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“He can take over parking the car,” I agreed, and Liam gave me a skeptical, confused look. But I agreed with him.
We were headed straight into trouble, and neither Liam and I would know how to handle it.
But I had faith Shaw knew just what to do.
He seemed like had a lot of experience getting himself into trouble.
CHAPTER16
Cole
“Areyou sure you want to do this?” Shaw asked me.
“Why? Because it will cost me a lot more? Because everyone expects you to be the rebel?”
“And because the alpha is my brother and I’m reasonably certain most days he’s never going to rip my throat out.”
I thought of myself as being close to Stone. His best friend. It wasn’t like I’d ever woven a friendship bracelet for us or handed him half of a cracked heart on a silver chain, but even though shifters aren’t sentimental, the thought that I was disposable in a way that Shaw never would be bothered me.
“Stone’s not a monster. He’d do anything for Dylan.”
“Sure. That’s never been in question. But he’s also trying to possess Amelia.”
“Aren’t we all?” I asked, because I was too tired to lie.
Shaw smacked the steering wheel with his hand. “So you can admit it. I thought you were being as ridiculous as my big brother. He’s lost his mind over her and yet he still can’t just talk to her.”
“To be fair, he has no idea where she is.”
“To be fair, you’d better keep it that way, because Karissa and I will kill you.”
“You don’t have to threaten me.”
“No, I don’t. But Karissa threatens me a lot. So now I have a surplus of threats and I just wanted to share some around.”
The only thing worse about worrying about Amelia was worrying about Amelia while on a road trip with Shaw. That was like my own private circle of hell. I wasn’t sure if I could protect someone I cared about, and Shaw wouldn’t stop singing.
He shared Karissa’s love of old music. So I was treated to a record album worth of Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel.
We met at the hospital. I hadn’t realized how afraid I was until Amelia came running across the parking lot toward us. Her face was lit with relief, her eyes wide with joy. My heart rose in my chest and swelled as if it would burst.
Then she ran into Shaw’s arms, hugging him tightly, and I was pretty sure my heart did burst. Shaw squeezed her back, lifting her feet off the pavement.
“I have been so worried about you,” Shaw said, cupping her chin with two hands so he could look into her face.
Her answering smile was wide and bright. “I thought you didn’t worry about anything.”
“I thought so too. Apparently I’m a different man with you and your son.” That might have been a weighty confession, but Shaw said it, like he said everything, as if it were just joking banter. He added, “I don’t like it. I’ve always enjoyed being the carefree, careless one.”
“Well, I’ll be out of your hair soon,” Amelia teased back, even though she had to know how hard those words would strike for both Shaw and me. Or maybe she didn’t, because those luminous blue eyes were still fixed on Shaw’s. I knew she was reminding him that they didn’t have a future. She couldn’t stay.
“I don’t think that’s true, Amelia.” Shaw also said, sounding serious for once in a way that was surprising. “Even if you leave us, I don’t think we’re going to be done worrying about you.”
Amelia’s lips parted as if she wasn’t sure what to say to that, but then she just turned and hugged me. That hug felt a little more uncertain than hers had looked with Shaw. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course.” I said stiffly. What the hell was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I just talk to her? “Anything for Dylan.”
That was so stupid. I wanted to bang my head into the nearest hard object. It couldn’t possibly make me any stupider. Why was I tongue tied around her when I was never tongue tied around anyone else?
