69. Love and Watermelons
“Alli, what’re you doing?” Seff wondered.
“Look, I’m gonna have the gold Alpha’s babies!” Allium giggled, showing off the small watermelon she’d shoved under her shirt, admiring herself in the reflection of the glass of the oven.
They were in Seff’s kitchen. Her father, Alarik, was out playing with her older brothers. Wisteria and Rush dropped Allium off to go on a hunt, leaving Linden to let the two young pups play around the big apartment.
“My mom says we’re too little for that,” Seff told her even though she glanced at the other watermelon on the counter. “We’re only eight.”
“Yeah, but our scents will change soon.” Allium’s tone was superior, as if she was trying to be grown up. “And we’ll Present as Omegas and then we’ll be Chosen to have Kiran’s puppies.”
“Then we won’t be little anymore!”
“Exactly!” Allium tried to pull the watermelon free—but she let go. “Oh no!”
The fruit hit the floor and exploded, splattering them with its cold, pink insides.
Linden came running into the kitchen. “Seff, Alli!” She saw the two standing frozen and staring up at her in surprise. The worry turned to exasperation. “Oh, you two always get into such shenanigans. Come on, let’s take a bath.”
She took each of their hands in hers, pulling them into the bathroom and starting the water. She helped tug their shirts and pants off, setting them inside the warm tub.
“What’s *shen-shena*—” Allium tried to sound out, at the same time Seff mumbled, “Sorry, Mama.”
Linden sometimes had a small tolerance for Seff’s antics, often giving her stern looks and scolding her, but today she seemed to be in a good mood. She wet a cloth and wiped away each pup’s face. “Shenanigans,” she sounded out. “It means you get in a lot of trouble.” To her daughter, she tapped her nose lightly with a soft smile. “Don’t be sorry, sweet wolf.”
Seff beamed. They finished getting clean and Linden dressed them in fresh clothes, sitting them on the couch so she could slice the other watermelon into slices. The three ate their snack while Linden told them silly stories. Even when the whole apartment smelled like watermelon, Seff couldn’t stop smiling, because her mom was happy and her best friend was sitting pressed up against her.
Later when it was time for bed, they climbed under the cover together and pulled it over their heads to whisper in the dark. After a while of making up silly stories and they rolled over to sleep, Allium suddenly said, “I love you, Seff.”
Seff’s smile faded. Her mom often told her dad how much she loved him, and her dad said it back with a big smile. They both told her brothers that they loved them. Her mom and her dad and her brothers told *her* how much they loved her. The Bleize family would always curl up in a big pile at night and watch the stars through the living room window until they fell asleep. Before they did, they’d all say, *Goodnight. Love you.*
Seff knew love was a very good thing. Linden said it was supposed to make you feel all mushy and happy on the inside. Allium made her feel all mushy and happy on the inside, but they never said I love you before, really. They said, *Bye, love ya!* but never a soft, *I love you*.
Her hand searched for Allium’s. When they clasped fingers together, she whispered, “I love you, too, Allium.”
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