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I laughed and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “You say that now.”

The dinner became better once Missy settled in. Julie asked about the baby. Patty pulled Missy into a conversation about freelance work and childcare. Daniel found himself beside Jason and Byron discussing home repairs, which led to Hudson offering recommendations before remembering he was supposed to be hosting.

The shifters performed humanity with impressive commitment. Nobody mentioned shifting. Nobody discussed territorial boundaries. Trevor nearly referred to the council, then transformed the sentence into a complaint about city council waste collection.

It didn’t make sense, but Missy accepted it anyway.

Caldwell sat beside Owen on the floor and drew a picture of him. The baby ate part of the paper.

Missy apologized. “He doesn’t understand art.”

“He should learn,” Caldwell said.

Trevor crouched beside them. “Some critics destroy what they envy.”

Caldwell pursed his lips. “I’ll draw another.”

Dinner lasted nearly two hours. People ate until the first round of food disappeared, then found more dishes no one remembered putting out.

Hudson moved through the room, checking glasses, chairs, plates, and people.

I caught him halfway to the kitchen with a stack of dishes. “Put those down.”

He looked at me like I’d grown a third eye. “Why?”

“You’ve hosted enough.”

“These need to be washed.”

“Later.”

He looked around the kitchen. “We have limited counter space.”

“Yes, and your brothers have hands,” I said.

Jason passed at that moment. I transferred the plates to him.

He looked at Hudson. “You should sit.”

Hudson stared at both of us. “This was a coordinated attack, wasn’t it?” He sighed, but he sat beside me on the couch, and I curled into him.

He looked around the cottage. Everyone appeared comfortable.

“You did this,” I said.

“We did.”

“You bought the house.”

“You helped make it home.”

Across the room, Missy watched us. She smiled. That alone made the invitation worth it.

Owen became tired shortly after eight. His patience disappeared first. Then his interest in being held by anyone except his mother. He cried into Missy’s shoulder while she gathered the diaper bag and Daniel searched for one missing sock.

“I should get him home,” she said.

I patted her back. “Of course, we understand.”