Toby’s present?”
“Not telling. You gotta wait and see.”
She scowled at him. “Then put me down, silly.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Brooks did, then waited for her to run into the house before turning back to the truck. He managed to carry the blanket-wrapped bundle inside and put it in position without doing any damage.
“Okay, open your eyes,” Brooks said.
He left one blanket in place and held out his hand to Toby. His mate walked over to him cautiously, then tugged the remaining blanket off. His gasp filled the room.
It wasn’t incredibly fancy, but it was serviceable. The bookcase gleamed from the layers of varnish Brooks had applied, and it had adjustable shelves since Brooks didn’t know how big all of Toby’s books were.
“You made this?” Toby asked, running his hand over the smooth wood.
“Yeah. You needed a place to put your books.”
“I did. I do. Wow. Brooks.”
Everybody kept saying his name weirdly today. Brooks squirmed a little at the attention and turned to face the girls. “What do you think?”
“I want one,” Daisy declared.
“You don’t have any books,” Marigold replied.
Toby gasped. “What do you mean she doesn’t have any books?”
Marigold looked confused. “We share books with everyone, Toby.”
“Oh. Well, in that case, we’ll… I’ll… Brooks will…” Toby stopped talking and sighed. “I’ll get you a book of your own. It’s important.”
“I want a dragon book!” Daisy shouted. She bounced over to them, her smile beaming. “I like dragons.”
“She likes Draco,” Marigold whispered. “He let her sit on his shoulders.”
“Do not.”
Brooks laughed. “Okay, let’s think about dinner. I vote for burgers and fries and milkshakes. Who wants to come with me?”
“Me!” Marigold and Daisy shouted at once.
Brooks took out his phone with a grin and sent a quick text to Nick for approval. The alpha didn’t mind him taking the girls out as long as he asked before they left the compound.
“Toby?” Brooks asked, while he waited for Nick’s reply.
“Only if I can have a strawberry milkshake.”
Brooks couldn’t help his relieved smile. “That can be arranged.”
Toby ran his hand over the bookcase once more. “It’s beautiful, Brooks. No one has ever given me anything like this before. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“After dinner, will you help me unpack my books?” Toby’s voice was a whisper, and he sounded hesitant. Almost like Brooks would say no. As if he’d ever tell Toby no.
“I’d be honored.”
“Me too!” Daisy yelled.
“You want to help?” Toby asked.
“Yes! Will you read me a book? A grown-up book, not a baby book.”
“I can do that.”
“Yay!”
Daisy did a wiggling dance that had Brooks laughing within seconds. Of course, Marigold joined in moments later. Then Toby did. There was nothing left to do but wiggle himself.
Toby laughed, and Brooks’s heart filled at the sound. His family… they could be his. The three of them. It humbled him, shook him to the core, but Goddess, did Brooks want them to be his. He wanted more nights like this. More laughter. More love.
If only he could convince his mate to stay.
Chapter Nine
Toby was pretty sure you weren’t supposed to wear a tie when you went bowling. Almost a hundred percent certain in fact. Riggs, Brooks, and Toby all wore T-shirts and jeans. Victor, on the other hand, hadn’t changed out of the three-piece suit he’d worn into the city earlier in the day for a meeting.
“Why are we going bowling?” Victor asked immediately after his mate gently suggested he change.
If Toby was a braver man, he’d have answered. Because Brooks promised me a bowling date, and now you’re all roped into going too.
But he didn’t. Not only was he not brave enough, but he was smart enough to know better too. Victor looked extremely cranky about their group date night.
“Pack bonding?” Brooks offered. “Fun?”
Toby took a step away from Brooks. Victor had a particularly scary glare, which was currently directed entirely too close to him. Toby didn’t want to accidentally get caught in it, and, like, spontaneously combust or something.
Riggs, on the other hand, didn’t seem scared. He scowled at his mate for a moment, and then his expression smoothed. “Holy Goddess, you’ve never been bowling before.”
Victor’s scowl deepened.
“What?” Brooks asked, obviously confused. “How could you—”
He stopped talking when Victor’s glare returned to him.
“It’s fun,” Toby offered in an attempt to deflect Victor’s attention. And it was, mostly. Other than the sharing shoes bit. He wasn’t sure how he felt about Brooks exactly, but he didn’t want him to get hurt. Especially after the night before.
Toby sighed and stepped closer to Brooks again. He couldn’t seem to help