Page 28 of Marked By The Grouchy Grizzly

Eek. Probably a good idea though.

My cheeks blush as I snap my hand back. I jump off the chair and hurry over to the sink, using extra soap as I wash up.

“Julian was around here somewhere,” I say, hoping he’s going to get back soon.

“No worries,” she says, strolling to the front desk with the bag of food. I quickly gather my clothes off the floor, hide behind the privacy divider, and get dressed. “I brought breakfast. Are you hungry? You must be.”

She’s grinning as I blush harder.

“I’m sorry to meet you like this,” I say, humiliated. “I came to see Julian after everything that happened yesterday and?—”

“You don’t have to explain,” she says, interrupting me. “You’re mates. Of course, you’re going to be drawn to each other. It’s unavoidable, right? I’m just happy to have you here. Julian was really having a hard time without you.”

“He was?” I say, but before I can get her answer, the front door opens and Magnus walks in.

“Can’t wait to see how many horrible one-star reviews we get because of that shit show yester?—”

He suddenly stops talking when he sees me standing in the middle of the shop all awkwardly.

“You’re back?” he says, staring at me in shock.

“She came to join us for breakfast,” Victoria says, tossing me a wrapped up breakfast sandwich. I catch it and then she throws one to Magnus. “Isn’t that nice?”

“Yeah,” he says, nodding as he opens the sandwich and takes a huge bite. “Happy to have you here. And hey, if you can stop your friends from review bombing our shop, that would be great.”

“Magnus,” Victoria says in a sharp tone. “She’s ourguest.”

I like her already. It’s going to be fun being sisters with her.

“I’ll get them to take down any reviews they’ve left,” I say as I walk over, already feeling a bit more at home. “And I’ll even leave you a five-star review since Julian fixed the tattoo for me.”

I pull down my sweater, showing them my beautiful new lily tattoo.

“Wow,” Victoria says, leaning over the counter to get a better look. “I didn’t know he’s so good at flowers.”

My mate is good ateverything. Except, maybe showing up for breakfast when I need him.

“Oh,” Julian says when he walks in from the back and sees his siblings around me. “You guys are here early.”

“No,” Magnus says as he makes a show of looking at his watch. “You’re just always late.”

“Sorry about that, bro,” he says, kissing me on the cheek before grabbing a sandwich out of the bag. “It won’t happen again.”

Magnus is staring at him like he doesn’t quite know if he can believe him or not.

“A lot of things are going to be different now,” Julian says, smiling at me. “I’ll be better. I promise. I was having a rough time, but that’s over now.”

I can’t help but smile as he looks at me while he says it.I’mthe reason things are going to get better.I’mthe reason he’s changed.

“So, you won’t be a grumpy asshole anymore?” Magnus says with a laugh.

Julian shakes his head with a grin on his face. “No, but I’ll be a grouchy dick.”

Magnus laughs and smacks his brother’s shoulder. “I’m glad it worked out for you two. Hopefully, my mate is around the corner too.”

“So,” Victoria says, her jade-green eyes full of interest asshe looks at me. “You’re part of the family now, Lainey. Tell us everything about yourself.”

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I might have a home.

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