Page 22 of Deadly Promise
Shit. That was the second time today he’d nearly let the cat out of the bag.
Not in front of the entire pack.
It was bad enough they’d heard Hayden and Teagan’s conversation. Hard not to. But they were decent enough to pretend they hadn’t.
Unfortunately, Hayden didn’t miss a beat. The brat. “That word keeps coming up today. Mate.” He crossed his arms and gave Liam the stink eye. “What exactly does it mean?”
“It means you better hurry to your car before Preston corners you with a plate of freshly wrapped deviled eggs,” Liam deflected, unwilling to lie but not ready for that conversation. Trust needed to be built, not broken. These two deserved honesty, but that conversation required the right moment, not a rushed explanation in his backyard.
Hayden’s brows shot up before he spun around and headed straight for Teagan.
“You’re evil,” Aiden said as he joined Liam.
“Preston’s eggs are evil,” he replied. “Do me a favor and make a huge plate I can take with me. If Preston sees me making one, he’ll force his demon spawns on me.” Liam spotted Zeppelin looking his way. He threw up a peace sign, unwilling to be buried in the woods for talking smack about the guy’s mate. If you asked him, it was downright cruel of Zeppelin to allow those monstrosities to keep showing up at cookouts.
“Got you covered.” He smacked Liam’s chest with the back of his hand. “Go catch up to your mates before they take off without you.”
With as uncertain as Teagan was, that was a possibility.
Luckily, when he rounded the side of the house, he spotted the two leaning against their car, talking in hushed tones. Then he heard Hayden whisper, “Be quiet. Here he comes.”
Now Liam wanted to know what they were talking about. Hopefully something good and not the news that they’d changed their minds. “We’re taking my truck,” he announced. “Safer to navigate the side of the mountain at night.”
“But what about our car?” Teagan glanced between them, and Liam saw a spark of panic in his hazel eyes. “I can drive behind you.”
“No,” Hayden and Liam said in unison.
Then Liam continued. “Get your cute butts in my truck before you two give me a heart attack.”
Was Teagan insane? Their safety was the whole reason Liam was driving them.
“How am I going to give you a heart attack?” Hayden argued. “I’m not the one who offered to drive.”
He saw now the two were going to keep him on his toes. Liam was already settling into the dynamic. Hayden was the argumentative charmer and Teagan was the anxious overthinker.
And Liam was the protective one trying to keep them both safe while they drove him crazy.
Life was good.
But Liam planned on helping Teagan with his anxiety, as soon as he found out why his mate had it to begin with.
“I’ll have a few of the guys bring your car by in the morning.” He hit his fob, and his truck chirped. The glossy black coat reflected the crescent moon above them.
Just like last night, he made sure to place Teagan in the middle. He didn’t want his smaller mate pressing against the door, afraid to touch him, and end up falling out. After hearing their conversation, he pictured fiery explosions and an alien invasion.
No sooner had he started the truck than Aiden showed up with two huge plates wrapped in foil. “Here you guys go.” He handed them over. “One is filled with desserts.”
“Sweet!” Hayden said with a gorgeous smile. “Thanks.”
“Hey, can you drop off their car in the morning? Maybe drag Sloane out of bed to bring you home afterward?” Liam handed both plates to Hayden, who gladly took them.
“Sure thing. I just need the keys.” Aiden held out his hand.
Hayden handed the plates to Teagan before digging them out and passing them to Liam. Then he greedily grabbed the plates. Or tried to. Teagan insisted on keeping the one filled with desserts, clutching it to his chest like he was afraid Hayden would wrestle him for it. Liam didn’t blame him. Pearls and Swirls bakery made some of the best desserts he’d ever tasted.
Though you couldn’t pay Liam enough to go there. Not after what happened to Vaughn.
“Drive safely.” Aiden patted the driver’s door then walked away.
