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Luke frowned even as his eyes glinted with humor. “What is it with your female and peeing on people?”
Blair shrugged. “It’s a bush dog thing. Humiliating people makes us feel whole.”
He shook his head, his mouth curved. “You’re all nuts, in my opinion.”
Blair flicked up an imperious brow. “And pallas cats have room to judge?”
“Not even an inch.” He kissed her hard. “I won’t be long.”
Once she’d cleaned herself up, Blair pulled on some panties and sweats before settling on the plush armchair in the living area. She snatched the remote from the table, intending to find a movie on the streaming service.
It was weird having the apartment to herself, but not in a bad way. She was totally at ease there, felt completely at home. It was simply that Luke was such a powerful personality that he could make a place feel almost empty when he left it.
Her inner female didn’t like that he was gone. Not that she was clingy or anything. The animal was just so damn nosy and wanted to know what she was missing.
Knuckles rapped on the front door. Opening it, Blair was pleasantly surprised to find Havana, Aspen, and Bailey there. “Oh, hi.” She stepped aside for them to enter.
“We heard from Tate that the meeting with your parents went well,” said Havana as Blair closed the door behind them. “But we thought we’d come see how you’re doing anyway.”
“I’m good, thanks,” said Blair as they filed into the living area.
“I had a feeling they’d go big rather than go home,” Havana told her as they all claimed a seat. “So I wasn’t surprised to hear that no shit went down.”
Aspen glanced around. “Where’s Luke?”
“He’s visiting his dad,” replied Blair.
Bailey did a slow blink. “He actually left you on your own? Whoa.”
“I think he preferred I stay here where he feels I’m safest, but I don’t doubt that he’ll text me every now and then to check in.” Blair splayed her hands on the armrests of the chair. “I hope you aren’t gonna ask me to go anywhere because I’m planning to have a lazy day, starting with binge watching some TV.”
Humming, Havana tilted her head. “Feel like having some company?”
“Sure,” said Blair, grabbing the remote.
Aspen’s eyes widened in delight, and she clasped her hands together. “Ooh, we could watch Dawn of the Dead.”
Groaning, Bailey lifted a hand. “No. No zombie movies. Not today. I need a break.”
Aspen huffed, folding her arms. “Well I need a break from you. We don’t always get what we want in this world.”
Bailey smiled. “You love me really. So much it’s actually creepy.”
Havana snickered. “Stop being idiots. I think we should watch a feel-good movie. Like Where The Devil Hides.”
Bailey pointed at her. “Good choice.”
They were ten minutes through the movie when Luke texted Blair to ask how she was doing. A second message came fifteen minutes later. A third came twelve minutes after that.
Blair groaned. “This dude is driving me crazy.”
Aspen chuckled. “He and his cat will be fretting. This building has tip-top security, but every system can be circumvented—wolverines are proof of that.”
“I know.” Blair sighed. “I want to be mad about the constant checking in, but I can’t. He has every reason to be worried about me right now. It would be different if his overprotectiveness was toxic or oppressive, though.”
“Camden’s just as hyper-protective but, like with Luke, he’s not a tyrannical dick so I mostly let it fly over my head,” said Aspen.
“I admit, I chafe a little under Tate’s insistence on trying to shield me from the world, but that’s the Alpha in me.” Havana cut her gaze to Bailey. “I guess we better hope that your mate is nothing like ours, because you will laugh in the face of anyone who tries to coddle you.”
“Too true,” said Bailey, crossing one leg over the other.
“Do you think that the guy you’re dating could be your mate?” Blair asked her.
The mamba’s nose wrinkled. “I wouldn’t say we’re dating dating. But to answer your question, no, I’m not getting that feeling.”
Blair had suspected as much, since Bailey rarely spoke of him … as if he simply wasn’t on her mind. “Do you look forward to finding your mate?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?”
“Because if he’s anything like me, he’ll be incredibly irritating. Regularly. And probably on purpose.”
Havana snorted. “No one can ever say that you’re not self-aware. You know, sometimes true mates are polar opposites.”
Bailey’s brow creased. “Oh God, don’t say that. If he’s nice, he’ll annoy me. ‘Nice’ is for losers.”
Since the mamba claimed that lots of stuff was ‘for losers,’ Blair had to ask, “Do many things annoy you?”
“Oh yeah,” Bailey easily admitted. “My mamba is equally intolerant. Even when it comes to those she adores. That’s why she often fights with Aspen’s pissy bearcat.”
Aspen’s brows flew up and then snapped together. “Whoa, she’s not pissy.”
