Page 100 of Shattered Trinket

Our drinks are brought to us, and I let Micah, who knows the menu inside out, choose our meal since it’s his dad’s restaurant and I have complete faith in his taste. While we wait, I seize the opportunity to delve deeper into getting to know my chosen alpha, something we haven’t had ample time for amidst our fast-paced courtship, and each new revelation only deepens my love for him.

By the time our food is brought out, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling and laughing I’ve done listening to him recount stories from his childhood. The food is delicious, nothing fancy, but certainly made with love, and when we’re done, I’m fit to burst with how full I am. I groan as our plates are taken away, pouting at Micah.

“That was so good, but now I feel like I need a nap and a cuddle,” I tell him with a laugh.

“We’re only a short walk away from where we’re going next, and cuddles are certainly something that is possible.”

This gets my attention, and I look at him curiously.

What has he planned?

With a wide grin, he stands and extends his hand towards me, offering to help me up. On our way to the door, his mom’s voice rings out, telling us to have a great time. I turn around, spot her, and offer a warm smile and a wave in return before we step back out onto the sidewalk.

Hand in hand, Micah guides me as I excitedly observe my surroundings, stealing glances into the shops that line our path. As we pass by a pet store, I let out a gasp and instinctively halt, captivated by the sight of the animals through the window.

“Wanna go in? We should still have time.”

“Oh, can we?” I ask him as I turn to look at him with my hands clasped together.

He chuckles and takes my hand, pulling me inside. A chime above the door rings when he pushes it open, and a friendly lady in a pink apron glances our way.

“Hi, welcome toCalico’s. Can I help you guys with anything or just taking a look-see?” she asks, greeting us with a friendly smile.

“Just looking right now. Thank you,” Micah responds, and I let out an excited squeal when I catch sight of what’s in one of the large cages when we move farther inside.

I tug on his hand, dragging him to the cage and crouch down to click my tongue at the lazy fluff noodles lounging in a comfy-looking hammock together. One of them pokes their head up when they see me, their little pink nose twitching as they stare at me.

“Ferrets! Oh, I love ferrets! They’re so playful and silly. I had one when I was a little girl that was always getting up to no good,” I say with a wide smile, looking up at Micah.

He grimaces as he looks at them, but when he sees my smile, his features soften. Crouching down beside me, he looks in at the three ferrets. One is a cinnamon color with tufts of white and brown fur, another is a little sable cutie with the sweetest band around their eyes, making them look like a tiny bandit, and the last one is solid white with the most striking pair of red eyes that appear almost pink. All three are incredibly adorable.

“You want one?” Micah asks softly and I glance at him with parted lips and wide eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t see why not. Although, I’d probably prefer a dog or cat or something normal.” He laughs and I lightly shove him.

I frown after a moment, shaking my head.

“I’d love to take one of these little guys home, but they do better in pairs or groups. They’re very social creatures. I couldn’t just take one, and taking two and leaving one behind to be alone would break my heart,” I say softly, smiling when the sable one comes closer and sniffs my finger, their fur puffing up on their back as they arch.

Micah hums thoughtfully before telling me he’ll be right back and leaving me to admire the sweet babies that are now all surrounding the front of the cage to check me out. I coo at them, scratching their little heads with my finger when they let me, disappointment at knowing I can’t take them all home with me filling my heart. A nudge in the bond from Ridge surprises me, and I huff, shaking my head. It’s still a little weird that I can feel him and vice versa, but it’s kind of nice. It’s like a built-in mood detector, and I like that.

When Micah comes back, asking if I’m ready to go, I give the ferrets one last longing look before turning away and letting him lead me out. As the sun fades away, the sky darkens, and the moon emerges, casting an ethereal glow outside as we walk. With a slightly subdued mood, we make our way to ourdestination, stopping at a small shop where Micah tells me to pick a blanket and one stuffed animal of my choosing. I’m curious, but I don’t ask, knowing he won’t tell me. As soon as we arrive at where we’re going, a rush of excitement floods through me, causing my heart to flutter and my eyes to widen in awe at the surroundings.

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the town, a picturesque white gazebo stands proudly in the center of the square. A large white screen catches my eye on the side wall of one of the buildings flanking the gazebo, and there’s a sign that we pass stating it’s a townwide movie night, featuring The Princess and the Frog. Families have scattered across the grass, each with their own blankets, as they prepare to settle in for the movie. Micah leads us to a spot where he spreads out the blanket I picked, and I squeeze the adorable frog plush I chose, which now seems both ironic and fitting. We both settle down, and when I glance at him, my eyes are brimming with tears.

With a mix of surprise and amusement, I ask, “You brought me out for a princess movie beneath the stars?”

He puffs up his chest and grins at me.

“Of course. I know we can see the stars from the nest and do the same thing there, but I figured we were due a night with just us.”

Wrapping me up in his arms just as the movie starts, he lays back, pillowing his head on his arm while I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I sing along to all the songs softly throughout the movie, and I enjoy every second of our time together.

When the credits roll, we stay where we are while everyone else around us gets up and packs their things. We’re still in our spot when the last family has gone, both of us staring up at the night sky. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, loving the peace in my soul.

It’s nearly nine when we finally get up and grab our things. On the walk back to Micah’s car, I can’t erase the smile from my lips and I lean into his side when he wraps an arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head.

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