Page 66 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

“Turns out that deep inside big, grumpy dragon shifters, there’s a squishy soft spot,” Telos whispered.

Mav pretended to bare his teeth. Telos raised an eyebrow.

On the other side of the room, their friends exchanged looks and typed frantically on their phones.

Mav was about to ask what the big news was, when someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Uriel,” said their visitor.

Everyone perked up.

“Our help for Date Night,” Raptor said excitedly.

Duke groaned. “Will you quit calling it Date Night?”

“We’re all going on dates,” Crush pointed out. “Don’t pretend you’re not, Duke. We’re going to save us some blind dates, and if you count Telos and Mav, it’s going to be a quintuple date.”

Mav glanced sidelong at Telos, his heart suddenly beating fast.

“It’s not going to be a date,” Telos said firmly. “At least, not for us.”

17

TENTACLES AND A DRAGON

A distinct surgeof disappointment came through their mental bond.

Telos blinked at Mav, confused. “You... want it to be a date? Really?”

Mav froze, the tops of his ears turning pink. “Yes?”

“Huh.” Telos watched him for a reaction that might contradict his words. But Mav met his gaze intently, his face open and waiting.

Maybe Mav really did mean what he’d said, about giving this a chance.

Telos’ heart fluttered. Then his mouth twitched, and he had to duck his head to hide his smile.

“Don’t hide,” Mav murmured, catching Telos’ chin. He tipped Telos’ face up, leaning so close that Telos forgot to breathe.

A collective gasp rose through the room.

Mav turned and shot their friends a warning glare. “What?”

“Nothing,” Hilly-Billy said, hurrying to lower his phone.

“Were youtaking a video?Of us?” Telos asked incredulously.

Hilly-Billy coughed. “Ah, someone requested it.”

“Who?” Telos growled.

Hadley coughed too. It sounded suspiciously like “Only the rest of your friends.”

Before Telos could say anything about it, more knocking came from the door. Raptor turned back to where his hand had frozen on the doorknob, finally opening the door.

Uriel stepped in with his baby strapped to his back. “What was so important that you couldn’t answer the door for five whole minutes?”

“Ah.” Hilly-Billy coughed. “A once-in-a-lifetime event.”

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