“She makes me hard all right. The way I like it.” Kade smiled and waggled his eyebrows.
“Easy, Secret Santa.” Luca crossed the room. “It’s the busiest time of year. We’ve got Kate and she’s looking forward to Santa coming and we’ve still got presents to wrap and with this wedding…”
“Are you getting cold feet?” Kade lifted the piping hot concoction to his lips and blew softly upon the froth.
“Samantha’s been, how should I say…‘saving herself’ for tomorrow night.” Luca gave an audible sigh. “It’s been a damn month already and I’m just about over the celibacy routine.”
“So this is what makes the vampire even more irritable than usual. No sex?” Kade chuckled and sipped his drink. “Good stuff. You’re missing out, man.”
“What about Sydney?” Luca changed the subject.
“What about her?” Kade’s smile fell flat.
“You know what I’m talking about. Zach. How’s she handling it?”
“Not well. Of course you know Syd. It’s not like I catch her crying all the time, but I know she does. She’s been a bit distant but somehow she keeps pushing, going to work, still planning the wedding.” Kade shook his head. “I miss him too. It’s crazy we got to the point we thought he’d stay with us, but we did. There wasn’t any guarantee we could keep him. I knew better but it’s just…he’s my son.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“I should have never let myself get so attached. It’s been years since I’ve even thought about this being a possibility. You know how it is when you’re turned. It took me a long time to accept I wasn’t ever having children. But eventually you do accept it. Life goes on. You tell yourself that creating others in your line will satisfy that need. Someone to look after if you choose. Your daughter is an exception. She truly is a blessing from the Goddess. Look. There’s no use in ruminating over it. I’ve come to terms. We’ll try again to adopt. But Sydney. She’s new to all this. She hasn’t had a lifetime as a vampire. When she found Zach…and then the dipshit came back to claim him…she’s heartbroken.”
“I get it. Seriously, now that Kate is in our lives,” Luca gave a small laugh, “I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s my world.”
“You’re a lucky man.”
“You’ll adopt someday. You and Sydney deserve happiness.”
“I don’t think she still wants to get married,” Kade confessed.
“Sydney? Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure. I don’t know. After everything went down…when I turned her.”
“But she forgave you. Accepted it.”
“Yeah but everything has changed for her. Maybe because she’s immortal, it’s easier for her to bury her feelings, to shove off the wedding. We have eternity after all.”
“Did she say she wasn’t going to marry you?”
“No, but she won’t wear my ring. She won’t even talk about getting married.”
“Maybe you need to turn on that British charm and woo her.”
Kade briefly closed his eyes and laughed. “Did you just say ‘woo her’?”
“What’s so funny, mate?”
“I can’t believe how much things have changed.” The sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted their conversation.
“Expecting someone?”
“It’s a surprise.” Kade gave a wide smile.
“I don’t like surprises,” Luca muttered.
“You’ll like this one.”
“You want me to answer it?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I don’t like surprises,” he repeated.
“I heard you the first time. Sure you don’t want a latte?”
“I’ll take a chicory,” Luca said as he left to go open the door.
“You got it.” Kade slid a fresh mug into the machine and pressed the button, smiling as he anticipated Luca’s reaction. He had a love/hate relationship with their old Alpha friend, Tristan Livingston.
Three. Two. One. Kade smiled to himself as he heard the ruckus erupt from the foyer.
“Hey Tris,” Kade called as he prepared the coffee. He glanced to Luca who barreled into the kitchen and shook his head.
“Can you believe this guy?” Tristan asked Kade with a casual smile. He laughed and set his sights on Luca. “What’s up big man? Why the frown? You know you’re lucky I came. Not everyone gets to have the Alpha attend their wedding.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me?” A corner of his lips turned upward, and he stifled his laughter. “Consider this a revocation of your invitation.”
“I see the witch hasn’t helped your personality.”
“Fuck off, wolf.”
“And fuck you too.” Tristan laughed, his eyes wide with amusement. “Boys, we are gonna have a happy fucking day. Yes we are.”
“Alpha,” Kade called toward his old friend.
“Yo, brotha.” Tristan rushed the vampire and gave him a burly hug.
“Tris.” Kade patted him on the back. He’d missed the Alpha. “Starting up already, boys? You’re both going to have to answer to Sydney if you keep up the cursing.”
“He fucking started it,” Luca grumbled.
“All I said was that I could kick his ass in HALO. He’s a little bitch.” Tristan chuckled.
“I already beat you,” Luca shot back
“That was a short game. He cheated.” Tristan turned to Kade. “Come on. You were there. You saw it.”
“We’ll have a rematch,” Kade suggested.
“The wolf is delusional. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.” Luca gave a side eye toward Tristan and reached for his mug.
The Alpha glanced to Kade. “Lattes?”
“You want one?”
“Yeah, sure,” Tristan said. Kade reached for a mug but the Alpha held out a hand to stop him. “I got it. I got it. So what’s up? Big day tomorrow, huh?”
“You bet,” Kade agreed.
“You know what I think,” Tristan continued, still taking jabs at Luca, “I think this wedding shit has sent all the blood to his cock. Yeah, that’s gotta be it because no one thinks they can dethrone me. My HALO record stands for itself. I am the king of the game. I am the master.”
“He’s been practicing,” Kade told Tristan with a laugh. “You created a monster.”
“Soon I won’t have time anyway. I’ll be playing Minecraft.” Luca smiled into his chicory.
“He’s just fucking with me now.” Tristan laughed.
“I’ve got a toddler. They grow up fast,” he insisted.
Tristan’s grin broadened. “I’m pretty sure I’ve stepped into an alternative universe down here in Nawlins.”
“You know what’s happening. He’s getting married,” Kade responded.
“Ah yes. Humans and their traditions,” Tristan mused as he prepared his coffee.
“I’m a vampire. Don’t fucking start with that shit,” Luca shot back.