Page 48 of Cold Foot Curse

“Come here,” Kade called to Jess. “I want you to meet someone.”

Jess looked confused but stood and caught up with him easily enough. He handed her an ice cream from the bag, and then before she’d even had time to respond, he ducked around gas pump number four.

“I knew I smelled shit around here,” Wreck said without missing a beat as he pumped gas into his truck.

He swung a smile to Kade and then looked surprised to see Jess standing just behind his shoulder.

Kade chuckled and handed him an ice cream. “Insulting me while I’m bringing you a present—that’s messed up, man.”

“I’m sorry for my language,” Wreck said as he offered a hand to Jess. “You must be Jess.”

“H-hi. Yes, I’m Jess,” she said, shaking his hand. She flinched back and gasped, shaking her hand. “You’re a dragon?”

“Crap, sorry,” Wreck murmured, looking down at his hand with a frown. “I never burn anyone anymore. I don’t even feel hot, or worked up.”

Kade reached out and touched Wreck’s palm, but it was cool to the touch. “You aren’t hot.” He swung his gaze to Jess. “Do you get a feeling for what shifters are?”

“Umm,” she said, shifting her weight uncomfortably. “I don’t know. It happens sometimes. Mostly with fire shifters. Water shifters, too. Raynah’s handshake made me feel like I was drowning at first.”

“Well, you’d be fun at a party,” Wreck said.

“Ha, I don’t know about that,” she said shyly. “I’m Kade’s friend. From his old life.”

“Oh!” Kade said, and clapped Wreck in the chest. “This is my Alpha. This is Wreck.”

“You…” Her eyes got big. “You just introduced me to your Alpha. And pushed his chest.”

Kade chuckled. “He’s a little different than Derek.”

“Kade and Cash told me a little about Derek. Sounds like a douche.” Wreck pulled the gas nozzle out of his truck and grabbed his receipt. “Are you coming out tonight?” he asked Kade.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Yeah well, the guys are all going. They’ll be blowing up your phone all night if you don’t make an appearance. Cash is calling it ‘team building barhopping.’”

“God, he gets weirder and weirder.”

Wreck laughed and unwrapped his ice cream as he leaned his shoulder against the bed of his truck. “His heart is probably in the right place. Look, if you don’t show up, there is a ninety-five percent chance he will turn into his owl, and fly to wherever you are, and then Change back, and while he is naked, he will give you a dumb speech about being a good Crew member. If you don’t want to see that man’s dick today, I would suggest you make some time for guys’ night.”

Kade was already tired.

Wreck clapped him on the shoulder and nodded to Jess. “Does Raynah have your number?”

“Yes. I know Raynah. We had lunch together and she got my number.”

“Good. I bet Timber and the girls all have it by now. If you need anything while you’re here, reach out. I mean it.” Wreck held up his Drumstick to Kade. “Thanks for the childhood memory, man.”

“You got it. See you in a bit,” Kade muttered begrudgingly. He wasn’t up for the Cash-speech-and-dick-show tonight, but truth be told, he wished he could just find an excuse to hang with Jess.

Wreck pulled away and waved out his open window.

“Your Alpha is a very polite dragon,” Jess murmured as she watched Wreck drive away.

“He’s not a dragon,” Kade told her, waving back. “He’s worse.” Kade opened the bag and showed her the matching sodas in there.

“For me?” she asked.

“Yep. We should head back. I have to go home soon.”

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