“I told you I wasn’t imagining things. You’re bigger now.” I rose from the bed and walked to him. My hand rested on the hard muscles under his shirtsleeve. “I can’t say I’m bothered by the end result. And I’d thought you couldn’t get any hotter.…” I rocked up on my tiptoes and kissed the curve of his jaw.
Daniel made an appreciative noise. “You looking to calm your nerves before we go?” He bent his head down so his lips could meet mine. Just as I thought he was about to kiss me, his head snapped up at the sound of the apartment door opening. “We’ve got company.”
I let go of Daniel’s arm and turned toward the door to find Brent, Ryan, and Zach crowded in the doorway. Slade stood farther behind them on the concrete stairs that led down to the apartment.
“We heard voices down here,” Ryan said. “Thought we should check it out. Didn’t want anyone breaking into alpha’s place while he’s gone.”
Brent elbowed Ryan in the chest and then gestured to Daniel, who stood behind me. “Doesn’t look like he’s gone anymore.”
“Holy crap,” Ryan said. “Is that really you?”
“Last time I checked,” Daniel said.
“Holy crap!” Ryan bounded into the apartment and came right up to us like an excited pup. Brent and Zach followed. Slade stood in the doorway, looking so shocked I might say he was actually a bit frightened.
“I can’t believe it,” Ryan said. “I guess I lost Slade’s betting pool. I didn’t think we’d see you in human form until Thanksgiving, at least.”
“You bet a year from next March,” Brent said to Ryan.
Ryan reeled on him. “No. I. Didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. I’ve got all the bets written down.” Brent stuck his hand in his pocket, and Ryan made a move to pounce on him.
“Guys,” I said. “Seriously?”
Ryan and Brent dropped their argument and looked at me.
“I guess it’s time you officially met the lost boys,” I said to Daniel.
“Lost boys? You mean like that old Kiefer Sutherland movie?”
“What? No, I mean like Peter Pan and the lost boys.”
“Is she calling us fairies?” Slade asked.
“No,” Brent said. “She means the lost boys who never wanted to grow up, and got into mischief with Peter Pan.”
“Still sounds like fairies to me.” Slade crossed his tattooed arms in front of his chest.
“Still sounds like that Kiefer Sutherland movie to me.” Daniel smirked.
“We were in the play together, like, seven years ago. You were mad because my mom made you wear tights, but you wanted to be a pirate.”
Daniel held his hand up. “Partial amnesia here, remember? I must have blocked out any and all recollections associated with said tights.”
Brent, Zach, and Ryan laughed. Slade almost cracked a smile.
“Well, anyway,” I said, “I was trying to say that it’s about time you met your pack.”
“In person, that is.” Daniel stretched his hand out toward Zach. “I’m sorry, like I said, my memory is a little messed up. I don’t remember names.”
“This is Zach,” I said as Daniel shook hands with him. “The youngest is Ryan. The obnoxious one is Brent.”
“I respect that assessment,” Brent said, and awkwardly bumped knuckles with Daniel instead of a handshake.
“And this is Slade.” I gestured to him in the doorway.
Daniel stuck his fist out toward Slade, and I swear the tattooed-covered street racer flinched away from it at first. After what seemed like a second of contemplation, he smacked his fist down on top of Daniel’s. A typical guy greeting.
“But there were five of you, weren’t there?” Daniel turned back to Ryan and the others. “Where is he?”
“Marcos.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “He died in the explosion at the warehouse.”
The boys dropped their heads, as if in a moment of silence for their friend.
Daniel nodded. “I remember feeling your loss.”
“We should probably get going. I’ve already sent a text asking for the meet-up.”
“Right,” Daniel said.
“What’re you up to?” Ryan asked.
“We’ve got a matter to take care of.” I picked up the Corolla keys from the sofa bed. “Might get a little dicey.”
“Bring us,” Ryan said. “For backup.”