35. Thirty-Four
Thirty-Four
Cozette
Micah: I’ll be home in about 30 minutes. Get dressed. Tonight, it’s just you and me, Firefly.
Micah: Tell Ridge to suck it up.
Butterflies take flight in my belly when I get his text, and my heart flips as I smile down at the screen, replying with a simple okay.
I untangle myself from Ridge, laughing when he pouts and groans, reaching for me. We’ve been nearly inseparable since bonding several days ago because, as it turns out, Ridge is rather stingy. But I miss my other alphas and I know they miss me. Not that they haven’t seen me, just Ridge hasn’t been very accommodating when it comes to anyone else holding me. He’s kept me almost permanently stuck in his arms. Not that I’m complaining, though the others definitely have.
“Time to share, you feral beast! Micah’s taking me on a date, and I have to get ready,” I huff, swatting his hands away when he gets up and makes grabby hands for me.
He’s like a completely different man now that we’re bonded. It’s not that he hadn’t been affectionate with me before bonding, but it’s like now that we are, I’m finally seeing the real him. He’s silly and unbelievably sweet, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he can be just as ridiculous as Zeke when he wants to be.
“I’m not ready to share,” he groans, finally catching me around the waist and spinning me around in a circle until I giggle. “But, if I must.”
When he puts me back on my feet, he sighs and rests his forehead against mine as he playfully scowls and rolls his eyes. I reach up on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his for a short, sweet kiss, feeling his lips twitch up into a smile before I pull away. He runs his finger along the crescent-shaped mark in the crook of my arm, sending a bolt of tingles racing down my fingers and straight between my legs, making me scowl at him. To get him back, I sneakily trail my fingers up his chest until I reach the spot I marked him, then do the same to him. He groans, backing away with his hands up in surrender before adjusting himself in his sweatpants, which has my cheeks flushing.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, Alpha,” I tease with a wink, then I skip off to my room to change, blowing him a kiss.
“I’ll just take care of this myself, then!” he hollers at my back, making me grin.
“And Micah will take care of what you did to me!” I holler back with a laugh as he curses up a storm for what he did.
Once I’m dressed in a pretty white sundress that has a yellow ribbon, and have a bow tied around and my hair to tame it as much as it can be, I Ieave my room and head downstairs. I find everyone out by the pool, Jeremiah and Zeke wrestling in the water while Manny and Ridge stand by the grill with beers in their hands. The smell of steaks and chicken charing fills the air and my stomach growls as I realize it’s nearly dinner time.
“Och! Ye fuckin’ beast! Nearly drowned me that time,” Zeke gasps as he comes back up for air after Jeremiah shoves him under the water.
Jeremiah chuckles, his face lighting up as he pushes his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face.
“If I wanted to drown you, you would be drowned,” he chuckles, swimming to the edge.
My mouth goes dry as he climbs out of the pool, water droplets gliding down his color skin that glistens in the sunlight. A dreamy sigh escapes me, catching all of their attention, and Jeremiah grins naughtily at me as his blue eyes become hooded and he prowls towards me. I hold my hands up and take a step back.
“Oh no you don’t! I have a date! Don’t you dare get me wet, Jeremiah,” I shout, darting around him when he goes to wrap his arms around me.
“Mm. Smells to me like you already are, Dove,” he chuckles, falling into one of the lounge chairs by the pool and putting his hands behind his head with a grin aimed my way.
Manny, Zeke, and Ridge all laugh, and I huff as a blush stains my cheeks.
“Cheeky alphas, the lot of you,” I mutter, dusting imaginary dirt off the skirt of my dress as I glare at them all.
Zeke is still in the pool, his arms resting on the edge and his chin resting on his hands as he grins up at me from the water, making it impossible to be mad at him when he looks so adorable and… lickable. Ridge has taken over at the grill, and he throws a wink my way when he notices me looking at him, love and admiration echoing down the bond, which makes me groan and stomp my foot as I point at him.
“No fair! Stop that!”
He grins, shaking his head, and turning his attention back to their food, but tendrils of affection still tickle along the bond, effectively killing any frustration or annoyance I was feeling. I sigh, rolling my eyes and glance at Manny last with a raised brow when I catch the way his eyes twinkle with mirth as he sips his beer and watches me from his seat next to Jeremiah. He pats his lap invitingly and I bite my lip, moving over to him and sitting on his thigh. Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me closer until I’m leaning against his chest, and he kisses my cheek, making me smile as my eyes close briefly.
“You look pretty, Sirenita, ” he murmurs in my ear, and I shiver in his hold.
“Thank you,” I whisper back, smiling up at him.
A few minutes later, Micah steps outside, looking around until he finds me curled in Manny’s lap. Closing the distance between us, he wears a pleasant smile and offers his hand to me.
“Ready, Firefly?”
I slip my hand into his with a smile and let him pull me up, tilting my face up for a kiss that he graciously gives me. My heart flutters in my chest when he pulls back and looks down at me with his soft honey eyes and a crooked smile. Before we leave, I kiss each of my other men, giddy excitement coursing through my veins over a date with one of my alphas.
“Have fun you two! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Ridge calls after us as we make our way around the house.
“That’s no’ much,” I hear Zeke mutter, before a splash drowns him out and I laugh under my breath.
When we make it to the front of the house, Micah leads me to his car, opening the door for me and buckling my seat belt once I’m settled in my seat. He walks around and climbs into the driver’s side, glancing over at me with a sweet smile that gives me butterflies. I practically bounce in my seat as I grin at him.
“Excited?”
“Yes! What are we doing?”
“You’ll see,” he chuckles, starting the car and heading down the driveway.
Micah takes us into town, parking in front of a quaint, family-owned restaurant nestled among charming clothing shops, bakeries, and other nondescript stores. I glance at him quizzically, and he grins at me as he opens his door. He runs around the front of the car and comes to my side, opening it for me and holding his hand out, and I take it, letting him pull me out.
“I figured we’d have dinner first, and this place is within walking distance of where we’re going. It’s also owned and run by one of my dads. I hope it’s okay, but I told my parents we’d be stopping in for a bite and my mother insisted on meeting you,” he says, his cheeks darkening a bit as he gives me an awkward smile.
Nervous energy courses through me until a slight nudge in my bond with Ridge pushes it away as he sends loving and calm energy through. I take a deep breath and look up at Micah, my heart tripping over itself.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve already told them not to bring up us having kids. They’re just excited to meet you. My mom’s been chomping at the bit since I told her about you.”
His thumb rubs over the back of my hand repeatedly, soothing my worries even more, and I give him a tentative smile.
“Okay.”
We walk inside, the cozy atmosphere inside instantly putting my mind at ease. The food smells incredible as we make our way through the dining area, Micah leading me to a table far enough in the back that we have some privacy. He pulls my chair out for me, making my cheeks heat and my lips twitch as I sit, and he pushes me closer to the table. Once he’s seated on the opposite side of me, a beautiful woman with shiny chestnut hair past her shoulders and the prettiest honey brown eyes comes over to us, vibrating with excitement as she grins at us both.
Micah’s eyes crinkle as he smiles up at her, standing to give her a quick hug.
“ Mamá , this is Cozette. Cozy, this is my mom, Lucia,” he says as he sits back down.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say with a smile, holding my hand out.
“Oh, you’re even more beautiful than I imagined,” she says, ignoring my hand and wrapping her arms around me.
She smells like vanilla cupcakes and homemade buttercream frosting and her hug is a mother’s hug, filled with love and patient understanding. Her words are tinged with a delightful accent, setting her apart from Micah and making her even more captivating. I sit frozen for a brief moment, overwhelmed by shock, before tentatively returning her embrace, my eyes instinctively shutting tight. When we pull apart, my cheeks are warm and my heart feels light as she looks me over, her eyes sparkling.
“I just wanted to walk over and meet you. I know you’re on a date, but this one over here has been putting us off on bringing you over to dinner for months now, and I’m impatient. I’ll leave you two, but please come over soon. I’d love to get to know my new daughter, and I’d adore it if you bring the rest of your pack with you. I hear I’ve got myself a few new sons as well,” she teases, and there’s that pesky blush again.
“I’d love that, and I’m sure they would, too,” I tell her softly, loving that she wants to get to know my other alphas as well.
Her answering smile is cheerful, and she kisses Micah on his cheek with the promise she’ll send someone over to get our drink orders. Once she’s gone, it’s just us and I fidget in my seat after the waitress comes and gets our drink orders and leaves.
“I like your mom. She seems really nice,” I tell him with a smile, and he responds with one of his own.
“She can be a bit much sometimes. But she’s a great mother, and she loves all of us kids. Even the ones she didn’t give birth to.”
Our drinks are brought to us, and I let Micah, who knows the menu inside out, choose our meal since it’s his dad’s restaurant and I have complete faith in his taste. While we wait, I seize the opportunity to delve deeper into getting to know my chosen alpha, something we haven’t had ample time for amidst our fast-paced courtship, and each new revelation only deepens my love for him.
By the time our food is brought out, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling and laughing I’ve done listening to him recount stories from his childhood. The food is delicious, nothing fancy, but certainly made with love, and when we’re done, I’m fit to burst with how full I am. I groan as our plates are taken away, pouting at Micah.
“That was so good, but now I feel like I need a nap and a cuddle,” I tell him with a laugh.
“We’re only a short walk away from where we’re going next, and cuddles are certainly something that is possible.”
This gets my attention, and I look at him curiously.
What has he planned?
With a wide grin, he stands and extends his hand towards me, offering to help me up. On our way to the door, his mom’s voice rings out, telling us to have a great time. I turn around, spot her, and offer a warm smile and a wave in return before we step back out onto the sidewalk.
Hand in hand, Micah guides me as I excitedly observe my surroundings, stealing glances into the shops that line our path. As we pass by a pet store, I let out a gasp and instinctively halt, captivated by the sight of the animals through the window.
“Wanna go in? We should still have time.”
“Oh, can we?” I ask him as I turn to look at him with my hands clasped together.
He chuckles and takes my hand, pulling me inside. A chime above the door rings when he pushes it open, and a friendly lady in a pink apron glances our way.
“Hi, welcome to Calico’s . Can I help you guys with anything or just taking a look-see?” she asks, greeting us with a friendly smile.
“Just looking right now. Thank you,” Micah responds, and I let out an excited squeal when I catch sight of what’s in one of the large cages when we move farther inside.
I tug on his hand, dragging him to the cage and crouch down to click my tongue at the lazy fluff noodles lounging in a comfy-looking hammock together. One of them pokes their head up when they see me, their little pink nose twitching as they stare at me.
“Ferrets! Oh, I love ferrets! They’re so playful and silly. I had one when I was a little girl that was always getting up to no good,” I say with a wide smile, looking up at Micah.
He grimaces as he looks at them, but when he sees my smile, his features soften. Crouching down beside me, he looks in at the three ferrets. One is a cinnamon color with tufts of white and brown fur, another is a little sable cutie with the sweetest band around their eyes, making them look like a tiny bandit, and the last one is solid white with the most striking pair of red eyes that appear almost pink. All three are incredibly adorable.
“You want one?” Micah asks softly and I glance at him with parted lips and wide eyes.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t see why not. Although, I’d probably prefer a dog or cat or something normal.” He laughs and I lightly shove him.
I frown after a moment, shaking my head.
“I’d love to take one of these little guys home, but they do better in pairs or groups. They’re very social creatures. I couldn’t just take one, and taking two and leaving one behind to be alone would break my heart,” I say softly, smiling when the sable one comes closer and sniffs my finger, their fur puffing up on their back as they arch.
Micah hums thoughtfully before telling me he’ll be right back and leaving me to admire the sweet babies that are now all surrounding the front of the cage to check me out. I coo at them, scratching their little heads with my finger when they let me, disappointment at knowing I can’t take them all home with me filling my heart. A nudge in the bond from Ridge surprises me, and I huff, shaking my head. It’s still a little weird that I can feel him and vice versa, but it’s kind of nice. It’s like a built-in mood detector, and I like that.
When Micah comes back, asking if I’m ready to go, I give the ferrets one last longing look before turning away and letting him lead me out. As the sun fades away, the sky darkens, and the moon emerges, casting an ethereal glow outside as we walk. With a slightly subdued mood, we make our way to our destination, stopping at a small shop where Micah tells me to pick a blanket and one stuffed animal of my choosing. I’m curious, but I don’t ask, knowing he won’t tell me. As soon as we arrive at where we’re going, a rush of excitement floods through me, causing my heart to flutter and my eyes to widen in awe at the surroundings.
Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the town, a picturesque white gazebo stands proudly in the center of the square. A large white screen catches my eye on the side wall of one of the buildings flanking the gazebo, and there’s a sign that we pass stating it’s a townwide movie night, featuring The Princess and the Frog. Families have scattered across the grass, each with their own blankets, as they prepare to settle in for the movie. Micah leads us to a spot where he spreads out the blanket I picked, and I squeeze the adorable frog plush I chose, which now seems both ironic and fitting. We both settle down, and when I glance at him, my eyes are brimming with tears.
With a mix of surprise and amusement, I ask, “You brought me out for a princess movie beneath the stars?”
He puffs up his chest and grins at me.
“Of course. I know we can see the stars from the nest and do the same thing there, but I figured we were due a night with just us.”
Wrapping me up in his arms just as the movie starts, he lays back, pillowing his head on his arm while I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. I sing along to all the songs softly throughout the movie, and I enjoy every second of our time together.
When the credits roll, we stay where we are while everyone else around us gets up and packs their things. We’re still in our spot when the last family has gone, both of us staring up at the night sky. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, loving the peace in my soul.
It’s nearly nine when we finally get up and grab our things. On the walk back to Micah’s car, I can’t erase the smile from my lips and I lean into his side when he wraps an arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head.
“One more pit stop before we head home, Firefly,” he whispers to me, stopping in front of the pet store we were at earlier.
I look at him curiously when he knocks on the door, but he just keeps smiling and says nothing. When the woman from earlier unlocks and opens the door with a friendly smile, I smile back and continue to side-eye Micah as we walk in.
“Perfect timing. I just finished getting everything together and loading them up in their carrier. I’ll finish getting the bigger items together tomorrow for you to pick up, but what I have together now should suffice for the night,” she says, leading us to the back of the store.
“I appreciate you doing this and staying late to give us time to get back and get them,” Micah tells her, and I’m still so confused.
The woman waves him off, shaking her head.
“I’m glad to have helped. And I’m happy you guys are taking them. They’ve been here too long, and it breaks my heart that nobody ever gives them a second look. I’m glad to know they’re all going to a good home finally.”
When she pulls out a cat carrier and I look inside, I gasp when I see the three ferrets we were looking at earlier. I whip around to look at Micah, tears brimming in my eyes as my lower lip wobbles.
“You got them for me? All three?” I ask, my voice trembling.
“You wanted them, so of course I did. You said they do better in groups, right? No ferret left behind,” he tells me softly, tucking a wayward curl behind my ear.
I throw myself into his arms and squeeze him tight, thanking him, before I pull away and grab the carrier from the woman with a teary smile.
“Thank you. Are they boys or girls? Or a mix?” I ask her, looking into the carrier with a soft smile when I see the three ferrets curled together in a ball, sleeping soundly.
“Girls. All girls. I can tell they’re going to be in good hands with you.”
I help grab the bags she has for us to get through the night while Micah takes the carrier from me. We leave, and I can’t stop glancing at the carrier in his hands, still unable to comprehend that he did this without me realizing. When we make it to the car, we put the bags in the trunk and he opens my door for me. I slide in, holding my arms out for the carrier, and he passes it to me. Once he’s in the driver’s seat, he glances over at me, his eyes twinkling.
“So what are you going to name them?” he asks as he pulls off, heading home.
I smile as I look in at them before telling him, and he chuckles.
“Couldn’t think of a third name that would rhyme?” he asks with a crooked grin and I laugh.
When we get home, I practically skip up the porch and inside with the carrier in my arms while Micah follows with the bags. Inside, we find Manny, Jeremiah, Ridge, and Zeke in the living room, all of them turning to look at us when we walk in. They all raise a brow when they see the carrier in my arms, and I beam at them.
“You got her a cat? Cheater!” Ridge huffs and Micah snorts.
“He got me ferrets!” I exclaim, scurrying into the living room to let them see.
Jeremiah and Zeke both jump up and move away when they look inside, their eyes wide, and I frown at them. Ridge and Manny don’t have the same reaction, instead snickering at the two overly large men as they stay as far away from the carrier as they can.
“Those are rodents, Dove. Why?”
“They are not!” I gasp in outrage, turning the carrier away.
“Are too,” he argues, and Zeke agrees with him.
I huff, setting the carrier down and opening it up to pull the little floofs out and into my lap. One sneezes before climbing under my arm and promptly falling back asleep, while the other two curl up in my lap together, and I coo at them, petting their little heads.
“You’re both being ridiculous. Ferrets are fantastic animals. They’re smart and silly and they have the best personalities. Just look at them. Aren’t they so cute?”
I look up with a grin, glancing at all of my alphas. Manny and Ridge laugh, sitting beside me to check them out while Zeke and Jeremiah make disgruntled noises that I ignore. Almost like they know neither man is a fan, the white and cinnamon one that I’ve named Perdita and Luna perk up before climbing off my lap onto the floor. When they go to run towards the two alphas that are standing far away from them, both men scream like little girls and jump up onto the furniture to get away. And I completely lose it, falling into Ridge’s side and disturbing the sable one I named Tuna as I cackle. She scrambles away from me into Manny’s lap as I laugh so hard tears run down my cheeks and Micah grabs the other two, putting them back into the carrier while everyone teases the giant men who just screamed over a couple of little fluff balls.
“It’s no’ funny, Ducky,” Zeke grumbles with a mock glare aimed my way as he climbs off the chair he jumped onto.
I snort, unable to stop the giggles from escaping me.