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As expected, it was super busy in here, and that wave of homesickness that I’d suddenly felt in the café was instantly gone. I moved to the side of the line and spotted Tate. He was smiling at a customer, and then his head disappeared as he started filling the order. Then Beau came into view, and my eyes suddenly filled with tears. I handed the mug to Vaughn and then hurried toward the counter. Beau saw me and screamed. I wasn’t expecting that, but I was certainly not upset. He was to the end and under the pass-through in a blink, and then his arms were wrapped around me.

I held him tightly, and I felt the tears in my eyes start to run down my face. Vaughn had been right. I needed to see my bestie. He was home. Well, part of it. Vaughn was home now, but Beau and Evan were family, and although our lives were busy and we were certainly going in different directions now, that didn’t change the fact that Beau and I were friends.

“Oh my gosh,” he said as he pulled away and looked at me. “You’re mated!” Beau looked around and found Vaughn. “Hello, Vaughn. My brother speaks very highly of you.”

“Hello, Beau. It’s nice to see you again.”

I looked between my mate and my best friend. “You know each other? How did I not realize that?”

“I’ve met Vaughn only once for about a second. Evan said who he was, and I probably waved absently, and that was it,” Beau said. “And it was at a thing for the enforcers. I was on my way back to Evan’s house.” Beau rubbed my arm. “Okay. Come into the back. We’ll sit and talk for a few.”

I nodded and reached for Vaughn. I needed him with me. I was obviously a mess at the moment, and this was something entirely new. I didn’t cry like this for no reason. I let Beau lead us to the pass-through, and I heard my name, but it didn’t fully register. I found myself pushed into a chair, and then my tea was back in front of my nose. “Drink.”

I nodded and did just that. I looked to my left and found Vaughn sitting in a chair beside me. After I took another drink, I leaned toward my mate and closed my eyes when he wrapped his arms around me. It was uncomfortable, so I got up and sat in Vaughn’s lap, then sighed.

He kissed the top of my hair and held me securely in his arms. “Are you all right, cutie?”

I nodded. “I think so,” I said quietly. Beau came back with a plate, and on it was a lemon bar. I laughed at that. “Give it to Vaughn. Unfortunately, I think I’d be sick if I ate anything else right now,” I said.

Beau’s mouth dropped open, and he sat in the chair I’d been in just moments ago. “Really?”

I nodded. “He has a touch of pregnancy sickness. We were just at the café next door, and he only ate about half of his food. That’s why the tea.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’ve been there.” Beau rubbed up and down my arm again. “How are you feeling? I’m so happy you found your mate.”

I smiled before I looked up at Vaughn. “Me too,” I said. “I’m great, aside from being overly emotional, and sometimes the thought of food makes my stomach churn.”

Beau made a face. “That’s not a fun place to be. But it should pass quickly. At least we only have a four-month gestation. It’ll pass quicker than you think.”

I took a drink of my tea. I really hoped so because I was definitely not a fan of feeling this way.

“All right. I have about ten minutes before Tate and Sean come for me, so we have to make this quick. Lucas won’t be in until eleven, and today is Alec’s day off.”

I blinked several times. Who were Lucas and Alec? I hadn’t been gone that long, had I? Only two weeks! Was Beau planning on replacing me?

Chapter 15

Vaughn

“How are you feeling? Do you need more tea? A snack? Want to go out to eat before we go to the festival?”

Lewis smiled up at me. “I’m okay. I’m feeling good. I had a tea not even an hour ago. I had two snacks, and I’m bundled up. I’m more than ready to go to the festival with you. I’m excited, even.”

I was worrying, and I knew it. I couldn’t help but worry about my mate. He was my mate and was carrying our child. His pregnancy sickness seemed to be almost nonexistent now, but he still had bouts of questionable moments. The tea truly was magical, and Lewis drank it several times a day, even if he wasn’t feeling ill.

“I can’t help but worry, because I love you and our little one so much,” I said to him as I placed my hand gently on his lower stomach. Lewis smiled up at me, which warmed my heart as it always did. I couldn’t get enough of my little mate. Just doing things for him made me happy. The smiles he gifted me were some of the best moments in my days.

“I’m fine. I promise. And if I start to not feel well, we can come home. I really want to go. I went last year, and it was wonderful. I’d love to go again.”

I couldn’t deny him. I’d never be able to tell him no unless it was truly a matter of safety. Lewis would be without a doubt safe tonight at the solstice festival. He was here on Treasure Ridge, the place was going to be filled with enforcers, and my mate had magical abilities. I had come to terms with the fact that he was probably more capable of protecting himself and our unborn child better than I was.

“All right. Well then, I suggest we head to the neighborhood entrance and wait for the next ride.” This was the third winter solstice festival, and it had only grown over the few short years it had been thrown. Its popularity had only increased, and the council had added more things every year.

“What do you mean, wait for our ride?”

I grinned. “You’ll see.” It was truly a short walk for us since we lived at the entrance of the neighborhood. We had to go out our front door and then around the house. I’d been concerned at first, but the others in the neighborhood were incredibly quiet, and we never heard any of them coming or going.

“All right,” Lewis said. He pulled on his hat with the giant pompom on the top. He was so adorable. I was wearing a long-sleeve shirt with a thick hoodie over it. That was more than enough to keep me warm, but I did have on thick socks and boots to please my mate. He’d been worried about me getting cold, and that just wouldn’t do. He was better about it, but he still worried, and that wasn’t what I wanted at all.