Page 38 of August
“Popcorn and Milk Duds if you have them,” she said. “And a Coke.”
“You got it,” he said.
She sat on one of the benches with the females as Lori listed the movie options. “I want you to know that Nathan asked for no sappy romances, but if we really want to watch one, he promised he wouldn’t complain.”
“I’d like something upbeat,” Ginny said. “I don’t want to cry.”
“Me either,” Dani said, giving Ginny’s hand a squeeze. “Life’s hard enough without a movie making us sad.”
“You got it,” Lori said.
“I’m sure we can find something that will make us laugh,” Adriana said. “Oh crap, I forgot to tell Zane I wanted Sour Patch Kids.” She pulled out her phone and texted her mate.
“I love those,” Dani said. “But only the red ones.”
“Oh, I hate the red ones,” Adriana said. “You can have all mine.”
“Woohoo!”
“Now that the snacks are settled,” Lexy said, “let’s find something fun.”
As the movies were discussed, Ginny took just a moment to marvel at how normal it all felt. She was sitting with females in a theater in a park, talking about a movie for a group date. Her mate, the sexiest male on the planet, was gathering snacks and comfy pillows and blankets, and she couldn’t wait to snuggle up with him.
Nothing in her life since her parents had died felt half as good as this did. She’d been on edge for such a long time, worrying and wondering.
She was still worried and still wondering, but she wasn’t alone. She had August.
And the other gorillas and their mates.
Her grandfather might try to get to her, but he would come up against a wall of people determined to keep her and all their people safe, and right now? That felt fucking amazing.
“Honey, are you okay? You’re crying,” Adriana said.
Ginny brushed at the tears she hadn’t realized she’d let fall. “Oh, I am, honestly. I was just thinking how much I appreciate you all, and how glad I am that I found August.”
“We’re glad you’re here too,” Adriana said, giving her a hug.
Lexy, Dani, and Lori joined in, and Ginny laughed and hugged them all back.
As the conversation returned to the movies and Ginny added her two cents, she pushed away thoughts of the past and whatever her grandfather might be conspiring to do, and she focused on the present.
She’d found her soulmate and peace with his people.
It was really okay to just enjoy the good moments when they came.
August was beginning to hate the monitors in the security office. He did, however, enjoy hanging out with his soulmate. They were in the security office from before the park opened until they’d had no patrons through the gates for an hour in the evening.
He felt closer to her every day, as they talked quietly and stared at screens. He had only a few things to look for: one of the males in the jackal pack had white-blond hair that was always in a ponytail, another had a thick scar on one cheek, and another was built like a tank, as she explained it, tall and broad and very strong.
In the last week, she hadn’t seen anyone she knew, and he hadn’t seen anyone fitting those descriptions.
He didn’t want to hope that it was a good sign because she was certain her grandfather wouldn’t give up.
He leaned back and rubbed his eyes. “It’s about dinnertime, sweet thing.”
“It’s four forty-five,” she said. “Dinner gets earlier and earlier with you.”
“I can’t help that you’re irresistible,” he said.