Page 92 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“Well, this is a surprise.” I leaned into Grif and Dean, grateful for their calming presence–and the interruption.
Grace was right. Just because Dad and the parents massively fucked up starting their pack didn’t mean I would.
“We’re stayinghere,then leaving in the morning,” Dean told me, grabbing my drink and taking a sip. “Ooh, tropical. I’m Dean, that’s Jonas.” He waved down a server and ordered drinks for them.
“Oh, you’re Verity’s... guys. I didn’t know you were here on business, too.” Dad frowned and appraised their nice suits. “What do you do again?”
“They’re in the ice business.” Creed started laughing.
Dad nodded, that frown still twitching on his lips. Holding up his drink, he rattled the ice in his glass. “I suppose ice is a lucrative business. Everyone needs ice.”
Grace buried her face in Spencer’s shoulder. But then I hadn’t known who Grif was either.
Dad’s phone vibrated. He picked it up and typed something.
I tipped my head back. “Hi, Jonas.”
Jonas, looking ever the bad boy, even in a navy suit, gave me a nod. “Verity.”
Him calling me Verity and notlittle alphamade disappointment zing through me.
Grace caught my eye and mouthednice job.
“Verity’s boys are hockey players, Dad. Famous ones that play on TV.Ice business.I was being silly,” Creed said.
“When did you start liking hockey? First that sweatshirt you lived in all summer, and now this. What airplane did you meet him on?” Dad looked confused.
“The one where she crawled out the window to see her siblings.” Grif’s voice went dry as he planted a possessive kiss on the top of my head.
“Oh. We really did forget, things were happening so quickly. I hadn’t expected Briar to let me out of the contract so I could take the offer at Queen’s University. We had to act so fast if we were going to be settled in London in time for classes to start.” Dad frowned and his shoulders hunched, head bowing slightly.
Forgot? It was on the calendar in the kitchen in purple marker.
“Thank you for taking care of my sister that night.” Creed looked at Grif.
Grif, still propping me up like he was a garden stake, gave him a nod. “I have sisters. If they’d had a day like that, I’d appreciate someone being kind to them, too.”
Dean elbowed Grif, then jerked his chin up.
“Oh. Right.” A goofy grin on his face, he reached into his pocket and dug out a crochet omega lily, and handed it to me with a flourish.
“For me?” I held it to my heart. “It’s beautiful!”
“I traded a puck for it at the game today.” Pride colored his face.
While I knew kids would bring signs offering candy for pucks, I didn’t know people brought things likethatto trade. The attention to detail in the tiny lily’s colorway was exquisite.
“Thank you. I love it.” I leaned in and kissed him.So sweet.Especially since he knew I researched omega lilies.
The stem was bendy, so I attached it to the handle of my purse.
Mumsy, in all her suited, blonde statuesque glory, marched over us, laptop case over her shoulder as she slung her arms possessively around Dad. She gave my guys the stink-eye.
“Nate, love, I know you’re having a good time with the children, but it’s late.” She melted a little as she nuzzled him. While she wasn’t always the best parent to us, she always tried to be a good alpha to him.
Grif’s arm tightened around me. Dean wedged himself on my lap the best he could. A hand rested on the back of my neck as Jonas came up so close behind me that we touched. His warmth was reassuring–as was his blatant display of possession.
“Mum, why don’t you call the car to take you to your hotel and wait for it, and I’ll walk Dad out in a moment?” Creed said, trying to be ever the diplomat. His relationship with his bio mom was complicated.
