Page 115 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
Clark was mine. I was keeping him. Tenzin, too.
There was an announcement that we were at the Canadian border, and to get out our IDs.
My heart sped up. What if the dads had done something to my record? Or what if they were tracking it? They knew this name. Really, I should have changed it again. But I liked my life. Starting over would mean giving up my hockey dreams. I’d already had to fight for them once.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Clark’s brows furrowed.
“Yeah.” I gulped as I got out my phone and pulled up my ID.
Two people in uniform came through, scanning everyone’s IDs. One scanned Clark’s ID, and it turned green. “Enjoy your trip,” she told him.
She scanned mine. I held my breath, waiting for it to beep and alert her that I was a runaway or wanted, or something. It turned green, and I exhaled.
“Welcome home.” She went on to the next person.
He turned to me. “You’re Canadian. Right. I forgot.”
My ex always did, too.
The train continued on, and we all disembarked in Montreal, got our luggage, and Dean led us to a waiting bus, while holding a little Knights’ flag like he was leading a tour.
We got on the bus, which I presumed took us to the hotel. Celine had rented the castle, didn’t she? An exiled omega princess had built it. I’d toured it once as a child. A wedding there would be beautiful. I just adored castle weddings.
One day…
Dean stood as the bus drove away, holding his phone. “This bus is going to Jean-Paul and Celine’s wedding. If you’re not going there, you’re in the wrong place.”
Everyone laughed.
“JP wanted me to read some notices. First, they speak French here, so don’t be surprised that things are inFrench,” Dean said. “Second, the really attractive flight attendants are Celine’s co-workers and friends. Don’t break any hearts, or Celine will hit you with her purse.”
That elicited chuckles and a few people looked at Carlos. Celine was one of those ladies who liked large purses. She also loved the gym, so that wouldhurt.
“Third, we don’t have the whole place to ourselves, and there’s another big party, so please be courteous. Fourth, it’s a nature park. There are going to be animals everywhere. Be cautious, especially when walking across the park at night, drunk, so you’re not eaten by a deer. And…” Dean started laughing. “JP wrote, “Will someone please check Ladybug’s bags before you depart, so she doesn’t take any animals home?”
The entire bus broke out in laughter. Including me.
“I’m not going to steal a baby deer,” I told him. Wait, we were going to a nature park? While that sounded amazing, something wiggled in the back of my mind. Maybe I should have paid more attention to where we were going.
Nia laughed, her hair now in short braids. “Of course not. You’ll steal a baby wolf cub and pretend it’s a dog.”
“Then you’ll cry when it eats your cat,” Dimitri added.
“I mean, I did want to keep the wounded wolf my nonna and I nursed back to health,” I shrugged. I’d be a great wolf mom.
“Who got Ladybug a cat?” Dean shot me a look.
“Clark,” Carlos blabbed. “But it’s actually a cat and not a tiger. Do you think Lucky will like Snowball?”
I pondered this. “Absolutely.”
Carlos’ mom was cat-sitting for me.
Dean read a few more things, then sat down.
“I think I’ve been here?” I murmured to Clark. “That awkward moment when you can’t remember and there’s no one to text and ask.” I looked at pictures online. Would Lenny know?
No, I wouldn’t ask him, just so he wouldn’t tell my brother.
