Page 65 of Luna

“What about an Italian place? You can have regular risotto?”

“That sounds good.”

Dante talked about business plans as we drove over to an Italian restaurant. He also made sure to bring in Halos’s knowledge of plants and Colton’s business sense, along with Quinn’s general brilliance.

I liked that he considered everyone, not just his own ideas. And then I thought about how he’d said he was in foster care, and then later on the streets.

“You thought I was trying to take your money, and you worried you would be broke again?” I said out loud. A second later I realized I had been having half the conversation in my mind. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He grimaced. “No, love, I didn’t think that. I just freaked out. You said pregnant, and I already knew I couldn’t handle being with you. Trying to help you raise a child and not screw things up with youandthe kid? I just absolutely panicked.”

“You think you’re gonna be a bad father?”

He shrugged. “My own dad sold drugs, while taking them on the side, same as my mum. They didn’t have time for me, made it clear I was a mistake.”

I winched, hurt lacing through me. I put my hand on my belly. “The Peanut might not have been planned, but she’s not a mistake.”

“Hell no.” Dante shook his head. “I suck at making friends. Most of the people that like me like that I’m Dante Trent. Wealthy, semi-famous illusionist. I haven’t had a real relationship, of any sort, in years.”

I took Dante’s hand in mine. “My parents and aunt and uncle died in a place crash when I was ten. My older cousin Raina basically raised me. I don’t know how to be a parent either. I don’t think anyone really does.”

“I’m sorry.” He squeezed my hand. “More than you know. You deserve a life filled with happiness and love. You’re an incredible woman.”

“You don’t know that.” I sighed. “None of you really know who I am.”

“Hiding dead bodies in that beloved garden of yours?” Dante arched an eyebrow.

“No,” I laughed. “But you haven’t known me for very long.”

“I haven’t. But I know you like to recycle, you’re shy and smart, you love plants more than anyone I know, and you’re compassionate about those around you. I’m a good judge of character, Luna.”

“You’re going to need to stay around for me to believe that.”

“Of course.” He squeezed my hand, the soft spicy scent of him soothing my stomach.

I leaned back against the seat. I didn’t know what to say to that. Dante said I deserved love and happiness, but it still felt like I was waiting for things to end. At some point, I would do something, and the pack would be too annoyed with me.

We were all riding high on the pregnancy hormones, but maybe that’s why I was terrified of bonding. They didn’t know me, not the way they would after years of my annoying habits, and their annoying habits. I’d tried to make it work with my not pack for almost a year.

In the end, it hadn’t been enough. I was too much for them, they weren’t enough for me: it all amounted to the same.

But this time, it wasn’t just my heart at stake. It was my lifelong happiness and that of my daughter.

As we drove to the Italian restaurant, I forced my mind away from that. I couldn’t find happiness while I was just waiting for something bad to happen.

That wasn’t fair to anyone. I would take each moment as it came, and life in the moment.

Chapter25

Quinn

The baby exposition was loud, crowded, and bright. All things our pregnant omega hated.

But she had asked to go, said she wanted to go and, even when we got our badges and walked into the massive conference center and the noise hit us, she steeled herself and pressed on into the crowd.

I took her hand and stayed close. Colton and Dante blocked people from either side of us, while Halos stayed behind us. I wondered if this what being in the middle of bodyguards felt like.

Luna had thought going to one place to check out all our baby needs would kill two birds with one stone. My semester with the students had ended, and I had more time with her. She was nesting all over her cottage now, and I thought it was about time to bring up buying a house again.

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