Etti

Etti sighed as she looked around the gorgeous suite at the infamous Dauphine Orleans Hotel. Everything was so beautiful, and it made Etti bitterly jealous that they weren’t here just to enjoy themselves. “Cali, you didn’t have to do this.”

“I know. But I wanted to,” Cali replied. “The last few months haven’t been easy on any of us. We have to make the most of every moment, right?”

“Right,” Etti murmured, taking in the view from her balcony.

Cali sprung for two suites next to each other so she and Wes could be close by if Izzi needed them. Etti had definitely made the right choice as far as godparents.

She gazed out to the beautiful pool in the courtyard below where Grey and Wes were basking in the last of the afternoon sunshine with Izzi. They were pointing out the bright bougainvillea blooms to her and making silly faces. It made Etti want to cry. These people were her family. She loved them beyond words and the thought of losing them had been way too real today.

Cali took Etti’s hand. “You deserve to be happy, Etti. Take your moments when you can get them.”

Etti looked into her petite friend’s blue eyes and smiled, feeling the gloom of the past few hours lift momentarily. Cali’s endless optimism always had that effect on Etti and she was glad that the tiny shifter was her best friend’s mate.

“Thanks,” Etti said, squeezing Cali’s hand back. “You both deserve happiness too, ya know?” she said nodding toward Wes.

“I know,” Cali murmured, love filling her eyes as she stared at Wes. “We’ll have our time.”

Greyson

Grey finally got Etti to relax enough to join everyone on their adjoining balcony after they settled into the hotel. The sun had gone down and they’d all ordered room service for dinner. But Etti had been distraught since they arrived in New Orleans too late to get into the St. Louis Cemetery. Apparently after it’d been vandalized a number of times, only guided tours were permitted and they’d missed the last one of the day.

When the cemetery attendant told them it was closed for the day, Grey had feared Etti would shift and leap over the fence to get the job done. Luckily, he convinced her getting shot at by New Orleans police wasn’t going to help anyone.

Dinner and a shower had taken a bit of the edge off, but Etti was still chewing her lip with worry as they listened to the soft sounds of jazz drifting from the Quarter.

“So,” Wes said cheerfully. “Since we can’t get into the cemetery until tomorrow, I say we go out and enjoy the town tonight.” He bounced Izzi on his knee. “What’d ya say, Izzi? Wanna go out on the town with your Uncle Wes?”

“What do you think, Etti?” Grey asked. He was pretty sure a night out was the last thing Etti wanted, but he knew Wes was trying to distract her from her worries. “It might be fun. We didn’t really get to enjoy New Orleans the last time we were here.”

“The girls at work are always saying the Spotted Cat has the best jazz,” Cali added. “And it’s rumored to be run by shifters.”

“I saw that place on our way in,” Wes replied. “Let’s go.”

Cali looked back at Etti and Grey. “Only if we all go. I don’t want to leave them alone . . . just in case.”

“Come on, Etti,” Wes whined. “Dancing is good for the soul!”

Grey looked at his mate, sensing her anxiety. He needed to be gentle, to remind her that it was her choice and that he’d back her up either way. “I’m in if you are?”

Etti loosed a breath. “Fine. But I don’t have anything to wear.”

“I’ve got you covered!” Cali squealed dragging Etti by the arm until they disappeared into Cali and Wes’s suite.

Grey looked shocked. He thought Etti would have skinned Cali before conceding to be dragged into her room for fashion advice.

Wes only laughed, sensing Grey’s mood. “I don’t know how Cali gets away with half the shit she does. Etti would’ve taken my head off for something like that.”

Grey laughed. “Mine, too.”