Page 655 of Love Bites

“So he’s a mix like Jo Jo?” Sunny nodded with rapt interest. “I had no idea.”

Sunny leaned forward. “Does the child usually change into the father’s animal? Like Jo Jo being a coyote and Mike, a bear?”

“A lot of times that’s the case, but not every case. Sometimes a child will get his or her mother’s form. And, while it doesn’t happen often, every once in a great while we’ll get a child who can’t shift at all.” She said the last part with remorse. “It’s the chance two of our kind take when they cross species. I’ve never heard of any child of a mixed mating being able to shift into more than one animal. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible.”

I’d already known this, but for Sunny, as she waited for baby Jude to have his first shift, I could tell it hit a nerve. She still felt like an outsider, and she wanted her son to be a real part of the community.

Which is why it didn’t surprise me when she deftly changed the subject. “So, Chav. What’s going on with you and this Dominic-dude?”

Ruth leaned forward, elbows on the table and chin on her fists. “Oooo-ooo. Do tell me more.”

I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“He has dreamy eyes,” Sunny said.

“I’ll tell Babe you think so.”

She scrunched her nose and patted my knee. “You do that.” Without missing a beat, she turned the conversation to Ruth. “Those Lowry boys are cute as well.”

“There has been an influx of handsome, available men in our town with this Jubilee.” Ruth looked meaningfully at me. “A single girl could really have her pick. Especially one as pretty as our Chavvie here.”

“I’m not shopping for a husband.”

“You should be,” Sunny said. “We could be having babies together!”

“Ruth can have babies with you.”

“After nine children, I think my ovaries are retired.”

Sunny gave her a pleading look.

“For good,” Ruth reiterated.

Sunny huffed. “Fine.”

It dawned on me then just what my bestie was saying. “Are you pregnant again?”

She smiled coyly. “I’ve taken two home tests that say I am.”

“Oh my God!” Ruth squealed. She and I both jumped up with Sunny and all three of us danced our glee in a group hug.

“I’m home,” Babe shouted from the living room. He walked into the kitchen and caught us in our celebratory clutch. “Everything okay?”

Sunny gave Ruth and me adon’t-say-a-wordglare. “Everything’s great, Babe.”

“Really great,” I said too enthusiastically. I winced when Sunny pinched me.

“I better get home,” Ruth said. “Gotta get supper on. The price you pay when you decide to have a herd of kids. Ow!” She gave Sunny a dirty look. My BFF didn’t look at all sorry for pinching Ruth, too. “Thanks for having me over.” Quietly, she mouthed to us. “Call me.”

I nodded. “Thanks for the pie.”

“There’s pie?” Babe asked.

Sunny laughed. “I’ll get you a plate and a fork.”

* * *

“Aaa-ieeeee!”A scream from Sunny had Babel and me scrambling toward the bathroom. Babe, carrying baby Jude, practically kicked down the door to get inside.

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