#Chapter 34 – The Date

“Victor!” I call, following my boys as they dash into his house.

“Papa!”

“Daddy, we’re here!” I raise my eyebrows, laughing. Perhaps we didn’t need to all shout at once.

Victor comes from around the corner, smiling. “Hey, boys!” He says, dropping to one knee so that he can wrap them both up in a hug together.

I smile at the three of them, tucking a strand of newly-shiny hair behind my ear. I worked for a whole hour, putting together my look tonight. Approximately 55 minutes longer than I usually spend, but the result, I think, has paid off.

Victor looks up at me, and I get confirmation of this via the surprise on his face. “Wow, Evie,” he says. “You look…” he clears his throat and looks away from me for a moment, standing up. “You look dressed up.”

“I am.” I say, dipping a tiny curtsy as a joke.

“She looks amaaaazing” Alvin says, with stars in his eyes.

“She looks like a princess!” Ian confirms, clinging to Victor’s leg and smiling at me. So nice, I think, to have my own little fan section to cheer me on. Victor laughs, probably glad for the distraction.

“What’s the occasion?” He asks.

“Just out for the night,” I say. “Thank you for agreeing to take the boys on short notice.”

“No problem,” Victor says. “I had no plans. And we’re going to learn to play football!” he cheers.

Ian makes a face. “Mommy says football is a game for people with no imagination.”

Victor narrows his eyes at Ian in mock fury. “That means mommy has no imagination.” Ian laughs.

“Mommy is lying to you, daddy,” Alvin says quietly, his own face very serious.

Victor looks between us, seeking the joke, but there is none. Alvin is dead serious. “She is?” Victor asks. “About what?”

“She is not going out for the night. She is going on a date.”

goes out for the night during a date,” I say, making a face at my

as he steps closer to his father, clearly showing where his loyalties lie.

and laugh. “One need not divulge all details of their business,” I say to

old,” Victor says, a little awe in his voice. “How can he possibly be learning the

very clever, dad.” Ian says seriously. “Don’t

“Go ahead in the living room,” he says to the boys, “Amelia put out

boys close and giving each a peck as they pass me on their way to the living room and Victor’s big screen

date?” Victor says, and I realize that he’s standing next to

cheerful. “I’m

he says, continuing his interrogation, “is this

it any of

condescending, “your my sons’ mother, everything you do

incredulously. “Does that mean that everything you

being deliberately

and

who you’re going out with? It would be different, obviously, if I wasn’t who I am. But as a major political figure, I have enemies, and there could be a subset of the

up. “I’m going out with Edgar, that Beta you set to patrol outside my house. Considering that you’ve already given him a background check, and trained him yourself on

“What?” Victor is incredulous.

you not background check him? That’s your

he sputters, “you can’t go out with a Beta,

“Why the hell not?!”

putting aside the argument that he’s far beneath you in

myself. “I’m

of Alpha boys, and thus have a responsibility to date within your class, Edgar is

you please just back off? It’s a date. It’s one

turn into ten, which could turn into an engagement, a marriage

my temper. “I can date who I want, and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter if this

grabbing my arm.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255