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"It's the only pizza place, Eli; it's not like we have much choice in it. The pizza could literally taste like crap, and it's the only one we have to choose from. But it is actually good, Paige—I'm not saying it's bad." I just smile at the two of them. Quinn and Eli have been going back and forth like this for the past ten minutes. It's really sweet how well they get along, even if they are just talking about boring pizza. I can't help but turn to Maddie and watch her smiling face.
"I like pizza! Pengy does, too."
"What do you like on your pizza, sweetheart?" I ask Maddie.
"Cheese."
"That's it?"
"Yup!"
She makes me laugh.
"Well, I hope Jim can put some deep-fried pickles on mine. I have been craving deep-fried pickles, and now I have it in my head that it should be on a pizza."
"Damn, that's weird. But can't be as bad as when you wanted anchovies on your potato chips. What was that about, anyways?" I remember her calling me and asking me if I could find anchovies to put on her chips when she was pregnant with Maddie.
"Well, this baby seems to find that idea repulsive, because now I wanna throw up." Quinn squeezes her eyes shut, and I can't help but laugh.
We make it to Jim's, which is on the corner of the main street in Twilight Meadows. Eli drops us off at the front door and goes to park the SUV. It's a smaller restaurant with about ten tables and a very old Italian look to it with the red and white checkered tablecloths to match. The aroma is filled with tomatoes and spices, and I am now wondering what else they serve here besides pizza. It's not overly busy in here tonight, which is nice. Quinn walks to a table in the back, passing a couple of human girls, a cute older couple, and a family on the way back.
"I like sitting in the back. It's a popular place for the pack, and I don't like it when everyone crowds around us, so I look for the table with a wall behind it and beside it to reduce the claustrophobic feeling of it all."
"Isn't the Luna supposed to love being admired by her pack?" I know I'm making fun, but I also know Quinn, and being Luna was not on her list of things to do in life. She was perfectly content to be in the background.
"Becoming Luna has been an adjustment. People want advice and want me to mediate. I'm not sure I'm good at it, but Eli has been amazing in helping me and giving me the encouragement to keep going. The pack is really wonderful. Amazing to be a part of a pack that isn't out to destroy its own people. But I'm still scared that I am not doing enough."
"You are doing amazing, Quinn; I think everyone adores you."
I think about what she said for a minute and lament my lack of a pack. What she describes is a dream; I'd been hopeful that if I did match with someone, they would be part of a good, healthy pack that I could join. Before the mail-order app, I had considered Quinn's pack, but now, with Liam being a part of it, I just don't think I could do it. It may be childish, but for my own mental well-being, space from some of the hurt is important. Having Liam as a walking reminder might be too much for me, though my wolf is not opposed to the idea. Traitor.
Eli walks in and spots us from the door; once he gets to the table, he kisses both of his girls on the head. It's so sweet how attentive he is to them. He has only been gone for a couple minutes, but he treats them like he hasn't seen them in forever. I may be a little jealous of that, but I'm happy they have it.
"Ok, Girls, what are we ordering?"
I can't help but state the obvious. "Pizza?"
"Oh, ha-ha, very funny, Paige. What do you want on your pizza? I know my wife is going to contaminate her pizza with pineapple; what would you like, Paige?"
"I'll do anything with meat." Shit, that sounded bad. Eli raises an eyebrow, and Quinn nearly falls over herself, laughing at me.
"Not like that!" Gosh, am I blushing? Though I know I'm a virgin and have no experience in that area, I'm not overly shy about sexuality, but frig, I walked right into that one.
The waitress finally comes over to our table to take our orders and quickly brings us our drinks. Suddenly, the bell on the door jingles, and to my dismay, Liam and the beta, Dominic, enter the restaurant. Liam is incredibly attractive, and it's hard to look away from his muscular build. The tattoos on his arm can only be seen a bit under his long-sleeved shirt. He has this tattoo on the back of his hand that catches my attention. A heart that looks like it's made out of water, with something inside that I can't really see.
Dominic notices us immediately after walking in and approaches our table as a sign of respect for their Alpha and Luna being present. Quinn seems nervous, probably worried I won't be able to handle another confrontation with Liam, but I wave her off. I feel much better now that I've had some time to process my emotions. I'm not the same weak girl I used to be, and I've accomplished a lot in my life. Including emotional regulation—most of the time. I'm an adult and I can handle being around him without any issues. As they get closer, though, I feel a strange sensation in my chest, and my wolf seems to be whimpering. I wonder what is wrong with her.
"Alpha, how are you this evening?" Dominic says to Eli.
"Dominic, you are always so damn formal. I feel like I need to be wearing a suit talking to you." You can tell they have this discussion often from Eli's tone and body language. He isn't really angry, but I think it does annoy him sometimes.
"My apologies, Alph—Eli."
Looking away from Dominic, I catch Liam's lovely hazel eyes. I maintain eye contact because I don't want to be the first one to look away. Okay, maybe I am almost adult enough to be around him.
The two young human girls who were sitting a couple of tables away eye Liam and Dominic. They seem to get up their courage because they both stand and come over to them.
"Um, Excuse me." The tall, thin blonde touches Liam on the arm to get his attention. A rocket of jealousy shoots through me, and I can't even begin to explain why that pisses me off.
