Rebel Moon

Chapter Five - Play Date

Chapter Five - Play Date

William

I had a big date on Thursday, and I wanted to look my best.  I was freshly shaven, had on a pair of grey trousers, and my favorite blue polo-shirt.  I inspected myself in the bathroom mirror.  I’m tall, like my father, but in every other way I resemble my mother.  I’m slim and muscular, but not brawny.  I have the body of a dancer.  I smoothed back my blond hair, adjusted my collar, and nodded at my reflection before I went to pick up my date from the nursery. 

As soon as she saw me, her blue-grey eyes lit up, and she came running as fast as her chubby little legs could take her.  “Weeyum!” She ran into my legs and wrapped her arms around my knees.  I bent down and scooped her up into my arms. 

“Hey beautiful!  Are you ready?” 

“Yes!  Ready!” 

Daisy smiled at me and handed me her pink diaper bag.  “I just changed her, so she’s all fresh and ready to go.”  I noticed that Daisy’s smile was still somewhat subdued, and her big blue eyes had lost some sparkle. 

“Hey... are you okay?”  I knew she was still upset about the whole business with Gabe, and his hang up about being a human mated with a werewolf. 

She shrugged, “I don’t know.  We’ll work it out, I guess.” 

“Did you talk to Nina?” 

Daisy shook her head, making her blond curls dance, “Not yet.” 

I adjusted Raine so she was resting comfortably on my hip.  “You should talk to her, Daisy.  She’s not just your Luna, she’s your friend.  She can help.  If nothing else, she can listen.” 

“I know,” Daisy sighed as one of the three year olds knocked over a box of crayons.  “You guys get going, have fun okay?” 

“Bye-bye!” Raine waved merrily, and rocked in my arms, trying to get me to move toward the door.  “Ready, Weeyum!” 

I shouldered her bag and poked her in the belly.  “Okay, Miss Impatient.  Where are we going today?” 

“Park!” 

“Park?” I carried her out to my car while we continued the conversation.  “I thought perhaps we’d go out for sushi.” 

“Ice cream!” 

“Ice cream”?  What, no sushi?”  Well, I can’t complain, at least she’s a cheap date.  I buckled her into her car seat.  With the five-point harness and the special headrest, she looked like she was ready to drive a racecar.  I handed her the tired looking teddy bear that had been her favorite since she had started to crawl.  She snuggled him close and gave me a beautiful, toothy smile. 

We drove twenty minutes into the nearest human town.  It wasn’t much of a town, but it did have a kids, play-park, with colorful jungle-gyms and swings and slides.  I unbuckled Raine and set her loose inside the grassy, fenced area.  She ran straight for the nearest slide, her little face screwed up in determination and concentration as she pulled herself up the stairs.  I was impressed with her courage.  What other not-quite two-year-old would do that?  She arranged herself at the top of the slide, and I went to the bottom to catch her.  She squealed with delight as she let go and slid down into my arms.  As soon as I put her feet back on the ground, she was running for something else. 

It’s a sad statement of my love-life that date-day with my two year old niece was the highlight of my week.  But at least it got me away from the pack house for a few hours.  I could set aside my duties and responsibilities as beta and just unwind.  I didn’t have to think about anything else besides pushing her on the swing, or chasing her around the grass.  Raine is one of those kids that just makes you feel good.  She radiates this kind of calm and peacefulness that just saturated your soul.  And when she laughs it lights you up inside. 

When she was starting to get tired, we packed it in and headed for a family restaurant that served great ice cream.  I sat on one side of the booth, and the waitress brought a wooden highchair for Raine.  I set a paper kids menu in front of her.  “What will it be today, squirt?”  I always asked, even though she always pointed her finger at the same item every time.  An upside-down ice cream cone arranged to look like a clown head.  And I always got my favorite caramel sundae with coffee ice-cream.  The usual waitress came and smiled at us.  She was a short, older lady with glasses and curling grey hair.  She flirted with Raine for a moment before she straightened and took our order.  “The usual?” she asked, her pen poised over her order pad. 

“You know it,” I gave her my most charming smile.  “And if I could have a glass of water with lemon on the side?” 

“You got it,” she hurried away, and I relaxed back and focused my attention on my niece.  I gave her a crayon, and she scribbled while  I went to work meticulously coloring a blue flower.  I was so into my coloring, that I didn’t even notice the person standing over our table until he spoke. 

“Cute kid.  Is she yours?” 

I looked up, way up, into the laughing hazel eyes of Michael Bishop.  He looked different today, more relaxed.  He’d traded in his board room suit for pair of snug fitting jeans, a grey t-shirt, and a leather jacket. 

“Hi,” I said a little uncertainly.  The guy was hot, but I wasn’t going to let him un-nerve me.  I hadn’t forgotten the way he basically insulted me, and insulted our whole pack at the meeting.  “This is my niece, Raine.” 

I was surprised when Bishop squatted down beside her.  “Hey Raine.  Whatcha drawing?” 

Raine blinked at him and paused her crazy scribbling.  She pointed at her masterpiece.  “Horses.” 

“Wow, awesome.  And I see your uncle is coloring flowers.”  He turned his attention back to me.  “Do you mind if I join you?” 

He motioned to the empty booth across from me.  Do I mind?  I don’t know.  But before I could even decide whether to invite him to sit with us, or to politely refuse him, he was already sliding his big body into the plastic seat.  His legs were so long that our knees bumped under the table.  I couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing here.  He seemed weirdly out of place in a family diner. 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day,” he said smoothly.  “Can we start over.  Hi, I’m Mike.” He offered his hand across the table. 

I looked at his big hand suspiciously before I was overcome by the good manners my mother had drilled into me.  I took his hand.  “William.” 

He didn’t let go of my hand.  His long fingers squeezed mine, and I didn’t miss the meaning.  Alpha Michael Bishop was flirting with me.  I’ve always been confident, self-assured, in control, but I found myself rather tongue tied and distracted by the spicey scent of his cologne.  “Do you come here often?” 

I disengaged my hand and glanced back at Raine, who was still happily coloring on her kids’ menu.  “Yes, actually.” I said with a smile.  “We have a standing play-date.” 

“She’s a cutie.  My sister has got a bunch of kids, but they live out in Rochester, so I hardly ever get to see them.” 

Okay, so this was weird, making small talk with the alpha.  I had to remind myself that the last time I saw this guy, he was a total asshole.  I straightened my spine.  “So, what do you want, Mike?” 

He raised one of those thick, arched eyebrows at me.  “I want to get to know you.” He flashed that devilish grin at me.  “Maybe we could arrange a playdate, for the two of us.”