Page 54 of Forced Plus-Size Mate

“Nope,” I answer, grinning. “Just vibing.”

“Hmmm, me too!” Gina laughs. “Finally, somegoodvibes.”

“I know. It’s been a hell of a day.”

When I woke up in Body’s arms this morning, I was already conflicted enough. I didn’t need to go straight into a meeting that directly questioned the motives of my relationship.

Because no matter how sure I am of my feelings, there will always be the knowledge that my marriage to Body triggered the return of my powers. Even if I learn how to trust myself, there’s no reason anyone else should.

“Come on,” Gina says. “Let’s get a drink. I’ll fall down if I don’t take a rest.”

“I hear ya,” I agree, letting her lead me up the stairs to the deck.

Jenks’s place is just how I remember it. The long wooden cabin has bedrooms at both ends with a huge kitchen and living room in the center, a similar design to Body’s place. The main glass doors lead to a massive deck that runs the length of the cabin, extending out to the pool and hot tub.

“Oh, lord,” Gina mutters. “There are some weirdos in the pool. It must be freezing in there.”

“There’s a couple of witches in the water,” I point out with a grin. “They might have it warmed up.”

“Even so, you have to get out sometime. The wind isn’t too strong tonight, but the air is cold.”

“That’s true. It’s very unusual that there’s no breeze.”

“Let’s just thank the stars we got some nice weather. Bae’s little meet-and-greet would have gone to hell if it snowed.”

“I don’t know,” I muse. “Jenks’s place is huge. We’d just be crammed into the theatre room.”

“I hold by my statement,” Gina says, rolling her eyes. “I sure as hell don’t want to get squished in there.”

We reach the coolers along with the long line of chairs and loungers close to the door. Gina pulls out a couple of premixed cocktails and hands me one. I take a big sip of the strawberry fizz, tasting the tang of vodka under the sweet red juice.

I collapse into a nearby lounger, putting my head back so I can look at the stars. Gina sits beside me, and for a moment wejust quietly sip our drinks, listening to the sounds of celebration around us.

“I don’t like to break the mood, but I am disappointed that so many didn’t come,” Gina says.

“It’s okay,” I reply. “I’ve been thinking about it, too. All of New Hope and most of Silver Meadows are here, as well as my coven and the witches in town. But only a few from Silverton or the wild pack.”

“It’s a clear declaration,” Gina says somberly. “By not attending, they’re showing a complete lack of support for the new direction.”

“What happens next?”

“I don’t know,” Gina answers. “I suppose Bae will meet with Decker and Kelta—as peacefully as possible, most likely.”

“I hope it works.”

“So do I.”

I stretch out on the lounger, sipping my drink and watching the sky. The nostalgia is so powerful that the years I spent in the canyon feel like a dream. The familiar setting of Jenks’s house, the party music, and the sounds of people having fun—this was my world once.

Except for one thing: I was always watching Body from a distance while he pretended to ignore me. He’d always find me, and we’d slip away to fool around… but never in front of his friends.

It’s an old wound, but it still cuts deep. At the time, I told myself over and over that it was just about his parents, but that did little to comfort me when I saw cheerleaders dangling all over him.

Will you put your big girl panties on and get over it? You married the guy. Isn’t that enough?

“Oh, sorry,” Gina says to someone, her voice breaking me out of my reverie. “I didn’t realize I was in your seat.”

“You’re not,” I hear Body answer.

---