Page 83 of Death and Donuts

I leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips.

He smiled at the innocent peck. “What was that for?”

“For you being you.”

He gave me a kiss back. “That’s for you, and there are plenty more.” Walking to the driver’s door, he opened it. “Would you care to drive, or would you like me to?”

Even though I was still sore and a little leery about driving again, I sat in the driver’s seat. It was better to drive now and leave whatever bits of fear I might have behind me.

Driving the SUV came with a learning curve. My old car didn’t have nearly as many bells and whistles. It certainly didn’t have leather seats with a heater and A/C built in.

Once I figured everything out, I drove out onto the street.

I let off the gas through every intersection to look both ways. It wasn’t enough to anger the drivers behind me, but I knew it was just residual fear I’d have to shake.

By the time we arrived at the pack house, I felt a little more at ease driving, but I still had to unclench my fingers from around the steering wheel. Cross set his hand on my leg.

“You did well. Now, are you ready to reassure everyone?”

I looked toward the main doors where Vena, Anchor, Gunther, and Shepard waited. The fact that Anchor held Vena’s hand was probably the only reason she hadn’t stormed the vehicle.

“Ready,” I said.

Cross moved so fast that the sound of his door closing registered at the same time he opened mine for me. I smiled at him as he took my hand and helped me down.

“Probably not very reassuring when you have to help me like this,” I said softly.

He chuckled and kissed my forehead.

“You’ve had your time with her,” Vena said. “Hand her over.”

Cross led me toward the group but veered at the last second toward Shepard.

“I’m leaving her in your care.”

“Thank you for getting her out of there quickly last night,” Shepard said. “And for keeping me in the loop.”

Cross nodded, gave me one last long look, and then disappeared.

“When I said hand her over, I meant to me,” Vena said.

Grinning, I looked at my best friend and opened my arms.

“Come on. Give it to me.”

“That’s what she said,” Vena said before slamming into my arms hard enough to rock me backward. Even as I winced at the impact, I wasn’t worried she’d knock me over. Shepard didn’t have the same faith in her.

“Careful,” he warned.

She made a dismissive noise at him and hugged me hard.

“You really worried me,” she said into my hair.

“You should be worried. My driving is better than yours, and someone still hit me. You’re so screwed.”

Vena snorted. “Not for another nine hundred and fifty-three times.”

“Ugh. You need therapy. Let go of me.”

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