Since last night when I pushed her to talk with me through the mate bond, she hasn’t tried it again, but she’s made great progress. We’ll have her shifting in no time. I’m sure of it.
Jamie opens the door before we even knock, with a big smile to match his daughter’s. “Vera, Bas! You’re just in time. We have some extra company today.”
“For real?” Vera blinks. “Wait, who?”
I scent the air searching for clues, but I’m mystified when my nose picks up two new sweet-and-floral scents, one richer and deeper than the other, both female.
Just then there’s a high-pitched wail from the living room and a childish voice screams, “But those plates don’t match! They have to match!”
A quieter and unfamiliar female voice speaks in a low tone, and I don’t catch what she says.
Just then a harried-looking Riley backs out of the door to the living room with a pink plate and a green plastic bowl clutched in his hands. He casts a desperate look at us. “Fuck! I’m in out of my depth here.”
Vera and I share a confused look.
Jamie just laughs. “Long story, which I’m going to let Riley explain. Here—” He takes the plastic plates from Riley and pushes him back toward the living room. “I’ll take care of the plates. You do the introductions.”
It’s been a long time since I saw my best friend looking anything but self-assured, but Riley’s shoulder-length red hair is sticking out at wild angles and there’s a stain on the front of his trousers that looks suspiciously like peanut butter.
Did he actually bring someone home? That would be a first as far as I know.
“Hey, you two. There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Well two someones actually.” Riley gestures through the door to a young woman sitting on the sofa opposite Tilly. Her dark hair is twisted up into a claw clip, and she’s facing the other direction. “This is Adley. And this—” he indicates a little girl with flaming red hair, a button nose, and a stubborn expression. “This is Bella.”
“Oh my goodness!” Vera slips past me and into the room. “Adley Bourke? Is that you?”
The dark-haired woman turns, and for a moment her smile is tentative. Until she’s met with the warmth of Vera’s smile. Then she visibly relaxes.
“Vera. Hey. I wasn’t sure if you would recognize me. It’s been a while.”
“I haven’t seen you since sophomore year. How are you? What are you doing back in town?”
Adley’s smile turns awkward again. “Well, that’s kind of a funny story.”
Riley clears his throat. “I asked Adley to visit, so we could all meet Bella.” He looks at us desperately over Bella’s small head, and finally the pieces fall into place with a clunk. The little girl’s bright red hair, her age, the way Riley is acting so out of character.
I stare at my best friend, and his mouth twists in a wry smile.
“Oh. Oh! Well, Bella, it's very nice to meet you.” I look more closely at the little girl who has her father’s stubborn pout.
She glares back at all of us. “Mommy, I’m bored now and this house is weird. Can we go home?”
“Oh no!” Vera kneels beside Bella. “Really? You can’t go yet. I am moving out soon and am sure I have a box of dolls who might need to find a new home. I was hoping you might be able to help me with that.”
Bella’s blue eyes widen, and she looks at Vera with new interest. “A whole box?”
Adley gives Vera a grateful look. “That’s so kind. I’m sure we don’t need a whole box.”
“Are you kidding?” says Vera with a wink. “You absolutely do. Come on. Let’s go to my room and look for them.”
Vera leads Adley and Bella up the stairs, casting me a look over her shoulder. Through the bond I feel her nudge me.I’ll distract them. You get all the gossip.
Easier said than done with Riley, who is looking like he isn’t sure whether to follow or cast himself off the nearest cliff.
Tilly gives him a knowing look. “Give them some space, Riley. It’s enough that they’re here. I’m going to go check on the garlic bread. Why don’t you two set the table?”
After she leaves the room, Riley stays frozen in his seat for a long moment. I walk over and sit beside him, and we both stare straight ahead at where a silent TV shows a girl talking to a cartoon cat.
“So how long have you known?”
