Page 79 of Now Their Starlet

“That can be arranged. I’m sure your new bedroom has a bathtub we can use together.”

Her eyes flare wide, and her chamomile perfume sweetens with the notes of thick honey.

“You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed,” I murmur, flashing her a cheeky grin. “I have a secret to tell you, too.”

“What?” The single word leaves her lips breathy and light.

“I missed you so much, I started drinking chamomile tea every day. I’d close my eyes and imagine you while I drank it.”

“The idiot would practically make out with his teacups,” Eli snorts from beside me, seemingly growing impatient with me for hogging her.

“You would?” she giggles.

The sound makes all five of us freeze in place. It’s light, almost musical. It’s the first sign of our Andi, the one not carrying the weight of this bullshit situation with her mother, that we’ve seen so far.

“He totally would,” Eli says, clearing his throat and stepping up beside us.

“I hate to interrupt, but we should move this reunion to one of the private rooms,” Charles says.

“He’s right,” Everett says, his eyes darting around the room.

While there aren’t any cameras allowed in this room, it’s not outside the realm of possibility for a reporter to be present in the audience that’s still lingering around. Press passes aren’t required for probate court.

“Alright,” I say, lacing my hand in Andi’s.

My cheeks hurt from how much I’m smiling. “Ready to go, Starlight?”

“Yeah.” She nods.

“I’ll meet you all at home,” Edison says, offering Andi a warm smile.

“Are you sure?” she asks, her brows raising in surprise, almost like she half expected Edison to control where she could and couldn’t go like her mom.

“Yes. Of course,” he says, his expression growing serious. “And I meant it when I said you all. There’s more than enough space for your pack, Andi.”

“O—oh,” she says, her hand squeezing mine as she offers a jerky nod. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” he murmurs softly.

“We’ve all basically moved in, anyway,” I whisper, loud enough for everyone to hear. I manage to squeeze out a chuckle or two out of the other guys.

“I’ve been quite fond of the company,” Edison says. “Anyway, I will leave you all to it. Let me know when you’re headed back. I’ll order us all some takeout.”

“Th—thank you,” Andi says, her voice thick with emotion. “I know you said not to thank you, but I’m serious.”

I offer Andi a little nudge, and she lets go of my hand in order to offer her dad a hug.

I’m practically preening as Charles leads us through the courthouse towards one of the private rooms, away from prying eyes and ears.

I don’t know how we’re going to navigate the whole pack thing in the media, but in the meantime, I get to be the one holding her hand in public. And I sure as hell won’t complain about that.

“Enough hogging her,” Eli huffs, the moment the door closes behind us.

“Hogging?” Andi huffs as Eli reaches out, resting his large hand at the back of her neck and using that grip to tug her closer to him. She wraps her arms around him as he practically envelops her small form.

“Yeah, hogging,” Eli grunts.

“That makes me sound like a toy.”