Page 135 of Safe and Sound

“They never liked Dare, so I can’t imagine they’re going to be stoked we’re back together after all this time.”

Nick placed his hands on my shoulders. “Just like I told you four years ago, the decision is yours, not theirs.”

“I know. I just hate to disappoint them.”

With a grin, he said, “You already got divorced and then knocked-up. There’s not much else you could do.”

“Ass!” I replied, while whipping him with the end of the towel.

“When do you plan on telling them?”

“Tonight.”

For as long as I could remember, my parents had held a standing family dinner at the restaurant on Saturday nights. If you could make it, great, and if you couldn’t, that was fine, but also be prepared to be extremely guilted for missing.

Piper burst through the garage door with Dare on her heels. “Mommy, look at my kitties!”

My brows furrowed. “Kitties?”

“Mm, hmm, we gots two.”

Oh no he didn’t. Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrowed my eyes at Dare. “And why did we have to get two?”

“Because they were littermates and a bonded pair,” he explained with a sheepish look.

“I believe I agreed to only one kitten.”

“But they’d both been the victims of abuse. Even after being tortured, he was trying to save his sister. They couldn’t be apart.”

“And were they the only kittens at the shelter?”

Dare rubbed the back of his neck. “Not exactly.”

“Unbelievable,” I growled.

“Guess what else Dare’s doin?” Piper said.

“There’s more than two cats?” I gritted out.

She nodded. “He’s gonna take me on his pwane to see cousins.”

“That’s great, honey.”

“And we’s goin’ today!”

“No, Piper, we’re not doing that today.”

“But Dare?—”

“Dare doesn’t make plans for us.” Pinning him with a glare, I replied, “He doesn’t know that we have dinner with Yaya and Pappouli at the restaurant every Saturday night.”

“But I wants to go on a pwane!” Piper pleaded.

After glancing between me and Dare, Nick said, “Come on, Pipes. Let’s go get your kitties set up in your room.”

Her pouting lips turned slightly upward at the prospect. She then happily followed him to the stairs.

Once she was out of earshot, Dare held up his hands. “Look, I’m fully aware that I’m in deep shit, and I deserve everything you’re about to throw at me.”

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