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"Love you too, sis."
The rest of the drive is pretty uneventful—just more trees to look at. We finally pull up to Quinn and Eli's house, which makes me super excited. I've missed my friend. Just as Thorn puts the truck in park, Quinn opens the door with her round belly, Maddie holding her hand. That woman is amazing!
I climb out and shiver at the cold, but before I know it, Maddie is running down the stairs and headed straight for me.
"Be careful, sweetheart!"
"I'm fine!" She makes it to the bottom and launches herself at me. Her little arms wrap around my neck, and she squeezes with all her might. I love her so much, but a pang of longing fills my chest. I want this. I want a family, kiddos to love a mate to love as well. Shaking off my depressing thoughts, I put Maddie down and turn to see Thorn has grabbed my bags and is waiting for me to head into the house.
"Why do you always look mad?" Maddie is not one to hold back her thoughts, so as she looks up at my brother and seriously asks her question, I can't help but double over and laugh.
"Shit, I'm gonna pee my pants!"
"Aunty Paige! Bad word!"
I'm wiping the tears from my eyes and look at Thorn, who is not impressed with my antics. By this point, Quinn has waddled her way down and is smiling at the scene, while Eli has come out the front.
"I told you that you needed to smile more."
Thorn crouches down and gives a half-smile to Maddie. Reaching into his pocket, he produces a chocolate bar—a BIG chocolate bar. Maddie screams with excitement and runs up to Eli to show him what she got.
"You can't bribe everyone that says you look like an angry old man."
"She never said I was an old man, and everyone likes chocolate." His half-smile is still in place, likely for my benefit. I shake my head and wrap my arms around my best friend.
"I've missed you, Paige!"
Sometimes, you stumble into a lasting friendship where no matter how far away you are or how much time has passed, you know that that is your person. You pick up right where you left off, and you know that no matter what happens in your life, this person will show up, whether with wine or a baseball bat to beat someone with. Quinn is my person.
"I've missed you too!" I squeeze just a little bit harder, because sometimes you need to.
"Pregnant, remember!"
I let go and rub my hand over her belly. "Oh, I remember. Hi, sweet baby! It's Auntie Paige!"
Quinn faces my brother and goes to hug him. He doesn't hug many people, but ever since last year, Quinn has decided he needed another sister, and since we are already practically sisters, she decided to adopt him, too.
"Come in! I've got coffee on, and lunch is almost on the table. Thorn, would you like to stay with us? You don't need to stay in the guest rooms at the pack house; we have a spare room here for you. Plus, it's stinking loud over there."
"I don't want to impose; I can stay at the pack house."
"Stop it, you're staying here."
Eli hollers from the door down to us, saying, "It's best not to argue with her. Since she's gotten pregnant, she is a beast to argue with."
"Ha ha ha, so funny, Eli." Quinn heads up the stairs and into the house with Eli and Maddie. Thorn grabs his stuff, too, and we join them inside.
The house is warm and cozy with the fireplace on; I just want to curl up on the couch and read a book. With the cold weather outside and the warm, comforting ambiance inside, it really is a picturesque place to live.
"Okay, Paige, you know where your room is, and Thorn, your room is upstairs. I'll show you." Quinn turns to walk up the stairs, but Eli comes up behind her and pulls her against him.
"I'll show him where to go. You sit and rest, okay?" He kisses her on top of the head and shows Thorn where to go. Quinn turns to me, and I clutch my heart.
"So friggen sweet," I say before turning to head to the downstairs room I normally sleep in. It has a nice ensuite—what else does a girl need? I put my bag down on the bench at the end of the bed and place my toiletries in the bathroom. Coming back into the bedroom, I find Quinn lying on the bed, holding her beautiful belly.
"How was the drive?"
"It was good; we managed to miss most of the traffic, thank Seluna."
