Chapter 65 #2
Because yes, I do pay myself. My business bank account balance is larger, mainly because I’m thrifty, but I don’t want to fry his brain any worse than it already is.
His eyes bug out and I think he’s going to choke again but I arch an eyebrow at him. “No more arguing, okay? I’m no Saudi prince, but buying us a good set of rings, the rings, the rings that we want, won’t hurt me in the least. We’ll get a pair of silicone rings for when we’re working.”
I turn him back to the display case and indicate the higher-end rings on display while Thekla smiles from behind the counter as she watches us together.
“Now pick what you really want. I like most of these.” I indicate which ones.
“I’m not really fond of those”—I point again—“but pick what you want, baby. If I don’t like it, we’ll negotiate.
And stop worrying about the fricking price.
We only get to shop for wedding bands the first time this one time. And we can afford it.”
“You can,” he mutters, and I know how he means it, but I sense another rule about to kick in.
I gently take him by the shoulders, turn him to face me, and wait until he looks me in the eyes.
“I love you. You’re my mate, and I hope we have many, many long years together.
What I have is now also yours. If I need to rein in your spending, I will.
We’re not buying Ferraris or Bugattis. We’re not buying a private jet.
You see how I live; I’m not a fancy guy.
I do understand what you went through. Mom and I had nothing when we escaped after Dad was murdered.
I want a solid roof over my head, good and plentiful food, comfortable clothes, and a truck that runs when I turn the key.
I want a bug-free bed to sleep in.” I cup his face in my hands and kiss him.
“And I want you. This is me—this is the real me, all of me.”
Mal takes a shaky breath and nods, offering me a nervous smile. “Love you,” he tells me silently.
I return his smile and lean in, my forehead pressed to his. “You just wait until the doc clears you to have fun again, baby.” I nuzzle him. “And just wait until you’re healed up after our baby’s born and you hit your next heat. I’ll get started on number two immediately.”
His audible gulp makes me giggle in sadistic glee, especially when he reaches out and grabs me because his knees nearly unhinge with need.
“That’s not fair to tease me like that,” he whines.
I laugh. “But it worked, didn’t it?” I say aloud, turning him—once again—to the display cases. “Now choose what you want.”
We don’t hit the grocery store immediately. First, we stop and I buy him a new smartphone on my account, a tablet, and a laptop, because I don’t want there to be any risk of him being tracked via his electronics no matter how careful he was.
On the ride home with the groceries, out of the corner of my eye, I catch him staring at the ring on his left hand, the match to mine, and I can’t help but smile. The way mine flashes in the light as I drive makes my heart squeeze in a good way each time.
I hope to hell I never take this feeling for granted, either.
I reach over with my right hand and squeeze his left. “I will be throwing you a wedding one day,” I swear. “Or we can have one now and just not file paperwork on it, you know.”
There’s a wistful smile on his face. “I kind of hope we can do it so Mom can attend. I know that probably won’t ever happen, but…” He shrugs. “You know?”
I do know. And I silently vow that if it’s possible to make it happen, I will make it happen.
Somehow.
I drive around back and park next to the back door so I can easily unload everything with less of a fight with Mal about not letting him help me. I do let him help me put them away, so getting him started on that while I bring the bags inside keeps me from having to put my foot down.
I know the forced relaxation will mentally be hard on him, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let him take any risks, no matter how minor.
And I let him help me cook, not that it’s anything complicated.
But I’m not expecting it when, nearly an hour before their scheduled arrival time, I hear a car pull up and park.
I’m on my way to the front door to look when the back door flies open, making poor Mal jump and making me glad I’m not wearing a sidearm.
Mom looks nearly manic and she’s not even wearing makeup. “Where is he?” she squeals. Before I can make it back to the kitchen, she swoops over and wraps Mal in a hug, nearly knocking him off his feet.
I take a moment to thank the Goddess he wasn’t chopping anything or had a knife close at hand.
Mal’s wide-eyed look of shock at me over Mom’s shoulder as she nearly squeezes the life out of him with her hug makes me laugh.
“Um, Mom?” I say. “I hate to interrupt, but can I at least introduce you?”
“No!” she says, shaking her head as she hugs Mal.
He finally realizes this isn’t a bad thing and returns her hug as confusion replaces shock on his face.
“I knew you were going to tell us you found a mate!” she squeals. “I just knew it! I’m so happy for you!”
I feel bad for Mal when I see him wince because that was loud, and right in his ear.
Mom can get up there in the higher octaves, let me tell you what.
And for a human woman who’s 83, she barely looks like she’s in her fifties.
Being the mate first of an Alpha shifter, and now with Caleb, has had the typical effect on her.
She’s bouncing in place, nearly vibrating as she hugs Mal. “I just knew it!”
She finally pulls back enough she can get a look at my poor, overwhelmed mate as Caleb steps through the back door.
“Sorry, she wouldn’t let me call or text you a warning,” he says, laughing as he spies her squeezing Mal in another hug. “It was all I could do to keep her from showing up here last night. So, you’re welcome.”
I roar with laughter. “Thanks, Dad.” I’ve called him that since my teens, when he and Mom fell in love and got married.
Calling him that was by my choice, not his decree.
He’s never tried to “replace” my dad, but he’s been a dad to me since then and definitely earned the title, as far as I’m concerned.
She grabs Mal’s face in her hands, staring into his eyes, looking him over like he’s a prize poodle. “You’re too skinny!” she declares. “Who’s been starving you?” She glares at me. “Why aren’t you feeding him?”
This is the point where I basically lose my shit and have to lean against the counter as I howl with laughter.
I always knew Mom would welcome any mate I introduced to her, regardless of gender, race, or species, but this is over the top even for her. She’s lost her damned mind.
Poor Mal. I was wrong. She won’t have the baby shower planned by the end of lunch—she’ll have it all planned before we even eat lunch.
Caleb, used to Mom being…well, Mom, pours himself a cup of coffee and sits at the table and is absolutely no fucking help whatsoever, because he’s smiling and slowly shaking his head and waiting for her to get it out of her system.
She pulls Mal in for another hug, this time wrapping one arm around his head and pulling him tightly against her shoulder as she turns on me. “Why is he so skinny?” she scolds. “What the hell is wrong with you? I raised you better than that! You need to put weight on him!”
I take a step toward them because I see Mal trembling, and I think he’s crying, then I realize he’s laughing his ass off.
Thank the Goddess.
And, bless him, he’s not even trying to get away from her.
“I’m kind of skinny naturally,” he says, which is muffled by Mom—who is a good six inches shorter than Mal, who himself is eleven inches shorter than me—refusing to let him go.
She holds him with his face smushed against her shoulder.
“And don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be gaining weight here shortly. ”
“Why—” Her eyes widen and she lets out a joyful scream that makes me and Mal wince. “You’re pregnant? OH MY GODDESS I’M GOING TO BE A GRANNY!”
I’m once again howling with laughter and needing the counter for support as I watch her bounce up and down, still holding on to Mal so tightly that he has to bounce around with her or she’ll pull him off-balance.
I look over at Caleb and spot his smirk. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s half-deaf after all his years with Mom, because he’s not reacting to her squeals.
“Congrats, son,” he says as he sips his coffee, because while Mom continues happy screaming and blowing out poor Mal’s eardrums, basically all he can do is let her get it out of her system.
All I can do is pray that on the other end of it I don’t have to drag Mal out of hiding from under our bed.