Page 184 of Deadly Sweet

“You what?” I hiss. “What the fuck, man?”

“Your mom said she was going to make lasagna!” He throws his hands up in the air. “You damn well know I can’t say no to her lasagna. It’s fucking amazing. And she gave me a guilt trip about never seeing her grandbaby anymore, growing up so fast, and she's missing everything."

“Fine,” I mutter. “But I’m taking Savvy out for the day first. I have everything already planned.”

“Where?” Caleb's eyes light up.

“No.” I point to him. “She’s mine for the day.”

He pouts. “You're no fun.”

“Don’t start with me. I’ve hardly had time with her this week.”

“Fine,” he huffs. “Just abandon me. Whatever.”

“Drama queen,” Jake snorts.

“Just for that, you're not my best friend anymore.” Caleb glares at him.

“What are you, one of my second graders?" Jake laughs.

“If I had to be one, I’d pick Carter. That kid is awesome,” Caleb says.

Jake’s face falls. Every time Jake has brought up Carter, my heart broke for the kid. I saw the pain in his eyes, knowing there wasn’t much he could do for him.

But I hope he understands he already does so much. That safe place he gives that little boy could be enough to change his whole world.

“Thor!” Savvy shoutsas I walk towards where Thor’s outside mini-palace is. Leroy really did go all out and built him a pretty epic place to live. Looks like a child’s playhouse on crack.

A little gray ball of fur comes rushing by with something hanging from his mouth.

“Thor, please. Those are his favorite,” Savvy begs.

I stop and cross my arms, an amused look on my face as I watch my Omega try to reason with a raccoon.

Thor chitters and Savvy sighs.

“I know you hate when he calls you that. But you're not very nice to him either.” Thor chitters some more, and Savvy gasps. “You take that back!” Thor makes more noises and Savvy grows pissed off. “I’m going to wash that mouth out with soap, young man!”

Rolling my lips together, I try to smother my snort of laughter.That's my Omega, everyone, having a full-on argument with a raccoon as if he can talk back.She says he can, so who am I to argue? I’m not looking to get stabbed.

My eyes widen as I see Thor put down what he has in his mouth. It’s Caleb’s very rare, very expensive collector's sneaker.

“No, no, no!” I shout as Thor steps over it and then pisses in it. “Fucking hell.”

“Thor!” Savvy shouts in horror. Thor takes off running, leaving the shoe behind. Savvy rushes over and picks up the shoe, tips it over, and watches as pee runs from it. “He’s going to kill me.”

“He’s not going to do anything to you,” I say. Savvy looks up at me with tears in her eyes. It fucking guts me.

“Why can’t they just get along?” she sighs heavily, letting the shoe drop to the ground. “They hate each other and I hate that they do because it sucks. I love them both, I don’t want to see them at each other's throats all the time.”

“Maybe they just need a little bonding time,” I suggest, stepping up to her and wrapping my arms around her, pulling her to my chest. “Maybe if they work out their differences, they can learn to get along. Maybe not best friends or anything, but enough to make you happy.”

“You think?” She sniffles, looking up at me with big blue eyes that could convince me to do anything.

“If we think of a good plan, I think so.”

“Okay.” She wraps her arms around me, snuggling her face into my chest. I grin as she scent marks me. She does it to us all, any chance she gets.

---