Chase tries his luck flirting with Lacey. “So, Lacey, got any ns for tomorrow night”


    “Yep, the usual, headed to Dark Moon.”


    “Want somepany?” Chase asks her.


    She gives him a fake smile and shuts him down. “I have some already, but thanks.”


    She’s giving him the barest of answers when she responds, bordering on being rude. | can see Chase’s intrigue with her


    increasing. Chase is true to his name, and he loves the chase. Lacey doesn’t realize it, but she’s only making him more intent on


    getting close to her.


    | focus my attention back on Cara. “Do you need a ride home today?”


    She smiles at me. “No, I’m good, but thank you.”


    Thest few sses are the same. | walk her to her ss, carrying her books. When the day is finally done, | walk her to her car.


    She unlocks it and with her hand on the door, turns to me. I’ve moved in close, desperately wanting to kiss her, but knowing she


    won''t want that here in such a public ce. So, instead, | step into her space, forcing her to lean back against her car and | lean


    down to whisper in her ear. “Thank you for my invitation. | can’t wait to see youter my little guardian.”


    | blow on her neck and gently nip her ear lobe as | listen to her heart rate increase. She swallows hard before answering, her


    voice a bit squeaky, “Well, it’s just dinner, nothing fancy.”


    | lean my forehead against hers. “It’s more than just dinner. It’s time with you. love.” | kiss her nose before stepping back and


    walking away. When | get to my car, | turn and see that she hasn’t moved. | wink before getting into the car with Chase.


    After | get home, | rush to my room to shower and get ready. I’m not going to tell my father that I’m joining them. | don’t want him


    to tell me to note. | put on a pair of jeans, a ck sweater and pair it with work boots.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    | walk out of my room and nearly run into my mother. “Hey mom.” | greet her and start to walk past her.


    “Rik, are youing with me to Lily’s memorial tonight?” | stop short. | was so


    excited about dinner with Cara that | didn’t even remember that it would mean | wouldn’t go with my mother. | turn and take her


    hands in mine. “Mom, | can’t tonight, | have a date.” | smile waiting for her to be excited for me.


    I''m surprised when | see her frown. “A date?” Ok, that was an unexpected reaction.


    “Yes, | have a date, I’m heading out now.”


    “But sweetheart...” she stops, looking upset.


    “Mom? Why do you look like that? | can go to Lily’s memorial another day.”


    “It''s not that honey. | just....! thought that you were serious about Cara Nelson. You made such a statement at your birthday with


    that dance and then you were so distraught when she was missing. | guess | just thought that maybe you’d found your mate in


    her.


    I smile and hug my mom, before leaning back and looking at her. “Mom, my date is with Cara. She invited me to dinner with her,


    Dad and Mr. Nelson.”


    My mom’s eyes go wide and her mouth opens in a “O” before her smile spreads across her face. “So she is your mate, isn’t


    she?” z


    “Yes mom, she is. Only she doesn’t know it yet, but | think she’s feeling the beginnings of the bond, even now.”


    She puts her hands on either side of my face. “I’m SO happy for you. I''ll make sure to tell Lily when | go see her tonight that her


    daughter and my son are mates. She’d be so pleased!”


    “Thanks mom. Oh, and don’t tell dad. He doesn’t know and I’m not letting him ruin this for me.”


    “Only if you promise to tell me all about it tomorrow.” She bargains.


    “Deal.”


    With that, | head out. Before, going to Cara’s, | stop at a florist and pick up another dozen roses. This time, | get her red, for love.