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Myles didn’t make me say it. “Yeah. It’s been years. I’m surprised he’s still got game.”
That made me laugh. “I dunno. I don’t stick around to watch. Freaking weird, dude.” I paused. “It’s weirder that it’s Remus’ mother, you know? Like they’re making up for lost time or something.”
“Yeah,” Myles replied. Silence fell over the line before he spoke up. “Look, just ignore it. Maybe the ceremony will be a good distraction. No one says you can’t have a little fun.”
That was true. The entire pointwasto meet people, and if I wasn’t looking for a fated mate or anything even remotely permanent, but a fun night? Sure.And no one has to know, either.
“I’ll let you know how it goes,” I told him. “I gotta get going, yeah? It was good talking to you, though.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Myles teased. “Go have fun in Texas — and bring me back something cool this time, would you?”
I snorted. Myles was a quirky guy sometimes, but his collection of souvenirs from places he’d never been took the cake. The tackier, the better. “I’ll bring you the weirdest piece of Texas I can find.”
“I knew I could count on you.”
Later that evening,I met my father, Remus, and his beta, Bane, at the Brickhouse Lounge in downtown Austin. I hadn’t been to that particular bar before but it had a nice, quiet ambiance when I walked in. Frankly, I didn’t care for bars in general, especially when I was unfamiliar with which were shifter friendly and which served shitty human alcohol. The others were at the bar, and by the time I ambled over, they were already deep in conversation.
“Evening, Eli,” Bane greeted me, nodding as I took the free seat on the edge of the group.
Remus glanced up from his screen for a minute, offering me a little grin before handing his phone to my— er,ourfather. “Rory saysmamanow,” he informed us all proudly, breaming as Nic thumbed through the most recent photos of my nephews.
My father’s face brightened as he looked at each. “And what about Ryland?”
Remus laughed. “Well, he’s figured out how to sayno, but I’m determined to teach him to say my name first.”
“Maybe he’ll sayBanefirst and surprise you all,” the beta next to me said, keeping his face straight despite the mirth in his eyes.
Remus snorted. “What’s he gonna call you,Baba?”
Even I had to chuckle at that nickname, smiling gratefully as the bartender slid back from her other customers and offered me a cheery smile. “What’ll it be, doll?” she asked, her accent much thicker than Remus’ or Luna’s. Sometimes I forgot I was in Texas, the way the others seemed to lose their drawls.
I smiled back, aware it was weak at best. “Well…” I paused long enough to inhale; the familiar scent ofwolffloated back. Pack wolf. Silverstreak. She was one of Remus’ and, as I glanced around, I realized the majority of the patrons here were likely shifters, too. Perhaps that explained the atmosphere.
I inclined my head in her direction. “I trust your judgment. I’ve never been here before.”
She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. “I can tell you’re not from around here, darlin’,” she replied, her expression warm. I half-wished I was in the mood to flirt back, but— Remus and Bane probably wouldn’t let me live it down if I bothered. “You want to feel it or something that tastes really nice?”
“Can’t I have both?”
The bartender winked. “I knew I liked the look of you. Whiskey all right?”
“More than,” I replied and she nodded knowingly, turning her back for a moment to pull something from the top shelf. It only took her a moment to prepare the drink, sliding a neat whiskey to me as I thanked her.
“Let me know how you like it,” she hummed.
I reached for my wallet. “What do I owe you?”
“Oh, no need.” She smiled and nodded in Remus’ direction. “He’s covering the tab tonight.”
“Ah.” I tucked the piece of leather back in my pocket and tried not to frown. “Well, thank you.” She flashed me one last smile before she stepped away to attend to a couple who’d just sat down at the bar, but I couldn’t muster anything in response.
When I turned back to the other three, they were still deep in conversation about Remus’ twin boys. Bane made a little face over the rim of his drink. “Those kids have you wrapped around their tiny little fingers,” he accused his alpha playfully. “I think they’re the only thing you talk about anymore.”
My father puffed, smiling at them both. “Of course they are,” he said, defending Remus. “My grandsons are perfect in every way.”
Bane rolled his eyes, and I barely resisted the urge too — not wanting to be drawn further into this conversation. I liked Rory and Ryland just fine — as far as babies went, they were pretty well-mannered. More often than not, they seemed to be in a good mood. Luna was always kind to me, so visiting my nephews wasn’t a hardship. Best of all, they never asked me questions, and they never expected me to hold a conversation if I didn’t feel like it.
Somehow, that made it easier to talk to them than most people.
