Page 67 of Bearly Hanging On

“Which is why we aren’t going anywhere tonight.” Mack stomped over. “Netflix and chill.” His words came out awfully fast, a terrible urgency there. “Your choice of any or all of the offerings of nearby restaurants. We’ll massage your feet, your back, as we watch whatever girly show you pick.”

“Even romantic tragedies that make me cry?” I asked with a grin, watching his teeth grind together.

“We can have a girly movie marathon if that’s what you want,” he said finally. “So whaddya say, Harper?”

Kieran was remaining conspicuously quiet during all of this, but Tor nodded in encouragement. While Mack’s offer wastantalising, who could give up the opportunity to ruffle the wolf shifter’s fur a bit?

“Sideshow Alley sounds amazing? When do we leave?”

Straight after work,apparently. The guys drove me around to my place and waited for me to have a shower, but as I got changed, Mack made another plea for a night at home.

“Harper…” It was the way his voice trailed away, his eyes taking in the towel wrapped around me, the water sliding down my neck. “We…”

“We?” I prompted.

He shook his head.

“We can go out to the sideshows after this shit has blown over. After I…” That muscle jumped in his jaw. “After I sort this problem out.”

“There’s always other problems. If I had to stay home until the perfect moment came, I’d never leave my apartment,” I said. “You take your pleasure where you find it, because who knows when you’ll have another choice.”

“But…”

He was going to argue, I could see that in his mulish expression, so that’s why I dropped my towel. If anything was gonna shut a guy up, it was boobs, and sure enough his protest turned into some kind of strangled sound in the back of his throat. I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he took a step towards me.

“My eyes!” A shrill female voice had me snatching the towel from the floor and hastily holding it up against me. “What did I tell you about having multi-species orgies in the apartment?”

Daria appeared in my doorway with a grin.

“To not let them get too loud and keep you awake all night?” I replied.

“Huh, yeah, that was what I said.” She turned to Mack. “Hey, I’m Daria. Which one are you, Mr. Grumpy?”

“The one that’s waiting in the car for Harper to get ready, trying to work out a way to keep her safe.”

Mack turned on his heel and marched off, something that had the both of us snorting.

“Wolf shifter,” I answered for him.

“Who knew Team Jacob was so damn moody?” She settled against the door frame. “Haven’t seen you for days. I’ve been pulling these late night shifts, so I’ve missed what’s happening with your menagerie.” She looked down the hall. “Seems like things are… progressing.”

“I’ve met parents, won a bear race, had dream sex, and had some creepers sniff me.” Her eyebrows shot up to reach her hairline as I pulled clothes on. “So just another week, I guess.”

“No,” she said as I brushed past her, now dressed. “No, you can’t leave me hanging like that.”

“Come and hang out at the sideshows,” I said. “I’ll fill you in on the details.”

“You’re welcome to join us,” Tor said, tugging me close, the weight of his arm comforting.

“Got another trio of hot single shifters available at the last minute for a blind date?” she asked, but I heard the wobbly edge to her voice. She’d only just broken up with the dickhead who decided his life would be better without her in it. “No? Then I’m cool.” Daria went to the fridge. “I’ll try and make a dent in all this amazing food.”

“Dar—”

“The next words out of your mouth better be I will catch up with you later and fill me in on all the gossip,” she said in a mock gruff tone. “Or I’ll be forced to kneecap you.”

“You got it,” I replied. “Tomor…” I looked at the guys, remembering what Nanna had made me promise. “The next day? Apparently, my grandmother wants to meet the guys.”

“Meeting the family?” Tor’s purr was unexpected. Personally, the sound of their feet as they ran out of the door would’ve been more in line with my dating history. “Sign me up.”

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