“We don’t need babysitters,” Irene muttered, brushing past him. “But since you’re here, you might as well join us for lunch.”
She sounded annoyed and unlike herself. I knew it had something to do with Chuck; she was hardening her heart because of him.
“I could eat,” Erik said with a shrug.
As we walked, Erik leaned in closer to me.
“What crawled up her ass?” He whispered, as if Irene couldn’t hear us with her wolf’s hearing.
I gave him a look.
“Not the time,” I muttered.
“You’re in a bad mood too?” He asked, raising his brows. “Is everyone in a bad mood?”
“I’m not,” Nan said with a bright smile. “I’m in a great mood.”
“Then I’ll stick by your side,” Erik said, moving to the other side of me where Nan walked. “These two are seriously about to give me gray hair.”
Nan laughed. The two of them continued to talk while I caught up with Irene.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked her.
She glanced at me, her eyes showcasing her sadness.
“Not right now,” she said with a soft sigh. “I’m assuming my father doesn’t want us going to Jeremy’s territory to confront Chuck…”
“It’s not that… it’s just… well… I mean… yeah,” I finally confessed. “But he said we can talk about it later.”
“It’s not fair,” she said, shaking her head. “Everybody gets to be happy except for me. Am I doomed to be alone forever? Is that my fate? First, my chosen mate… and now my true mate… what’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing is wrong with you, Irene,” I assured her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “You are incredible and deserve all the happiness in the world. Also, you’re a Landry for crying out loud. Chuck is an idiot to play you like this, and even if he’s not exactly playing you, he’s an idiot for not cherishing you in the way that he should.
“I was thinking that maybe I’m just unlovable.” “That’s the furthest thing from the truth,” I told her. “These men are just assholes.
But that’s no fault of yours.” She let out a breath and, through her tear-filled eyes, she rewarded me with a smile.
“You know… it may be weird to call you mom, but you make a really good one.”
My cheeks flushed at the compliment, and I had to look away from her.
“You think so?”
“I know so,” she said, her eyes lighting up a bit. “I never had a mom because mine died when I was born. And you might be my best friend, but you are the closest thing I have to a an actual mom. So, thanks for being here.
My heart swelled from her words. I was glad to be there for her in a way that a mom would be. It made me feel good inside.
We finally reached the Carter resort restaurant for a late lunch. Amelia, a new waitress at the resort, immediately greeted us. Nan personally trained her before she left to pursue her own dreams of owning a restaurant. “Hey, Mia,” Nan greeted, giving her a quick hug. “Mind if we get a table?”
“Only if I can be your waitress,” Mia said, shifting her gaze to Irene for a moment. Even I could see the dollar signs in Amelia’s eyes Anybody around here would want to serve a Landry’s table because they always tip well.
Nan taught her that information, and it proved true on many occasions. Nan just laughed as she said, “Of course.”
Amelia beamed and brought us towards a booth near a window that overlooked the harbor.
“Take a minute to look over the menus, and I’ll be right back,” she said after she finished pouring us glasses of water.
After she left us alone, Erik leaned in and dropped his voice to a whisper.