Page 74 of Holly Jolly Heat
"All of that." She ran a hand through her messy hair. "What time is it?"
"Almost eight," Dex said from his chair. "Your mom's been awake for half an hour but she's giving us space. Very noble of her, considering."
Michelle laughed. "She saw us?"
"She peeked in around seven. Smiled like she'd won the lottery. Went back upstairs."
"She's going to be impossible about this."
"Your mom's delightful," Lucas said.
"You only say that because she enables you."
"She enables all of us. It's her gift."
Michelle looked at us, really looked at us, and I saw the moment reality set in. Not panic, exactly. More like determination.
"We need to talk," she said. "About logistics. About how this works. About the professional side and the public side and all of it."
"We do," I agreed. "But maybe after breakfast? And coffee? And possibly after you've had time to fully wake up and process?"
"I'm awake. I'm processed. I want to tackle this now, before I can overthink it."
"You're already overthinking it," Dex observed. "I can hear your brain from here."
"That's my default state."
"We know," we said in unison.
She smiled despite herself. "Okay, fine. Breakfast first. But then we're having a serious conversation about how to handle this. Deal?"
"Deal," I agreed.
We untangled ourselves from the nest, which felt more significant than it should have, and headed to the kitchen where Bill was already making breakfast burritos.
"Morning, kids," he said cheerfully. "Sleep well?"
"Very well," Lucas said, grinning.
"I saw the nest. Very cozy. Very pack-like." He flipped a burrito. "Janet's thrilled, by the way. She's upstairs planning your mating ceremony."
"WHAT," Michelle said.
"I'm kidding. Mostly. She's definitely thinking about it though."
"We haven't even—we're not—" Michelle stopped, flustered. "We just figured out we're pack last night. We're nowhere near mating ceremonies."
"Yet," Lucas added helpfully.
"Lucas."
"What? I'm just saying, eventually?—"
"Lucas!"
I watched them banter, feeling content. This was pack. The teasing, the comfort, the easy way we moved around each other.
Janet appeared in the doorway, fully dressed despite the early hour, looking far too pleased with herself.
