Page 3 of Tis the Season for Sass
I don’t know what I’ll do with myself if you’re not here.
Ginger had yet to reply. Part of her really wanted to say yes. The other part of her wanted to hide under her blankets until spring and forget all about Sofia’s message.
“Maybe I was a bear shifter in another life,”she thought. That would certainly explain her desire to hibernate through the winter months.
2
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?” someone shouted at the television.
“Seriously? How did that even happen?” someone else yelled.
“What the actual hell?” three people said in unison.
Chance Brooks laughed at the ruckus caused by the ill-timed drop of a football. His home was packed full of his family and friends, as it was every Sunday during football season.
This was what he loved the most.
The noise, the crowded house. All of it. Being surrounded by those he loved was the only way to live. He’d moved away briefly for work several years ago. His stint away from Black Paw lasted a whole three days before he had packed his shit, quit his job, and headed home. This was where he belonged. Any doubt that he had once had was long gone after that short-lived experiment.
The doorbell rang.
Chance looked around the room, wondering who it could be. Most of the pack was already at his house and anyone who wasn’t knew to walk right in.
“That’s for me,” Lars sprang from his seat on the couch. Someone else quickly claimed the newly vacated spot.
“Your ass is gonna move when I get back or you’re not getting any pizza.” Lars whipped out a stack of one-dollar bills from his pocket and moved to answer the door.
“Haha. Check out that wad of bills. The women must have really loved him down at The Sketchy Wolf,” Tavy laughed.
“Damn right they did!” Lars added a little shake in his ass as he opened the door.
Catcalls and a chorus of whistles filled the room.
Chance had to laugh at his friend’s antics. Only Lars could take the ribbing from the entire pack about a lost wager and a weekend stripping at a dive bar.
“Someone order fifteen large pizzas?” the delivery guy asked.
“That would be me.” Lars grabbed the pizzas and handed the guy the cash. “Keep the change.”
“Wow, thanks.”
“Let me help with those.” Chance grabbed half of the boxes and ushered Lars into the kitchen.
“You didn’t have to do this, you know.” Chance set the boxes down and grabbed a pack of paper plates from the cabinet.
“I know, but we come over here and empty your fridge every damn week like a bunch of pigs. This ones on me. I figured that it’s the least I can do. Besides, how else am I going to get rid of all these ones?”
“Thanks, man. Where’s Sofia today? I thought she would be here with you.”
Ever since his BFF had found his mate, he’d been glued to her side. Not that he could blame him. Hell, if he had a mate, he would be just as sappy as Lars when it came to spending time with her. Chance hadn’t minded a single bit though. Even if it did leave him feeling like an awkward third wheel when they hung out together. He was over the moon happy for Lars and Sofia. She was awesome in every way, and she was perfect for Lars. It was nice to see his best friend truly happy for the first time in years.
“One day we will find our mate,”his wolf reminded him.
“Yeah, I’m not going to hold my breath.”
Even with the rash of matings at Black Paw, Chance wasn’t about to get his hopes up. Nothing sucked more than the loneliness that crept in when everyone went home. If he dared to dream of finding his mate and having her by his side, he feared his heart would break.
“She’ll be along shortly. So, I need to stash some of this food until she gets here before these pigs eat all of it.” Lars tucked a full box of pizza in the oven.
