Page 218 of Knot What I Expected

“Shut up, Fido.”

I burst out laughing. So does Gia. Justin nearly spits into his mug. Rowan looks personally offended.

“Fido? That's the best you've got?”

“I'm trying to make a speech, asshole.”

“Then make it better.”

“Rowan,” I warn through my laughter.

Wreck points at me.

“Thank you. Control your Wolf.”

My laughter dies. Rowan's does, too. We look at each other.

Then simultaneously⁠—

“He's not⁠—”

“She doesn't⁠—”

We both stop.

Oh God.

Gia is openly grinning now. Justin makes a suspicious coughing sound into his coffee. Rowan leans toward me.

“Honey Girl, were you about to say I'm not your Wolf?”

“Were you about to say I don't control you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I stand by my statement.”

“Liar.”

“You’re a liar too.”

Matteo looks between us.

“You guys are weird.”

Everyone loses it.

“Anyway,” Wreck growls, fighting a smile as he turns back to Gia, “before the fucking comedy show interrupted me⁠—”

“Dollar!” Matteo shouts.

Wreck closes his eyes. Rowan slaps the table. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. Wreck digs into his pocket, pulls out his wallet, and hands Matteo a dollar.

“Extortion.”

Matteo accepts it happily.

“What’s extortion?”