and my little hatchback. The weather was good with little rain, so I didn’t have any puddles on the path between home and the bar. When I got to my car, I was pleased to find I wasn’t half covered in mud.
As I started driving to the bowling alley, my mind continued to wander. Jabari’s news weighed on me suddenly, trying to dampen the bright day and the good mood I was supposed to have. The problem was, the quiet drive gave me an open space to think.
Dead werecats—two of them in the same region. If I had truly shaken things up so much on accident, it could have been a purposeful attack on werecats. Would I get a text in a week saying more were dead?
Why now?
My mind turned it over for the short drive, my face stuck in a perpetual frown, still frowning as I parked and slid out of the car. I wasn’t paying attention as I leaned on my hood and waited, staring at the bowling alley but not really seeing it.
“You came!” a young voice called out—energetic, surprised, and very much a change from the girl I had met at my bar’s back door.
I didn’t jump, not totally shocked by Carey’s sudden appearance. I had known the wolves were getting close, half paying attention to them with my supernatural radar-like magic.
“I did,” I replied with a chuckle. “I said yes to your dad last night. Didn’t he tell you?”
“Yeah, he did, but…” Carey shrugged, a grin still on her face.
“Have I ever canceled on you before?” I asked, using a somewhat stern tone of voice, daring her to say I had.
“No, but I didn’t think you would want to go bowling. It just doesn’t seem like something you like to do.” The girl’s innocent smile and clean scent told me that she was telling the truth.
“Well, I would have you know, I love bowling,” I retorted. “Or, I used to. I haven’t been bowling in nearly eleven years, so we’ll see. I’m probably rusty.” I moved away from my car and raised an arm, ignoring the two werewolves walking closer. Carey ducked underneath my arm, I nestled it on her shoulder, and she wrapped her closer arm around my waist. It was a comfortable position. We did it whenever we went somewhere, just the two of us.
“So, you haven’t bowled since before…” Carey’s eyes were wide, full of curiosity and questions. Unable to resist, and still ignoring the wolves walking behind us, I answered.
“That’s right. Not at all. I haven’t had anyone to bowl with so…” I shrugged one shoulder. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Of course! I know we have girl night tomorrow, but I wanted to bowl, and three people can’t do teams. I like teams because they give me a real chance of winning.”
There it is. Just as competitive as always.
“Boys versus girls?” I asked softly, trying to sound mischievous. Carey began to nod vigorously, the grin growing wider. “We’ll kick some ass.”
“Watch your language with my daughter, please,” Heath said from behind us. I ignored him as I got the door and held it open for Carey, him, and Landon.
“She’s definitely heard worse from your wolf pack, but I’ll try to behave.”
By the look on his face he obviously didn’t believe me but said nothing. I slid into the building last, realizing it was my last moment to get out of this if I had wanted to run. What I hadn’t counted on was how much Carey calmed me down. Once she was talking to me, the anxiety disappeared. I smiled as I met them at the counter.
“What’s your shoe size?” Landon asked me softly.
“Don’t worry—”
“We’re paying,” Heath cut in.
I raised my eyebrows and stared at him, daring him to try to say it again. It scratched at my independent nature to let this wolf pay for things I could reasonably afford.
His blue-grey stare back was even, not backing down. I held back a territorial growl, one I knew would remind him who was really in charge of the building, the land, and everything within miles of us.
“Jacky isn’t some kid friend, Dad. She can pay for herself!” Carey groaned, pushing her father a little. “Hurry, or we won’t get a good lane.”
He finally broke the stare. With a sharp nod, I let him know that he’d done the right thing. He quickly paid for his family, and I stepped up next, telling the young woman behind the counter my size. Heath was