Kenzie’s mother didn’t look amused. As Kenzie deposited her bowl in the sink, her mother stared her down. “Tell me this is some sort of joke? What, are you sick?”
“Nope. But I would be if I let you drag me to the mating event of the year.” Kenzie skirted her mother and hoped to escape the room before World War III broke out.
“Sit down.” Her mother was taking prisoners today. Great.
“Mom, I’m twenty-three. Don’t you think I should be allowed to make my own choices by now?” Kenzie worked hard to keep a whine out of her voice as she plopped back into the chair she’d vacated, careful not to scrape the floor. That wouldn’t make her sound as grown up as she insisted, and it sure wouldn’t help her case.
“As the oldest in this family, don’t you think you owe it to your sisters to attend with them? They’re counting on you for guidance. Reassurance.” Her mother sat in the chair Kath had vacated while Cassidy grabbed the orange juice and joined the bantering.
“Mom, they’re both grown adults themselves. They do not need me for anything. That’s ridiculous and you know it.”
“It’s typical for the oldest child to pave the way, so to speak.” Her mom lowered her voice to übercalm, as though it would change Kenzie’s mind. “Besides, we are so fortunate to live only fifteen minutes from the gathering. People come from all over the country to this event, and you take it for granted. You’re not getting any younger.”
“Good grief. Are we seriously having this conversation? Do you realize how absurd you sound? By human standards, I’m young.”
“You aren’t human, Mackenzie.” Her mother eyed her over the top of her glasses after she lowered them from her hair. They were a constant hairband when she wasn’t reading. Forever stuck in the soft brown curls all the women in the family sported.
“I don’t have any interest in playing nice with the other wolves in the mating dance, Mom. Sniffing each other out in that stupid replica of the one-minute dating game is barbaric.” She shivered as the thought and memories of the disaster from two years ago assaulted her. That event had not been kind to her.
No one knew what had happened when Kenzie was only nineteen, either. And she intended to keep it that way. Suffice it to say, she had no interest in the mating ritual.
“You do realize we live in the middle of Oklahoma, right? This isn’t exactly a prime area for finding a mate. If you don’t attend the gathering, you’re just blowing another opportunity.” Her mother shook her head in dismay.
Kenzie sighed. “I have a boyfriend. He’s perfect. I don’t need a wolf sticking his nose all up in my business.”
“Darrell’s gay,” Cassidy interjected. “And you know it. If you would stop spreading your feathers like a peacock for one minute, you’d see the truth of it.”
What the fuck? Sweet innocent Cassidy weighs in, and this is what she has to say? And what is this, gang up on Kenzie’s boyfriend day?
“Cassidy,” her mother admonished. “Watch your language.”
Cassidy smirked. “Gay? Mom, what’s wrong with the word gay?”
Her mother chose to ignore the comment.
Kenzie did not. “Why on earth would you say that?” Kathleen had implied something similar.
“Come on, Kenz. I have excellent gaydar, and you apparently do not.” Cassidy rolled her eyes.
“Stop it, girls. Listen, your father is going to be downstairs any minute. Please go get ready.” Her mother stood and turned toward the sink.
Kenzie narrowed her gaze at her mother’s back and fumed. She crossed her arms over her chest. She still wore a simple T-shirt and cotton shorts, the same thing she’d worn to bed last night. She’d have a longer leg to stand on if she didn’t still live with her parents. As it was, her degree in early childhood development had landed her a job at the local YMCA working with disabled children. She loved the work, but it didn’t pay well enough for her to move out of the house.
Her mother turned and leaned warily against the counter. “Why, Kenzie? Why can’t you just go along with the family and try to enjoy yourself?”
Because the stupid thing is a farce, and I can’t stand men pawing at me like I’m some kind of candy. It unnerved her. Especially after that crazy he-wolf had tried to corner her in the hall and make out with her, insisting she was “the one.” His breath had been revolting, and she’d had no feelings for him whatsoever. And she wasn’t even going to dip further back in the memory bank to the gathering before that one. A wise woman would seal that experience off eternally. She shivered. “I have a date with Darrell this evening.”