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A figure came out of the shadows. “Hey ladies.”
My entire body tensed and then relaxed as I recognized the wolf’s scent on the wind. “Hey Dillon.”
“I brought some booze for the cooler, Zach and the guys should be bringing more ice and a keg.”
“Perfect. Signy and Sasha are bringing some munchies and Jordan should have some things for the grill,” Maria said setting the bowls down on a picnic table on the patio.
“What can I do?” I asked, rocking on my heels.
“Um, nothing.” Maria chuckled. “It looks like we’ve got everything covered. I’ve just got to get cleaned up.”
“Alright.” I sighed, pulling out one of the chairs around the table. I flopped down into it and folded one leg under the other. “So, I’m just supposed to sit here until the pack gets here.”
“Actually,” Dillon said setting the boxes he carried down on the table. “You can do me a huge favor; I’ve been experimenting with cocktails, and I need someone to try my new one.”
“Sounds perfect.” I smiled. “I am in desperate need of a drink. Many in fact.”
“Well, My Darling, you’ve come to the right place,” he said, rubbing his hands back and forth. “Just sit right there and let me wow your taste buds.”
I laughed and for the next few hours I listened to him ramble as the rest of the pack began to arrive. Everyone was polite. They all said their hellos, but just like any pack event, everyone broke off into their own little groups the moment they arrived. Zach and Dillon’s brother Ryan took over the grill. The girls pulled some of the guys out into the grass to dance, and someone took over the table to play beer pong. It was a real party, and sitting in the middle of it, I felt completely out of place.
Maria was right, none of them knew me anymore, and from what I could tell none of them really cared to know me. Except Dillon.
He’d pulled me out to dance with him for a while, but even a werewolf needs a water break sometimes. Staggering inside the apartment, I padded my way into Maria’s kitchen and pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
I took a small sip and sighed in relief. My skin was burning up, my feet throbbed. I was so tired. The water was at least a small saving grace.
“You looked like you were having fun,” A familiar voice said, from the doorway.
I turned, wiping a drip of water from my lips. “Jamie, hi. I didn’t realize you were coming.”
He leaned on the doorframe and smiled. While he wore an old baseball cap, pulled low over his eyes, his muscles were on full display stretching the sleeves of his uniformly black tee-shirt, and his jeans hung low on his hips. Those hips…that V…
He cleared his throat. “Maria invited the entire pack. Did you want me to leave?”
“No.” I shook my head. “You’re welcome. Everyone is. I just didn’t think you’d show to a party that…to sort of quote Maria is about celebrating my homecoming.”
“You really didn’t think much of me in high school, did you?” he chuckled.
“I mean can ya blame me?” I smiled, setting my water on the counter next to the fridge. I pushed myself up, and perched on the edge, leaning back on the cabinets.
Jamie wandered in and leaned back against the edge of the sink. “I am sorry for that, and for what I said at Annie’s earlier.”
I squinted at him. I’d had enough of Dillon’s cocktails that my vision was blurred. “I forgive you. I forgive you for it all really…I think.”
“You think?” He chuckled, taking a sip from the red plastic cup I hadn’t noticed he was holding.
“What are you drinking?” I pouted.
“One of Dillon’s things. I don’t remember what he called it. It’s got tequila and something else in it,” he said.
I thrust my hand out. “Let me taste.”
“Let you…” His eyebrows rose and he shrugged. He walked over across the room and held up the cup. “Go ahead.”
I tipped his cup against my lips and met his gaze. The liquid hit my tongue and I swallowed a burning mouthful. It rolled down my throat, and I shivered.
“That good, huh?” he smiled.
