“Where are you going to go? At least let me help you get set up somewhere new.” Calix tried again.
“Ankeny isn’t a bad place. I bet they could use a good librarian,” Blade said in a low, gruff voice, surprising us all. Ghost gave him a stare that seemed to hold a warning, as did Hawk, but Blade looked away and ignored them with a shrug. “It was an idea,” he mumbled before lifting his beer to his mouth.
“Maybe,” Eliska said with her own shrug and cheeks that seemed a bit darker than before. “It’s pretty here with all the leaves changing. It reminds me a little of Tennessee.”
Hmmm.
“Well, then if Venom and the boys are okay with it, maybe I’ll stay here until you figure it out,” Calix smoothly murmured as he cast a calculating look at Blade.
Loralei started offering places she knew that might be hiring, and Voodoo’s ol’ lady, Kira, nodded. “I bet I could get you a job as a receptionist at the vet clinic until you find something. Laila is going to be starting as a tech in training, so you’d have a couple of familiar faces.”
Ghost’s head whipped to face me. “Oh?”
I gave him a cheesy grin. He knew when I was young I’d always wanted to be a veterinarian, but life had upended those plans. I loved animals, and the idea of working at the clinic excited me. My fingers sifted through Zaka’s thick black fur, and he sighed contentedly.
“Next thing you know, we’ll have one of those hairy beasts running around the house,” Ghost grumbled.
“Well, we have to find a house first.” I batted my eyes rapidly.
He dropped his head to the back of the couch with a huff. Everyone laughed.
I leaned over and kissed his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll always love you most,” I teased with an impish grin.
His hand cupped the back of my head, and he pressed his forehead to mine as he gazed into my eyes. “Not as much as I love you,” he whispered.
“Show me how much later?” I whispered back.
The corner of his mouth kicked up.
“Absolutely.”