“That can be arranged. Note to self: no tomatoes.”
“I like sauce, but not chunks. I know, it’s weird.”
“Nah. I don’t like chocolate. Talk about weird.”
Toby stopped and stared. “You don’t like what?”
“Chocolate. And no, I’m not allergic to it. It just tastes weird. Blech.”
“So earlier, when I asked you if I smelled like chocolate…”
“I was thanking the Goddess you didn’t.”
Toby glanced up at him with a frown. “Is it because you’re… oh wow. Never mind. I’m not even going to go there.”
“Canine?” Brooks supplied with a laugh. “No. Wolf shifters can have chocolate. I’m the oddball. Don’t like it. Never have.”
They started walking again, and Brooks was pleased to see that more of the tension had eased. “I think I like your plan of figuring things out as I go. Maybe asking a few questions here and there.”
“It’s like a giant puzzle,” Rowan said. “You have to figure out where things fit before you can see the big picture. Sure, you see the box and know what’s supposed to be there, but with the pieces all a jumble it’s hard to see anything until you start putting it together. That’s the way I think of it, at least.”
“That’s a great analogy,” Toby said with a smile. He turned his attention back to Brooks. “I just need a little time to sort all the pieces, maybe. Put all the edges together so I have a place to start.”
“I like that plan,” Brooks replied.
If Toby couldn’t dive in with both feet, at least he wasn’t rejecting the idea of their mating completely. A little bubble of hope formed in Brooks’s chest, and his wolf prowled happily inside him. He would woo his mate and teach him how wonderful their life could be.
But first… tacos.
The noise of the kids all gathered in one place echoed throughout the rec hall. Toby didn’t seem fazed by it at all. Then again, as a teacher, he’d be experienced at such things. They went into the dining room to find all the kids waiting eagerly as their tacos were made. Brooks found Daisy and Marigold sitting together and steered Toby in their direction.
“Good evening, ladies.” Brooks knelt down between them with a smile.
They leaned into him, their little arms going around his neck for hugs. When they pulled back, Daisy shyly looked up at Toby. “Hi.”
“Hello. We didn’t get a chance to introduce ourselves earlier. I’m Toby.”
Daisy giggled and leaned into Brooks again. “I’m Daisy.”
“And I’m Marigold.”
“Beautiful names. May I sit with you?”
Marigold nodded, so Toby sat down in the empty seat beside her at the end of the table. Brooks lifted Daisy before sitting back down in her seat with Daisy nestled on his lap. She pushed her messy curls out of her face and smiled up at him.
“Is he nice?” Her whisper carried.
Brooks glanced at Toby and found him smiling down at Marigold while they discussed their day. “He’s very nice.”
“I thought so,” Daisy said. “I want three tacos.”
“Three?”
“Well, four. ’Cause I’m four, so four is right.”
“That’s a lot of tacos.”
She shrugged. “I’m a big girl now, Brooks.”
He couldn’t really fault her argument.
“Toby! Brooks! Team meeting!” Nick’s bellow quieted everyone’s conversation for a moment.
“Looks like alpha needs me,” Brooks said. He pecked a kiss onto Daisy’s head as he stood, then lowered her back onto their chair.
“I’ll eat your tacos,” Daisy promised with a mischievous grin.
“And I’ll eat yours, Toby.” Marigold beamed up at them both.
“I see how you are,” Brooks said with a mock-glare. “Come on, Toby. Next they’ll want our dessert too.”
Toby followed Brooks to the side of the room. They didn’t get far before a voice stopped them. “Hey!”
One of the kids, a young boy named Jeremy, called out to Toby. Toby stopped beside him with a smile. “Hi, Jeremy.”
“Clouds.”
Brooks blinked and shot a puzzled frown toward Toby. His mate simply nodded and knelt down beside Jeremy’s chair. “You want to know more about clouds?”
“Yeah,” Jeremy said. His tone held a challenge, but Toby didn’t seem to notice.
“Clouds happen to be one of my favorite subjects. You’ve got your stratus, and your cumulus, and my personal favorite, the cirrus.”
Jeremy’s expression turned into a suspicious scowl. “I don’t know those words.”
“Why would you?” Toby answered. “But tomorrow, once it’s sunny out, you and I will head out into the field with pen and paper in hand. We’ll take some pictures with my phone and make some notes, and I’ll tell you everything I know about clouds. How does that sound?”