14. Braylon
FOURTEEN
brAYLON
“Do you want to go out for dinner, cook, or order in?” Adan was flicking through TV stations while lying on the couch. He didn’t give off a “let’s get dressed up and go out on the town” vibe.
But I was itching to do something that we wouldn’t be able to do once the baby arrived.
“One of my favorite horror films is showing at the drive-in.”
Adan sat up and leaned on the back of the sofa. His face was blanched of color. He wasn’t a huge fan of being frightened. By a shifter or someone threatening me? He was a warrior. But watching a scary movie? That was a big nope.
“A drive-in? I wasn’t aware Fairview had a drive-in.”
“It brings back memories.”
He growled, a playful one but a sign that he was experiencing a pang of jealousy.
“Not sure I want to hear them.”
I plonked myself on the couch beside him. While I refused to hide my history, I wasn’t going to shove it in his face. Besides, we’d discussed previous relationships and agreed neither of us had ever had a serious one.
“You’re so funny when you put your wolf at the forefront of your gaze.”
Adan harrumphed. Though he was pleased I loved his wolf, he’d expected me to be a teeny bit frightened because I was human. But his beast was a softie with me, though I’d seen the other side of him, tearing a rabbit to shreds.
I checked the drive-in schedule and what was sold in the concession stand.
“They have pretzels.” I flipped the phone around and showed him the pic of someone dipping a pretzel into cheese sauce.
“I’m in.” He grabbed a coat and put on his shoes. “It’s not too too scary, is it?”
I giggled at my big brave alpha shifter being frightened by a movie with monsters or vampires.
“I’ll protect you, babe.” I rubbed my tiny belly. “Me and the baby.” I flexed my arm, showing him my bicep, and I imagined the baby doing the same, though at this stage our little one wasn’t recognizable as a baby. Not really.
“I’ll have to alpha up.” He kissed the back of my neck, making me tingly. “Can’t have me cowering in the back seat while you’re in front eating my pretzel.”
“Nah. You can keep your pretzel. Nachos and a slushy all the way.”
We piled into the car and my mate drove. I related a story my aunt and uncle told me of when they were at college and how some of their friends used to sneak into the drive-in theater in the trunk of their friend’s car. They assured me they’d never done that and had always paid.
“When I last went to a drive-in, we paid by the car. People were jammed in the back seat.”
I explained that some places charged by the person and others by the vehicle. My guess was the ones near college campuses charged by the car, except the one near the university Aunt Ellis and Uncle Saul attended.
“I wish they still had the window speakers.” The sound was crackly, but it was part of the drive-in experience.
“This is much better.” Adan adjusted the car radio to the correct station, allowing us to hear the movie previews and the advertisements.
I gave him my food order and tucked a pillow behind my back. I was in the early stages of pregnancy, so sitting in a car for a few hours wasn’t a problem. Snuggling under the blanket we’d brought, I chatted to my baby, telling them to sleep while the movie was playing.
Adan brought the food, and I shared my blanket, putting my feet in his lap.
The movie began, and Adan squeaked, “Not monsters but zombies.” He put his hands to his mouth, reminding me of a squirrel nibbling nuts.
We had a joke about zombies. When my mate was being silly, he’d often imitate that stilted zombie walk with arms outstretched and the glazed expression, and I’d try to escape his clutches.
“Their faces, their twisted mouths.” He yanked the blanket over his head, and I rubbed the soles of my feet on his thigh, hoping that might calm him.
He flipped the blanket off so only one eye was showing. “You’re giving me a hard-on.”
Much as I adored my mate, I wasn’t giving him a blow job or a hand job at the drive-in. No way.
“You’re missing the best part.” I nibbled my nachos, eyes on the screen. There was something about watching a beloved film or re-reading a book. It was comforting, even though there were no surprises.
Anticipating when the zombies killed one of the main characters’s sidekicks, I tensed. But poor Adan was distraught.
“I liked him. Why did he have to become a zombie.”
“How’s your wolf enjoying the film?” If my mate was scared, did that emotion transmit to his beast? There were plenty of times when Adan said his wolf disagreed with him, so maybe not.
“He loves it and is complaining when he can’t see.”
“Maybe I should bring him next time,” I joked. Perhaps there were shifter events where I could take his wolf. I’d have to investigate.
“Oh, how can they escape?” Adan’s body quivered, and the zombie army marched on the humans.
“I’m not telling.”
“Is this good for the baby? Maybe we should leave? Our little one might never come out if they think zombies rule the world.”
“We can go if you want.”
He glanced at me and grinned. “No way. Besides, there’s something thrilling about being scared but knowing you’re safe.”
His words resonated. I’d been not frightened but uncomfortable that day on the train when the asshat was being mean and Adan shielded me from his words. And when he revealed his wolf, I’d been bewildered and on the verge of a meltdown, even though I froze. But knowing Adan was in there somewhere, I trusted he’d keep me safe.
And like any pregnant omega, I couldn’t wait to meet our child, but coupled with that was fear of the birth and not being a good dad. But with Adan at my side, I was confident we’d do great.
“Oh my gods, yes. I didn’t expect that. Mow those zombies down.” Adan was yelling, and people in the next car stared at him shaking his fist and slamming the steering wheel.
“Adan, I feel something.” I gripped my belly.
“Yeah, the zombies are getting their ass kicked.”
“No.” I took his hand and placed it on my small bump. We waited and the baby kicked. “Our little one likes zombies.”
“How do you know? Maybe they’re scared.”
“Nah, that was an ‘I love horror films’ kick.” I patted my bump, confident I was right.
“I’m outnumbered. You, my wolf and the baby cheering and me hiding under the covers.”
“Don’t worry. Look.”
We watched the final battle, and I wondered if centuries ago, shifters had fought battles. Had they been considered the bad guys and that was what forced them to be secretive?
“Happy the good guys won?” I tossed the blanket in the back seat and gathered the trash.
“I kinda feel sad for some of the zombies. It wasn’t their fault they were turned. And my favorite standing on the hill, watching his comrades be killed and knowing his best friend would kill him.” He clutched his chest. “That was horrible.”
“Life, huh. It’s rarely black and white.”
I gave Adan the trash, and he got out of the car.
“Enjoy the film?” a voice boomed out of the darkness.
“Holy shit, what the…?”
Adan dropped the trash as Excellency appeared. “Sorry. Did I spook you?”
“N-N-No. I’m a little rattled after the zombie attacks.”
Excellency rubbed his hands. “I love them.” He did the Adan move, putting his hands out and weaving around the space between the cars while my mate was on his knees picking up garbage.
“Want any help?” I asked.
“Nah.”
Excellency paused his zombie impression to congratulate us on the baby. “I look forward to welcoming the little one into the shifter community, and you also, Braylon.” He studied Adan on the ground. “You need to be more careful. You never know when a zombie might appear.”
He vanished into the night.
Adan returned to the car after dumping the trash in the garbage.
“Excellency has a sense of humor.” I suppressed a snigger.
He harrumphed and started the car. “Maybe. He likes you though, so I’m pleased about that.”
“Why do you think he doesn’t like you?”
“He made life difficult when it would have been so easy to show you my wolf.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe he wanted you to work for it. And you did.”
Him taking me into the woods and shifting was too easy. I had to fall in love even though our “courtship” was condensed compared to most human relationships.
I giggled, thinking of naked Adan in the woods that day and him fibbing he was a CFA.
“Hey, babe. Wanna play zombie and humans when we get home?”
“Huh?” He pulled into the driveway.
“In bed.”