Page 88 of The Dragons' Healing Mate

A smile spread across my face. I’d made the comment off-hand, but Orsen had listened, even as he was scolding me a tad.

“I’ll have a cheeseburger and fries,” I said, smiling as I leaned across the center console and placed a kiss on Orsen’s cheek.

“I’ll have the same!” Griffin said from the back, pressing in between us. “And a kiss if you’re doling them out.”

I laughed, giving him one, too, and rolled my eyes as I leaned into my seat and got comfortable. Orsen drove up to the window, ordering for us all as the guys shouted out what they wanted, and then pulled up to the window to pay. It was way more than it should have been, but I’d forgotten we had four dragons in the car, and they could eata lot.

“Wait.” I looked over at Orsen. “Will Bastian be confused that we pulled off?”

Orsen smiled, jerking his thumb backward. “Nah. He’s good.”

I turned around, looking out the window to see Bastian’s car behind us. Bastian met my eyes through the windshield. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I gave him a little wave.

His eyes went wide, but he nodded back. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have sworn the tips of his ears were turning pink. Of all the things I’d expected, it wasn’t that. Was he actually feeling shy or something after kissing me? I smiled wider at him, and then the car got moving again and I had to turn around.

“Here ya go.” I took my food from Orsen, who passed out the rest to the rowdy group of Alphas in the back. “Hopefully, this buys me a few more minutes of peace because your mouths will be too full of food to speak.”

Shooting Orsen a smile with my brows up, I commented, “Have you met these animals? What do you think will stop them from talking with their mouths full?”

Orsen blanched, playing into his horrified shock. “Dear God, I’ll never be safe.”

We all laughed as Orsen pulled out of the drive-thru. I glanced at the passenger-side mirror as we did, watching Bastian follow us. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on there, but I wasn’t as quick to judge Bastian for being a little closed off. If the trip had given me nothing else, at least there was that.

And that was something.

Rowan

The day had already flown by at the clinic. I was humming to myself as I tidied up my notes, fingers clicking on the keyboard. I had sent Nina home at the end of my appointments, the clinic now peacefully quiet. She’d been working her ass off for me, and she deserved an early night.

I may enjoy one myself, if I can get this done.

Ever since returning from the cabin, I’d been in the best mood. Even though everything wasn’t settled yet, there was comfort in knowing that I was staying. I’d faced my past—maybe not completely, but partially at least—and I felt better about it than I had in a long time.

There was also whatever was going on with Bastian and me… That kiss had been pretty unforgettable. For the first time, I wasn’t worried about another shoe dropping.

The horde was good, the guys were good, and there were no emergencies looming in the rearview mirror. A baby was on the way, I was looking forward to better conversations withallmy mates. Even Griffin’s cabin was nearing completion. I almost wanted someone to pinch me, because how could it bethis goodright now?

I’m not going to complain. The world is welcome to keep this momentum spinning.

“Rowan, can we talk?” a deep, masculine voice said from the doorway, startling me slightly, as I’d utterly lost track of what I was doing.

I turned, putting my notepad down. Tanner stood on the threshold to my office, his eyes rimmed red and skin oddly pale.

“Hey, of course. Come on in. Is everything okay?” I said, gesturing to the chair across from my desk. “Is Celiaokay?”

Worry filled me at the thought of something being wrong with her pregnancy. We’d all been so excited. This was the first one since Jenkins, that bastard, and my guts tangled. Had I underestimated the damage that’d been done? Oh God, I’d feel terrible if that was the case.

Tanner nodded.

“Yeah. She’s at the den with Ma. Other than the nausea that you’ve already helped her with, she’s doing fine.”

I relaxed, exhaling out all the tension that’d seized me. But Tanner hadn’t made eye contact with me yet, not really. And he was still hovering, curled in on himself. There was a vacant look in his eyes, too, like he wasn’t quite all there. He walked over to the chair but didn’t sit down. I remained standing as well, an uneasy feeling taking root in the pit of my stomach.

Is he sick? Why would he come to me if…?

“Tanner, what’s going on?” I asked quietly, all those nerves rushing back to the surface.

“I think Ireallymessed up,” he said in a hoarse voice.