unwanted

chapter sixteen

undistinguished

Only one person at the long table was surprised to see her and Julian suddenly standing in front of them. Jessica. Her mouth dropped, and her eyes widen.

Annie clapped and jumped up and down in her seat. "Oh goody, you made it. Grammy made potato corn soup. It's my favorite."

Jess narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "You have some explaining to do, Lucy."

The other girl giggled. "Did it work? Did you see him?"

"That's beside the point. You could have killed my ass."

"Not likely. I love your gift! Way cooler than mine."

Jess checked around the table to see if anyone else was surprised by this last bit of news and still only Jessica. She turned her accusing eyes on Adrian. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was drawn to her, but I wasn't exactly sure why. I figured she'd let us know when she was ready."

Her face tightened. "You didn't think you should tell me she was your mate while I was trying to swallow your tongue?"

He blanched. "She can't be my mate. She's just a ch_____."

"That's getting old." Jess marched around the table and pushed Annie's hair out of the way, so she could have a look. Finding what she was looking for, she lifted an eyebrow at Adrian.

Poor man looked like he was about to be sick.

Giggling some more, Annie swatted Jess's hand away. "Stop being silly. He's not my mate. Your friend is."

Julian and Jess looked at each other but the child only giggled some more.

"Not him either. The tough looking, cute one."

"You're going to need to be more specific than that."

Instead of saying more, she raised the sleeve of her dress.

Jess nearly pissed herself. She laughed out loud. This was too priceless. Seeing Julian's confused look, she smiled. "Frick. I swear to God I have to be there when he meets her."

"If it's her and Frick then why do her and Adrian have the same tattoo?"

Damn good question.

"Maybe you should ask him how he found everyone." Grammy offered as she slurped on her soup.

"I think we should wait until the younger kids leave_____."

"No way, bucko. There's not one person at this table who doesn't know that there's something going on around here. Except for Jessica and that's because she doesn't pay attention to anybody but you. Spill it, Adrian."

"Very well but I don't have much to tell. I was on the way home when I got a feeling that I had to keep going so I did. I found Jaymes and Grammy first then we found Annie roaming around in Austin. A couple of weeks later I got that feeling again and I went and found Fritz and Rob. He was the only one left in his family and Fritz found him just in time and had been taking care of him ever since. Sean and Jessica were in a small town in north Alabama. I was drawn to you and Julian last."

"And Marty and Paula?"

"That was different. I was drawn to Paula's pain and suffering. I stumbled onto Marty. With everyone else I had to find them, I needed them as much as I knew they needed me." He looked around the table. "It's like they're a part of me."