Page 12 of The Dragon's Surprise
“That’s better than before.” She stood. “Finish up the cookies while I call Rio. We’ll have this sorted in no time.”
As his aunt dialed their clan leader on her cell phone, Kyle wasn’t sure if he was happy or anxious. He’d never thought to be a dad, and he was a long way from truly being one, and didn’t know how to act.
His beast spoke up.Ethan doesn’t know how to be a dragon-shifter. So help him with that, and things will be fine.
I hope so.
Soon his aunt hung up and told him that Rio would ask for another clan’s help and sent Kyle on his way. Once he bid her farewell, he decided to head to the school and see if he could help the teachers. Or, at least, answer any questions if Ethan’s tutoring session was over.
It was time to try and get to know his son.
Chapter Five
Lexi had liked the dragon teacher, Oscar Forrest, immediately. He was an older dragonman in his sixties, but didn’t have a bias against all humans like some of the older dragon-shifters did, in Lexi’s experience. Plus, he’d spent the last hour answering Ethan’s questions as best as he could.
But as the boy’s stomach rumbled, Lexi spoke in the next pause. “Ethan, we should go so we can get some dinner. Jenny said there’s a restaurant here that serves pizza.”
The dragon teacher nodded. “It’s true. And it’s wood-fired, so it’s even better.”
Ethan frowned. “What’s wood-fired?”
Lexi answered, “That means it’s made in a special type of oven, but don’t worry, it tastes amazing, definitely better than frozen pizza.”
The boy’s stomach rumbled louder, and Lexi bit back a smile before saying, “I’m hungry too, so say goodbye to Mr. Forrest, and we’ll get some dinner.”
Ethan said, “Thank you, Mr. Forrest, for helping me.”
“No problem, Ethan. I’ll see you again tomorrow, and don’t forget to bring more questions to ask me, okay?”
The boy nodded, and after Lexi thanked the teacher, they headed out of the classroom and toward the exit. She asked, “What do you think of Mr. Forrest?”
“Well, he’s nice, and he taught me a lot already.”
Ethan hesitated, and Lexi said, “I think you’ll have fun at school, but we won’t rush it, I promise. And maybe you’ll make friends at the playground after dinner.”
“So we can still go?”
“Yes. It’s nearly summer, so it stays light out for a long time. That was the rule I always had as a kid—we didn’t have to go home until the streetlights turned on.”
He bounced in place and cheered. “I like that rule! And I can’t wait to see the playground.”
She smiled and was about to ask what kind of pizza he liked when they exited the school and nearly collided with Kyle. Without thinking, she blurted, “What are you doing here?”
It sounded harsher than she’d intended, but he merely shrugged. “I wanted to check on Ethan and see if he had any more questions about being a dragon-shifter.”
Ethan spoke up. “Oh, I have lots and lots. But first we’re getting pizza for dinner! A special fire kind, or something. But you should come with us.”
Lexi was about to say he didn’t have to when Kyle smiled. And for a second, she stopped breathing. The man was too handsome by half when he relaxed, even just a little.
Don’t think about him like that, Lexi. Just don’t.
Thankfully, he spoke and distracted her. “Only if Lexi doesn’t mind. I know it’s been a long day.”
His gaze met hers, and his pupils flashed a few times. If she could only better read this man, but she supposed keeping his emotions tightly controlled was essential for a doctor. “You’re welcome to come, if you like.”
Ethan jumped up and down. “Yay, it’ll be fun. Come on. Where are we going? I’m hungry.”
The boy took Kyle’s hand with his free one, and for a second, the dragonman froze. Maybe inviting him to dinner had been a bad idea, even if it had been Ethan who’d done it. And yet, the last thing she wanted was to force anything.
