114- Charms and check–ins


    Logan looks contemtive as he thinks it through.


    “Would Darrien be there?” He demands. I shrug.


    “Sure, we could invite him too.” I agree.


    “What about Aaron and Bemy?” He continues. Megan decides to step in.


    “We can invite anyone you want Logan. We could have a big dinner party and you could


    explore the whole Shifterpound if you want.” She tells him. His eyes open wide.


    “Really!?” He says excitedly. Megan nods.


    “Of course, Ryann is really important to us, you know, so all her good friends are important to us too.”


    She tells him. He bounces excitedly in ce.


    “Oh, wait, I just remembered something!” he blurts out. He yanks his hands from mine and kneels on


    the floor by his backpack. He spends a minute digging through it before dumping the contents out on


    the floor in frustration. After a minute of frantic searching where several pens, a half–eaten sandwich


    and what I’m pretty sure is a bouncy ball scatter over the floor, he jumps to his feet, waving something


    in the air. He dashes to stand in front of me with his hands behind his back, then reaches out with his


    left hand and presents… something to me proudly. I take it and find it’s a ne made of clunky,


    rainbow coloured stic beads.


    “Uh, thanks Logan, it’s-” Logan interrupts and saves me froming up with something polite to say.


    “It’s a friendship ne! I made it. I have one too, see!” He pulls his other hand from behind his back


    and waves around a second ne. He immediately pulls it over his own head.


    “My teacher said I should give it to someone so that they don’t forget that they have friends. It’s meant


    to help you feel better. It’s basically magic.” he confides. His smile dims a little and he continues.


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    114- Charms and check–ins


    “I want you to have it. It can be a lucky charm to keep you safe and so you don’t forget to call and


    answer my phone calls.” he exins. Okay now I want to cry again. Instead, I pull the ne over


    my head. It catches in my hair a bit but I don’t mind. I pull my hair out and then grab Logan and crush


    him to my chest in a huge bear hug.


    “Ugh, Ryann, Can’t. Breathe.” he struggles out. I loosen my arms and he grabs me around the neck in


    a tight hug.


    “Thankyou Logan, I’ll take good care of it.” I promise as I release him.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Now that Logan has broken the super serious atmosphere with his rainbow nes, Maggie insists


    on making hot choctes for everyone, of course I use my favourite mug. Logan takes her seat on the


    couch next to me, leaning in and hugging my arm while Maggie bustles around the kitchen. She pulls a


    tray out of the oven. I should have known she was baking something, I mean I can smell the cookies.


    But her home always smells like baked goods because she bakes so often the smell basically never


    fades. No wonder Logan likes it here so much more than his mum’s ce. Although to be fair, I’m not


    sure his mum gives him much choice about where he spends his time. Everyone in the room perks up


    as she starts sliding cookies onto a te. The guys look like they’re doing their best not to seem too


    eager, but they’re failing epically. Maggie passes the te around and we all get warm cookies to with


    our hot choctes. Mmmmmh yes, Maggie is an absolute treasure and must be protected at all costs.


    We finish eating and I reluctantly herd everyone out the front door. It did tell Bemy I was just grabbing


    my stuff, I don’t want to give the guy an anxiety attack, although I’m fairly sure that Aaron has been


    texting him updates. Maggie shoves a container of cookies into my arms along with my freshly washed


    mug items like the


    and I cradle both treasures they are.


    We pile into the car and I pull out my phone and start messing with the calendar app.


    go


    “Whatcha doing?” Megan asks, peering over my shoulder. Shaun is on my other side and seems


    equally as curious.


    “I’m setting a repeat reminder to send me a notification every three days reminding me to check in on


    Maggie and Logan. I probably won’t need it, but when things get stressful and busy it’s easy to forget


    things like that. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. I don’t want to lose them so I figure I need to make


    sure to make an effort.” I conclude. Megan smiles and nods.


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    114- Charms and check–ins


    “I get that. You’re making sure you don’t go too long without checking in. It’s sweet.” she


    ngrees.


    “Thanks.” Speaking of checking in, I send a text off to Bemy.


    Ryann- Got my stuff and checked on Maggie and Logan. On my way back now.


    Bemy You okay?


    Right… so Aaron did tell him about my slight meltdown… Well, I guess I’m not really


    surprised.


    Ryann- Yeah I’m okay. Just got a bit emotional for a moment. We can talk about itter.


    Bemy- No problem. As long as you’re okay. Did you get everything you wanted?


    Ryann- I think so. If I’ve forgotten anything I can ask someone else to pick it upter. I’m starting to like


    being able to ask people to help with things.


    Bemy- Ahh, growing into your secret bossiness I see. I approve.


    Ryann- I’m not bossy!… Am I?


    Bemy. Not particrly. More like… determined and firm to the decisions you make. It’s a good thing,


    particrly for an Alpha.


    Ryann- I should have known that was where this was leading. Whatever, I’m gonna go make sure


    these guys take the time to eat lunch, you Shifters are allplete workaholics I swear. I also want to


    help Megan with re–arranging her ss schedule since it’s partially my fault she’s on lockdown too.


    Bemy- It’s not your fault. But by all means, help her if you like. I’ll be back before dinner. Make sure


    at least one of the guys stays with you, or two. Two is better.


    Ryann- I’ll ask them to stay and hang out, don’t worry. We won’t go crazy and burn the ce down if


    you’re gone for a few hours.


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    Ryann- Probably not at least…


    Bemy-…


    Bemy- Maybe order in lunch?


    Bemy- Please don’t burn the house down.


    Ryann- No promises. Byeeee xox


    Bemy- XOX


    We make it back and the guys escort us inside, carrying all my stuff for me of course. I instruct them to


    just drop it all against the wall in the hallway for me to sortter and they pile it haphazardly but do their


    best not to obstruct the walkway. I face them all with my hands on my hips.


    “So… Pizza?” I suggest. Megan shoots me a thumbs up as she wanders upstairs. Shaun is the next to


    respond.


    “Can we polish it off with more of Maggie’s cookies?” He asks. Iugh.


    “Sure, why not?” He holds two hands


    1. up. Darrien and Aaron smack his hands with firm high


    fives.


    “We’re in.” Darrien answers. Aaron nods and gives a half smile.


    “Perfect. I’ll order online.” Megan says as shees back down the stairs clutching herptop to her


    chest. Shaun’s phone rings.


    “Oh hey Alex. Oh, yeah I am back but we’re getting pizza. Yeah at the Alpha’s house. Right. Sorry,


    yeah I already agreed to lunch here.” I tap him on the shoulder and he lowers the Phone a moment.


    “Invite him along. It’ll be fun.” I tell him. He nods happily.


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    114- Charms and check–ins


    “I take that back. Miss Gale says I should invite you too. She brought back some of Maggie’s


    cookies.” he says, clearly trying to tempt his more shy friend into epting the offer. A


    momentter he hangs up the phone and tells me that Alex will be over in ten.