Chapter 14
Thomas
Each time the family got together was different. This time we'd all decided to keep things low key and just spend the weekend together. When I thought back to the morning I'd had, I wondered if maybe that wasn't the best idea after all.
I knew everyone was looking forward to this picnic, though. It was a day of family time at the park. Chairs and blankets littered the ground. There were games set out and lots and lots of food.
"Thomas, how about a round of corn hole?" Chase yelled.
"Not a good idea," I warned him.
"Oh, come on."
As a rule, I didn't play these sorts of games. My wolf was far too competitive, and I won at all costs. This wasn't the time or place for that.
"Where's Lily?" Elise asked.
"Taking a nap with Cammie. I figured I'd let them sleep and just bring the other girls over."
"From what I heard, you're the one who should be sleeping."
I groaned. "I'm not sure I'm going to live this one down."
"Why? What happened?" my mother asked.
"Nothing," I said a little too quickly.
"Thomas," she said in that mom voice that made me crack like I was three getting caught eating a cookie after being told I couldn't have it.
"I may have had too much to drink last night."
It was the truth and as far as I was concerned, she didn't need the details.
"Oh," she said, and I was grateful when she didn't press me for more details.
"Daddy, push me," Lilah yelled.
"Excuse me," I said as I got up and walked over to the swings.
I helped my girl into the swing and started to push her.
"Higher," she squealed.
So pushed a little harder.
"Higher, Daddy!"
"Much higher and you'll shoot straight to the moon and then I would miss you too much."
She cackled with delight. "To the moon, Daddy."
"No," I cried theatrically. "I miss you already. Lilah come back to me."
I moved to stand in front of her and every time she came close to me, I grabbed her and tickled her. We did this several times until I saw the look of panic on her face.
"Shit."
I jerked her out of the seat and took off running.
"Bathroom?" I asked everyone who was within earshot.
They pointed me in the right direction, and I ran right into the ladies' room, causing some screams as women scrambled to exit.
I almost bailed to correct my mistake, but then she whimpered. I pulled down her pants and sat her hovering over the toilet. Relief hit me when I heard a tinkling sound.
"I did it!" she squealed proudly.
"Yes, you did. But let's get out of here before someone calls the cops on me."
I washed her up quickly, and we left in a hurry.
"Going somewhere perv?"
I froze and looked up at the cop standing there.
"Shit."
"Yeah. So I got a few calls that some pervert barged into the women's room."
I sighed. "I did, but I'm not a perv. We almost didn't make it. I just ran into the wrong bathroom. I'm sorry. I'm not from around here."
He gave me a stern look. "I can't just let this go. And you took a small child as well. This really doesn't look good."
"Come on. This is my daughter, and she's potty training," I tried to explain.
"Save it for the judge. I'm going to have to take you in."
"What the hell? For using a public restroom?"
"For using the women's room when you clearly are not one."
"Technically, I wasn't using it. She was."
"Your blaming this on your daughter?"
"Yeah."
"I went pee-pee in the potty," Lilah told him.
"You did so good, sweet pea. Look, at least let me take her to her mother and then we'll get all this sorted out. We're just visiting and don't want any trouble."
"Thomas?" I heard Lily yell.
"Over here."
I felt a relief when I saw her.
"I need you to take Lilah. I have to go down to the station with this fine young man," I said.
Lily scoffed. "Like hell you are."
She stared the man down.
"Miss. I'm sorry about this, but there was an incident. I received numerous calls and can't just let this go. I'm not sure where you folks are from, but here in San Marco we don't appreciate men invading the ladies' room."
"What? What did you do?" she asked me.
"I saw a bathroom, and I went for it. I didn't even notice which one. I just needed a bathroom."
"I went pee-pee, Mommy."
Lilah clapped for herself.
"Yay. Way to go, sweet girl. I'm so proud of you."
"It was close, but we made it. I really am sorry, sheriff. I don't know if you have children, but this was kind of a big deal for us."
"That's fine and all, but it's not okay, and so I'm going to need you to come down to the station with me for ticketing."
Lily snorted. "Who exactly are you?"
"Sheriff Lane Stoddard, ma'am."
"Oh, so you're new around here."
"I've been here a few years."
She rolled her eyes. "Like I said, new. Come with me."
"Ma'am?"
When he didn't move, she growled in frustration.
"Kyle! Get over here," she yelled.
We'd already begun to acquire an audience. The collective gasp was audible.
Much to poor Lane's surprise, Kyle jogged over to us.
"What's going on?" he asked and then stopped when he saw the Sheriff. "Lane?"
"I'm sorry, sir. This is just standard procedure, nothing that requires your involvement."
"Humor me," he said.
"This pervert came running into the women's room," someone from the crowd said.
"True. He's admitted it, sir. I was out for a walk when the calls came flooding in."
"Are you pressing charges?"
"I think we can let him off with a ticket. Apparently, he's just visiting."
"Kyle," I warned. My patience was starting to wear thin.
"I don't know, you should probably book him overnight. He could be a chronic pervert. We can't be too cautious here."
"Kyle," I said through gritted teeth.
"Uncle Kyle, I went pee-pee in the potty!" Lilah exclaimed before lunging for him.
He easily swept her up in his arms.
"Uncle?" Lane asked.
Kyle laughed. "Lane, let me introduce you to my sister, Lily, and her mate."
"Thomas Collier, Alpha of Collier Pack," Lane finished, and I was pretty sure he blanched.
"The one and only. Although we can now add pervert to his title," Kyle teased.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"I really am," he confessed before turning to the group. "How many of you were affected by this bathroom invasion?"
Several women came forward.
"I'd really like to hear your account of what happened."
"Well, I was coming out of the stall and going to wash my hands when this man comes running into the women's room. I thought he was on drugs or something. Chaos ensued, and we all ran out screaming."
"I had a baby with me," I argued, pointing to my daughter in Kyle's arms.
"Did this pervert do anything?"
"Like what, sir?"
"Like did he touch anyone inappropriately? Did he say anything at all?"
"I don't think so."
Everyone else around just shook their heads.
"I'm very sorry you were all inflicted by this perv . . ."
"Call me that one more time," I warned.
Kyle grinned. "Ladies, I really am sorry for this misunderstanding. This is my little sister, Lily. Many of you may remember her. And this is Lilah, her baby girl. Lilah is a big girl now and learning to use the big potty. For those of you who have or have had children, you know what a big deal it is when they tell you it's time to go. In the rush to get her to a toilet, Thomas, Lily's mate, Alpha of Collier Pack, panicked and ran to the closest potty he saw. And we had success, but I do apologize it was at the cost of all of you."
"I went potty!" Lilah said, clapping once more.
"Aw," the ladies said.
"I'm sorry. I really did panic, but we made it so I can't really be sorry about it. I am just sorry that I disturbed those of you in there."
"What do you say, ladies? Should we let Thomas off the hook with a warning this time?" Lane asked.
"Yes!" they agreed.
"Thanks," I muttered.
Finally able to move on, I walked back to the picnic.
"What was that all about?" Lizzy asked.
"You do not want to know."
Lily joined us.
"We're never talking about this again," I warned her.
"I know, but . . ."
"Not a word."
"I think Kyle took sick pleasure getting to bail you out."
I growled at him, but she just rolled her eyes.
"Not a word, got it."
Of course, there was nothing truly secret within a wolf Pack. Soon my whole family had heard the story, and I knew I was never going to live this down.