of me. “I’ll go get your meals now as well, but is there anything else I can grab on the way?”

With him so close, I realized I could sense him, similar to Riddick. I chugged half of my mimosa and looked away from him to try to distract myself.

“Another round for all three of us,” Jolie said, trying and failing to hide her smile.

Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw him swallow hard, nod, smile, and say, “Of course, Princess. I’ll be back quickly.”

Chapter

Three

Hanging my head in shame, I walked behind Jolie into the house, the hot waiter’s phone number saved in my cell. I still wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but it had.

“That is a lovely dress,” Triston said and stood from the couch where he and Riddick were watching Caleb and Fox play a videogame.

“Thanks,” I said, eyes down and nerves making my heart race.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he approached me, set his hands on my arms, and rubbed up and down.

“Um, I –”

“Caleb, come talk to me,” Jolie ordered him and walked out of the room.

He set his controller down, looked at me with an arched brow, and followed after his mother.

“Want to try to shift?” Fox asked.

“About that …” How did I tell him? Screw it, I’d just come right out and tell him. We were all adults and I didn’t need to sugarcoat things. “Uh, Silverowl found us at the restaurant and he offered to teach me to shift.”

Fox gasped and smiled wide. “He’s finally taking an interest, huh? Good for him.”

“So, you’re not upset?” I asked.

He shook his head. “As long as you have a good instructor, I don’t care if it’s me or someone else.”

“Thanks,” I said and breathed in relief.

“Ready go home after Caleb is done talking to Jolie?” Riddick asked.

I nodded. “I need a nap.”

“Eventful morning?” Caleb asked, a neutral expression on his face that worried me as he returned from talking to Jolie and joined us in the foyer.

“Yes.”

The expression shifted and he smiled and draped an arm across my shoulders. “Then let’s get you home.”

The drive to the apartments was tense and Caleb stared out the passenger window without talking the entire way. Completely unlike him. I wanted to ask what Jolie had told him, but wanted to wait until we were at the apartments first. Not that I didn’t trust Ezio, but me telling them about the waiter was our pack’s matter and I didn’t want to bring that up without being alone.

“Thanks for driving us,” I said and waved to Ezio as I climbed out.

“Call if you want to go anywhere,” he said and returned my wave.

Once inside the foyer, I turned to Caleb and asked, “Did she tell you?”

He returned to the neutral expression. “Tell me what?”

Sighing, I said, “When we were at lunch, the waiter touched my hand and there was a spark. He gave me his phone number.”