Page 21 of Homecoming

She opened her mouth in surprise. He leaned in and kissed her. His lips were soft against hers, and when he leaned away, he moved in to nuzzle her cheek.

The announcer began to organize a dance-off between the ladies, and there would be one amongst the gentlemen immediately following.

He called for two team captains. Haravin stepped forward, and then the bride charged up. “I’ll pick a team.”

The bride picked her team from her bridesmaids. They totalled five. Haravin looked at Aeryn, and Aeryn nodded. Amby was tapped, and Thera was on deck. Aeryn whispered her suggestion, and the woman with the notebook was startled whenHaravin coaxed her up. Aeryn took the notebook and set it down on her table.

The teams were set.

They each had one play-through of the song in a private area where the other team couldn’t see them.

Haravin explained, “This is an icebreaker, and it gives the ladies the feeling of being ogled when most of the males here aren’t interested.”

The shy woman smiled. “Got it. I am just here because my brother was upset that she was cutting me out of all of the wedding events. She’s a nasty harpy, and I couldn’t care less.”

Amby nodded. “Understandable. So, let’s listen to the song. If anyone knows the style, sing out.”

They listened to it, and Hara and Aeryn could both dance to it. It was a blend of belly dance and hip-hop. They volunteered to put Aeryn out front as a distraction.

“You guys owe me ice cream for that.”

Hara grinned, and Thera laughed. They both said, “Deal.”

Aeryn shook her hair out, wrapped it around her wrist, and edged her skirt low, riding it on the edge of her hips.

She even loosened her top a little to let her breasts sway as she moved.

Time was called, and the bride got to go first.

Aeryn kept her face impassive as Hara’s team was called to join, and their graceful, slow moves against the frantic cheerleader-like flailing of the bridal party gave their team an inevitable conclusion. Ice cream.

Narro came over and congratulated them. He was wearing his human seeming, but Aeryn recognized him. “You are looking lovely, Aeryn. The glasses didn’t suit you.”

The quiet girl was sitting with them and enjoying the ice cream. She smiled at Aeryn. “Thank you. That was fun.”

“So, writer?”

“Yeah. How can you tell?”

“You look around like you are constantly being pulled into our reality and have to focus.” Aeryn smiled. “Rather like a hedgehog. What is your name?”

“Mini. Short for Minutia. My parents liked words. My brother’s name is August.”

Thera smiled. “Are you going on the boat charter the day after tomorrow?”

“Yeah, my sister-in-law said she’s going to take a run at the crew.”

Thera smiled. “That would be profoundly unwise. If any of them touch a tourist, they won’t touch me indefinitely. We are newly mated and waiting to find out if I am pregnant, so they are all super attentive right now. They may come off as rude.”

Mini blinked. “Wow, you just discussed mates right out there.”

Haravin smiled. “Sure. Proximity to alphas makes things far more direct. They aren’t that good at subtlety. Since they identify things by scent, they are excellent lie detectors, so telling them that you aren’t interested when you are just irritates them. We are fairly sure that I am carrying as well. Amby’s team is really trying.”

Mini looked to Aeryn. “What about you?”

“Oh, I am avoiding my alphas because I can’t control that situation, and that little factoid is freaking me out. So, normally, I have a disguise and everything. Today, they happened to catch me out in my natural appearance.”

Mini blinked. “But you know who they are?”

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