Chapter Eighteen

Pax and the other guys were asking me to go somewhere again.

"Tell me more about this park. Don't the humans freak out when a bunch of wolves run all over the place among them?" Parks on the shows I'd seen were tame greenspaces filled with children's playgrounds, picnic tables, and similar features. Add a few shifter wolves to the mix, and you had a horror movie with crowds of people scooping up their children and racing away, screaming, trampling one another in their rush to escape.

He chuckled. "I guess they would, if they were there, but the gates officially close at sundown, so as long as we go after that, there will be nobody there to frighten."

"Don't hoodlums and drug dealers go to parks after they close?" My education was very small-screen oriented.

"In some, yes, but this is a wilderness park with trails and it's far enough from the city center that there are few issues like that. We just have to be aware of our surroundings."

A second date. But I still had such a big secret to keep.

All week, the date was in the back of my mind, along with a plan to go out for coffee with my sisters on Saturday morning. For a girl who'd never had a social life before, and only one friend, having two engagements in one day was heady stuff. I got up extra early and washed and dried my hair, put on a little mascara and eye liner as well as lip gloss, and an outfit I hoped would say, I go out for coffee all the time with friends and relatives .

Meeting up with the girls in the foyer, they all hugged me and complimented my jeans and baby tee…which of course they had bought me. Along with just about everything I owned. One day I would repay them.

"The place we're going is just down the block on the first floor of a bank building," Minx said. "I think you'll like it."

They all looked beautiful, in casual clothes similar to mine. "How do you all get away from your mates on a Saturday morning?"

Kiki giggled. "Oh, we spend so much time together, I'm sure they didn't mind a break."

But Ava scoffed. "Tell her the truth. We bought them tickets to a football game a while back, so they won't be home until this evening. We've got the whole day ahead of us. No need to rush back at all."

"Um…" My cheeks heated. "I have plans later, but I'm good until late afternoon."

They paused at a set of double glass doors. Minx took my arm. "Here we are." The doors parted to disappear into the walls at either side, and we entered. "It's right in the center of the first floor, this way.

We passed through a small lobby with an information desk then a narrowed area with elevator doors on both sides. I gave a little shiver, grateful I wouldn't have to use it since the coffeehouse was on the ground floor. When we emerged from the elevator area, I saw why my sisters chose this place for our coffee date. "What is this?" We were entering what looked like a garden with sunlight somehow beaming down from above. Exotic flowers and trees surrounded a small pond where gold and silver fish splashed. Between the flower beds were pathways and circular spaces paved with broad, flat stones. Tables and chairs were almost hidden by all the foliage. I thought the soft jazz was a recording until I saw the trio of musicians providing the sweet strains.

"Like it?" Ava elbowed me and regained my attention. "Cleo?"

"This is a place to drink coffee?" I'd never seen anywhere so beautiful.

"They also have pastries." Minx pointed out an empty table, and we all made our way there and sat down. A server arrived within seconds, and I let my sisters order for me because the menu of fancy coffee drinks was bewildering.

"Okay, so what are your plans this afternoon, Cleo?" Kiki cocked her head inquiringly. "Extra homework?"

"She probably wants to go to the library again," Minx suggested.

"I don't think that's it." Ava stopped while the server returned with our drinks and a plate of tiny pastries filled with cream and topped with drizzles of chocolate. My mouth watered.

When the server left, Minx asked, "What is your theory, Ava?"

"I'm right here, ladies," I protested. "You could just let me answer."

"Don't you wonder what Ava is thinking?" Minx could be a terrible tease.

"No, let Cleo tell us, and I'll let you know if she's right." Ava picked up a pastry and took a bite, sighing. "These are sinful."

I'd had enough, and I really didn't mind them knowing. "I am going to some wilderness park with Pax and the others."

They all burst into laughter. "That was exactly what I thought," Ava said. "Well, not where you were going but with whom."

"We all really guessed the same. So, the wilderness park? That's a good choice. There aren't a lot of places to really let your wolf stretch out around here."

They teased a little more but as we enjoyed our cinnamon cappuccinos and mocha lattes, they told me how glad they were that I was spending time with the nicest guys in the school besides their mates.