Page 32 of Make Me

“Because there’s nothing to mention.” Bethany groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Even if there was, my mom… the pride… they would never approve.”

Holly shrugged. “Then don’t tell them. And no one’s saying you have to marry them, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the present together or even your time at the Academy.”

Bethany knew Holly enjoyed her own share of flings and one-night stands. She also had never told Holly that Cody was her mate. Or how much her lioness liked Zack. But she didn’t have to. Holly had confided in Bethany about her Empath magic early in their friendship, so Bethany didn’t need to say a word for Holly to figure it out.

Claire looked back and forth between Holly and Bethany, biting her lip. She clearly wanted to say something, but Bethany didn’t want to talk about it. There were too many obstacles in their way, there was no way it would ever work. She had to put the fantasy to rest.

Holly softened her stance and walked over. She squeezed Bethany’s shoulder. “Just think about it,” she murmured. “There’s no reason you can’t enjoy the present.”

Bethany could think of several reasons, but she just smiled tightly at Holly and nodded. She could think about it, but that was all she could promise.

“All right.” Holly clapped. “Let’s go knock the socks off your men.”

Bethany didn’t miss how Holly included her in that statement, but when she sent Holly a glare, she just smiled at her. Bethany rolled her eyes. They opened the door to find Claire’s Triad waiting in the hallway. They really were obsessed with their Fourth. The girls looked at each other and burst into laughter as the Triad stood there with confused looks on their faces.

“Obsessed,” Holly mouthed at Claire as they descended the stairs.

Cody and Zack were chatting with Frederick and Ilena as they descended to the foyer. Cody and Zack’s eyes snapped to Bethany, and it felt like a wave of heat caressed her skin as they drank in her outfit. Their gazes were like a physical caress, and she was suddenly glad she had packed this skirt.

Holly nudged Bethany with her elbow, drawing her attention. “Obsessed,” she whispered to her as she descended the stairs to greet her aunt and uncle. Claire was busy with her Triad whispering in the corner, leaving Bethany with Cody and Zack.

Her steps faltered as she approached them, and the mating pull roared to life. They both looked incredible standing there together. Zack wore a dark red shirt in almost an identical shade to Bethany’s own and light brown pants. His shirt’s tie was open, exposing his lean chest, which was dusted gold from the sun. Cody’s shirt was a deep gold that brought out the gold flecks in his eyes and showed off the highlights from the sun in his mess of dark curls. Both men looked good enough to eat, and Bethany had to fight to keep herself from drooling as she approached them. Damnit, she had just spent the last twenty-four hours telling herself this was a bad idea and then they showed up looking like this.

The silver and gold in their eyes seemed to glow brighter as she approached. A kaleidoscope of precious metals she was never going to have.

“You look amazing,” Zack said softly.

Bethany aimed for nonchalance as she pretended to look them over. “You both clean up nicely.”

“Only for you, hellcat,” Cody said with a flirty smile.

Was he flirting with her? She thought he only saw her as his best friend, but the way his eyes traced over her now made her unsure. Come to think of it, she didn’t recall him flirting with anyone at the Academy. Well, that was a lie. He flirted with Zack. Her lioness didn’t seem to mind that, though. Maybe he was just flirty with his friends. If he was flirty with her intentionally, Bethany didn’t think she would survive it.

“Are we ready?” Ilena’s interruption prevented Bethany from reading too much into Cody’s intentions.

Frederick and Ilena were pulled away as soon as they arrived in the village, but the rest of the group stayed together as they threaded their way through the crowd. The village was alive with all sorts of sounds and smells that had Bethany’s nose twitching. Lively music danced in the air as children shouted and squealed as they weaved through the crowds with colorful streamers clenched in their sticky fists. Savory meat roasted on several grills along the street, and Bethany’s mouth watered as they passed by.

Zack stopped at one of the grills and came back with three skewers of meat. He pressed one into Bethany’s hand and handed the other to Cody.

“Thank you,” Bethany murmured, feeling off-kilter when his molten silver eyes rested on her. She had to get herself together.

Holly appeared at her elbow, tugging her away, and they quickly lost Cody and Zack in the crowd. “You looked like you could use an assist,” Holly murmured in her ear. “Unless you’re ready to get out of the land of denial.”

Bethany rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I’m not living in denial. I’m living in reality. You know how the pride would react.”

“Well, the pride’s not here,” Holly shot back. “Where did my seize-the-moment friend go?”

“She spent the summer with her mother,” Bethany grumbled half-heartedly, thinking of the endless strategy meetings and increased pressure to take a consort she didn’t want. And her mother’s passive-aggressive comments about Bethany’s ability to lead. It was enough to drive anyone crazy.

“Well, that’s enough to drain the fun out of anyone,” Holly said sympathetically.

Bethany shrugged. She didn’t know what to tell Holly that would make her feel better, so she just kept silent. Holly squeezed her arm and then dropped it as they approached a colorfully decorated table with women serving something sweet-smelling.

“Three glasses please, Carla,” Holly told the woman.

“Here ya go, Holly,” Carla said. Her blond curls were tight around her face. “You and your friend enjoy.”

Carla’s face was warm and her eyes kind as she nodded at Bethany. Apparently, not all witches held Matilda’s views on shifters. Bethany nodded back at the witch with a small smile and took the glass from Holly. She lifted it to her nose and took a sniff of the sweet-smelling wine. She took a small sip, and the flavors of blackberries and peaches exploded on her tongue.

---