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Chapter Eighteen
Thanks to Kate’s quick thinking and an impromptu visit to the boutique across the street, I left her apartment feeling a little more collected than before. The cargo shorts, sandals, and one of Kate’s nightshirts didn’t help my nerves, however, once we reached the corner. Even from two blocks away, I could smell my dad. His scent always carried, but it was even more noticeable now that there weren’t any other wolves around.
“Hey,” Kate said when I flinched. “It’ll be fine. It isn’t like they haven’t known all along.”
“My mom didn’t.”
And I was starting to wonder how she felt about all of this. Was she upset? Had she yelled at my dad for hiding something from her?
“According to you, she’s the more understanding one.” Kate’s gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts. “They’re probably just scared, you know?”
Considering the way I left things, I wasn’t so sure.
“My dad’s pissed,” I said as we waited at an intersection to cross.
“You can’t know that.”
“I’ve picked up his scent. Trust me. He’s pissed.”
“Oh.” Kate bowed her head and stared at the sidewalk once we reached the other side of the street. “Well, maybe he just doesn’t like their menu.”
I laughed. I couldn't help it. Maybe it was because of my nerves. Maybe it was because of the serious tone Kate had used. Regardless of the reason, I just about lost it when she looked at me again.
“I mean, it is a pretty lousy menu,” she said with a disgruntled expression on her face. “Like, really, really, lousy.”
“That would be enough to upset him,” I admitted as she arced her thumb over the back of my hand. “His wolf is very picky, after all.”
“And what about yours?”
“She’s a trash compactor and will eat anything you put in front of her.”
“That’s great!” Kate beamed. “That means she won’t mind my terrible cooking.”
“After all the delicious treats you made inside the bakery, I doubt your cooking would be any different.”
“You never know,” Kate said with a partial shrug. “You haven’t tried my meatloaf.”
Bless Kate with her goofy sweet smile. She had me so caught up in our conversation that I’d almost forgotten about our meeting with my folks.
That is until we reached the diner.
“Your mother’s getting us a table,” my father said as he met us outside the front doors. “Is it okay if we talk a moment?”
I chewed my bottom lip, met Kate’s gaze, then studied my father again.
“Both of you,” he added when I didn’t move.
“Um, yeah. Sure.” On edge, I offered my dad a nod, then followed him to a side street where we wouldn’t be disturbed.
“I want to apologize,” he said while keeping his back to me.
“You… you what?” I must’ve heard him wrong because there was no way my father would ever go back on his word.
His shoulders dropped once he faced us. “I never should’ve treated Kate the way I did. Even as a wolf, it was unacceptable and could’ve gotten us into a lot of trouble.”
