Page 133 of Pack: Posy 3

I shrugged.

"I pat the top of your head," Thoreau said in aduhtone.

"I'm good, bud," Ash told him. "Your curls are looking great, by the way. You been taking care of them like I told you?"

A couple of days ago, Angelo had linked us in a panic. He was the only one at home and had been trying to brush Thoreau's hair, but it kept getting frizzier and frizzier. Ash carefully explained how curly hair was different and couldn't be brushed like straight hair.

"Yep! Wash once or twice a week with conditioner, then finger comb and air dry," Thoreau repeated. "Never brush, never blow dry."

"Good job." Angelo gave him 'good boy pats' and Thoreau beamed before going back to his bug. "Thanks again for the lesson, Alpha Ash. I would have ruined his hair otherwise."

"Well, when you're ready to get it cut, I'll take him to my barber. He knows how to do it."

"It has to be cut in a special way?"

Ash only nodded because Thoreau had relented and was now showing him the praying mantis, and Ash was as engrossed by it as the boy was.

"Yes," Peri answered for him. "One time, Mom tried to cut it like she does all the boys, and it was a disaster. You have to cut it the way the curl wants to go, not just across like you do with straight hair."

"Ah! I'll remember that." Angelo nodded.

"All right. Time to go," Wyatt grumbled. "Thanks, Periwinkle. We owe you one."

"Damn right you do, doofus." She reached up and patted his cheek.

"Two dollars in the swear jar, baby sister," he smirked as he went out the door.

"Thanks, Peri. We appreciate your help today. Let us know if you needanything." Mason gave her a meaningful look, and I made a mental note to ask him about that later.

"Yeah." Cole kissed the top of her head. "Thanks, sissy."

As I hugged her, I whispered in her ear to use the swear jar money for something she and Ty needed, then Ash grabbed her up in a bear hug and swung her around, making her giggle.

As we finally got on our way, Wyatt asked what we should do when we got home.

"I mean, we forgot to ask Peri, and I sure don't know. Do we all go in together or one at a time?"

"I'd say all together," Mase answered. "We all screwed up together."

"And when do we give her these cards?" Ash asked.

"On your date," I said. "Wait until you feel it's the right time and give it to her."

"You really thinkI'mgoing to know the right time?" Ash asked incredulously. "Dude, no. Just tell me when to give it to her."

"All right, if nothing else, give it to her when she first wakes up in the morning."

"Pull over, Jay!" Wyatt shouted suddenly.

"What? Why?" I slowed down and looked around to see if there was a problem.

"Flower shop! Flower shop!" Wyatt crowed and pointed to the shopping center on our right.

"Good call, Wy," Cole said, and Ash gave him a high-five.

So I put on the turn signal and wheeled into the lot. Once we were parked, we piled out and hustled our butts inside, anxious to get home to our girl.

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