33. Chapter 33 - Chayce
Chapter 33 - Chayce
R egina’s reaction to my dragon was better than I could have hoped for. Finally, being able to take her out for a date was the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae.
Driving us home, I catch Regina twisting her fingers, a nervous gesture I have picked up on.
“Whatever you want to say, just say it, please,” I blurt out, wanting to get the conversation started. “You are going to hurt yourself the way you are twitching,” I add, trying to soften my criticism.
“I want to have a party,” she states nervously.
“Okay,” I say, drawing out the word, expecting more details. “Are you expecting me to say no?” I ask, wanting her to feel comfortable and not feel like she needs to ask permission.
“Hear me out before you freak out,” she says, causing the hair on the back of my neck to rise.
She heaves a heavy sigh as she continues, “Yesterday, at the Whiskey Genie when Emma and I first got there, something was bothering me. It was as if I was being watched.”
“What?!” I cut her off as anger explodes in my chest and smoke spills from my nose. “Why didn’t you say something then? Where was Brady?” My questions come rapid-fire, not giving her a chance to answer in between them.
“Calm down,” she huffs out. “Brady was right behind me,” Regina says, waving me off. “Looking around to see who it might have been was useless. It occurred to me I don’t know many people here. It was a total waste of time to search for an unfamiliar face, as they are all unfamiliar,” Regina says.
“Fuck. That never occurred to me,” I say, my shoulders sagging in frustration.
Showing her around town and introducing her is now one of my main goals.
“Okay, plan your party. Where do you want to have it?” I concede, trying to think of a location.
“I would like to have it at the house if you don’t mind?” Biting her lip, she worries her fingers together even more in anticipation of my response. “Would you mind if Em stayed in one of the spare rooms so she doesn’t have to worry about driving?” she asks so quickly that all of the words seem to run together. It takes me a moment to make sense of her question.
“We can do whatever you want,” I tell her, only wanting to make her happy. “However and wherever you want to do it.” Regina bounces in her seat, clapping her hands in excitement. “I am sorry. It never occurred to me that other than the alphas and my brothers, you haven’t met many people.”
“Speaking of alphas,” she interrupts. “Would you mind asking them to come? Bring some people from their groups, or packs, or herds, whatever they are called,” Regina says, causing me to laugh.
She narrows her eyes at me due to my laughter. Holding up a hand in surrender, she sags back in her seat.
“It was your general term that had me chuckling,” I explain. “Lions live in a pride. Bears live in a den. Wolves live in a pack. It’s how we refer to the various sections of town.” I watch her facial expressions with each new bit of information about her new home. “For the most part, the various shifter types live together.”
“Oh,” she says with a relieved huff. “I need to call the triplets and invite them.”
Suppressing a groan at the mention of the Martin triplets, my stomach clenches at her making friends with the town troublemakers. They are good, decent girls who get bored easily, especially when they are together. My lips tip up on one side as thoughts of the poor saps who get stuck with one of them. They are in for a fight.
Arriving at home, as soon as Regina gets settled, she starts making phone calls for this party. What I expected to be a quiet night at home is now a party planning session. Planting my ass on the couch, beer in one hand, remote in the other, a soft smile crosses my face at the happiness in Regina’s voice.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.