Page 68 of Match My Fall
“Yousure you’re okay with this?”IaskedLucasandZoeonce more asValenandIdroppedPaigeoff at their house.Ithad been a couple of weeks since the nightThornehad kidnapped her, andIwas still wary about leaving her, but he was imprisoned and couldn’t get to her.Fortunately, they’d moved him to a different location.Ifhe’d been near me at work,Icouldn’t promiseIwouldn’t go down to the dungeon with every badass spell in my arsenal and goMamaWitchon him.
LucasandZoehad offered to watchPaigesoValenandIcould meet up with the others at theDangerZone, noting it would be good for him to meet more supernaturals inSalem.He’dfinished moving most of his belongings down toSalembut kept the cabin in the mountains.
“Go,”Lucasinsisted with a wave. “I’llshowPaigethe band room in the basement.”
“Andshow off your record collection,”Zoequipped.
Lucasloved to collect albums and talked about his new finds at work.
“Mommy, we’ll be fine,”Paigeinsisted, practically pushing me out the door.
“Okay, okay,I’mleaving,”Isaid with a chuckle.She’dbeen excited to go toLucasandZoe’sall week.
“Thanks,”Valensaid.
“Noproblem.It’sgood to meet the gang here inSalem,”Lucasreplied. “Yournew home.”Hecocked a grin. “Andone day, we’ll all go to theWhiteMountainsfor a group trip.Thatwould be fun.”
“Anytime,”Valenagreed with a nod.
Lucasturned toZoe. “Weshould have aWelcometoSalemparty here forValen,” he suggested with an animated expression. “Afterall,Pandoramade me the unofficial welcome wagon.”Hepatted his chest. “Aproud honor.”Heraised his finger. “Iknow just the thing—a potluck and game night.”
“Let’splan one,”Zoeagreed and then cocked her head. “IfSebastianwill let anyone else do the cooking.”
“Ah, right,”Lucasreplied with a lopsided grin. “We’llfigure it out.”Henodded with an assured look. “I’lltalk to my foodie wolf buddy.”
“Thanksagain,”Isaid asValenandIwalked out.
“Havefun,”Zoeadded.
Anhour later,ValenandIsat in a booth with our drinks at theDangerZonewithGiannaandSebastian.DefLeppard’s“RockofAges” thumped against the walls surrounding us.Itwas still early in the night so the music didn’t drown us out yet.Thevolume seemed to rise during the night along with the alcohol levels.IdoubtedI’dlast long with my pregnancy fatigue, but it was nice to get out withValenfor a couple of hours beforeIcrashed.
“Nowthis is something we don’t have in the mountains,”Valenpointed out, amused by the retro rock vibe and a dungeon theme on a nearby wall. “Aclub like this.”
“Iwanted to make it unique.”Giannamotioned to a new piece of décor. “Wejust added those gothic gates that one of my patrons donated as he’s renovating his house.Ithought it would look fitting as cemetery gates in front of painted tombstones with winged skulls.”Shebeamed at the new addition to her club.
“Looksfantastic,”Ipointed out.
“It’sgood to have another wolf shifter inSalem,”Sebastiannoted. “Let’sgo for a run one night.”
“Absolutely,”Valenagreed. “Showme all the good spots for a wolf to hunt.”
Giannaglanced at myShirleyTempleand frowned. “Sorryyou can’t have a proper cocktail.I’llmake you a good one once you have the baby.”
“It’sdelicious.”Itook a sip to back up my statement.
Shedidn’t appear convinced. “Ican’t imagine not being able to have a cocktail for nine months.”Shethrew her hands up. “Nochampagne?”
Ichuckled. “Idon’t have the love affair with champagne the way you do.”
NovaandDiegojoined us. “Hey,”Novagreeted us. “Goodto see you out.”
“It’sgood to be out,”Ireplied.
“Feelingbetter?”
I’dhad a bout of morning sickness at theNetworkyesterday morning, but it passed.Itcame on sporadically, whichIcould live with.Itwas better than every day, all day.
“Much.”
