Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Clay
Today had been the longest day of my life, and it wasn’t even noon yet. I kissed Duncan goodbye this morning and went to work. Which was where I was and the absolute last place I wanted to be.
“I know that feeling.”
I looked up at Silver and shook my head. “How did you come back to work so soon? I spent three weeks with him, and I still want to stay holed up in our house and just exist in his space with him.”
Silver chuckled as he came in and sat down at one of the chairs in my office.
“That might be part of the issue. You spent a lot of time with him instead of getting back to life right away. You got used to spending all of your time with Duncan, and now you’re going through withdrawals.
Like anyone on vacation, it sucks when it’s time to get back to reality. ”
He wasn’t wrong. I had essentially been on a three-week staycation. “That reminds me. The jewelry store called, and our rings are ready. I need to swing by and pick those up on my lunch break.”
“Rings for what?”
I blinked at my brother. “Aren’t you and Charlie planning a wedding? Didn’t you propose to him?”
“We’ve discussed it, but there was never a formal proposal or anything like that.”
I stared at my brother for a moment before shaking my head at him. “You found your mate, even though you didn’t want to. He’s pregnant with your twins. He’s already miserable because he’s so small and carrying your massive twins. And you haven’t proposed? What’s wrong with you?”
“I haven’t officially proposed,” Silver said.
“We’ve already agreed to get married. Charlie wants to not be miserably pregnant with twins for any of those memories.
He doesn’t want to be pregnant in engagement pictures.
Or wedding pictures. Therefore, it’s something we’ve decided to not really discuss until he’s ready. ”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“You never said if Duncan is pregnant or not. Charlie said he mentioned he had a heat, but that was the extent of it.”
“He’s not shown any signs or symptoms of being pregnant. I couldn’t tell you if he was or not. Is this something that a pregnancy test would work for?”
Silver laughed at me. What felt like forever later, he finally stopped and stood up. “Clay, pick up a pregnancy test before you go home. Have him pee on it, and then you’ll know for certain if he’s pregnant or not.”
“That works?”
“Yes. Pick one up. You should have added one to your shopping list when you moved him into your house.”
Silver left my office, leaving me wondering if it was possible that Duncan was pregnant. He had a heat, we did the thing, but he’d not shown any signs of being pregnant thus far. No changes in scent, food aversions, or anything else that I was aware of.
“Hey, you got a minute?”
I looked up and smiled at Flint. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
Flint came in and sat in the chair that Silver had been in just moments ago. “I wanted to apologize to you. I want to extend an apology to Duncan as well. I’ll apologize to him in person when you think it’s a good time. I didn’t mean to ruin his first time meeting the rest of the family.”
I thought about it a moment before nodding. “Apology tentatively accepted. You really took a lot away from Duncan and made him feel uncomfortable. He was already struggling with meeting our parents, and you acting like an ass didn’t need to have happened.”
Flint nodded. “I know. Dad chewed me out for well over an hour last night. Then Ma started.”
It took a lot not to laugh at Flint. He deserved every minute of the chastising that our parents gave him. He’d upset not only Charlie but Duncan as well. And they were the ones who would be providing the grandchildren, and that meant a great deal to our parents.
“Tell me why? What were you thinking? Why? What’s going on?”
Flint sighed. “I took a chance and reached out to Megan. She’s not interested in having a relationship with a shifter. She admitted to being attracted to me, but she’s decided that she doesn’t want anything to do with shifters in that capacity.”
That was incredibly messed up. “Does Silver know?”
Flint nodded. “I told him this morning after I apologized to him. I’ll be going to Charlie at lunch with a bunch of cookies and ice cream in hopes of getting his forgiveness.
” I snorted at that. Charlie was pregnant, already looked ready to pop, and had months left to go.
I was almost certain that it was going to take more than just cookies and ice cream to smooth things over with him.
“Silver didn’t mention anything of that nature to me when he was just in here,” I said. “I’m sorry she said that.”
“Me too. Silver said since we haven’t signed any contracts with her, he feels it’s best that we don’t. Not because she doesn’t want to have a relationship with me, but because it could make things awkward for both of us.”
“Are you certain she’s your mate?”
Flint blinked at me several times. “Well, I was really attracted to her. And I thought that was what that meant.”
“That’s it? Did your body react at all?”
“React how?”
I gave Flint a look. “You can’t be this dense.
” I threw my pen at him. “Were you aroused? Did your gorilla become incredibly vocal about her being yours?” He had the same talk that the rest of us had.
Why was he being like this? “You’re telling me that you claimed she was your mate, but your body didn’t react?
Your gorilla didn’t say anything to you?
” I shook my head. “Silver!” I called out just loud enough that he’d be able to hear me.
“Clay?”
“Hey, sweetie. How’s work going?”
“Ugh. I need you to come get me. I don’t think I can drive.”
Immediately, I was on alert. “What’s wrong? Why can’t you drive? I’ll come get you, of course. But should I be worried?” I mentally kicked myself. Of course I should be worried. He said he couldn’t drive.
Silver popped into the doorway of my office. “What’s up?”
“Hey,” I said as I stood. “Talk some sense into this guy.” I pointed at Flint. “I think Duncan is sick. He needs me to come get him and doesn’t think he can drive.”
“Whoa,” Silver said. “What’s wrong?”
I shrugged. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?” I held up a hand, hoping Silver would wait a moment.
“I came to work and immediately felt off. I think it was the scent of the restaurant. Maybe the lingering scent of the aquarium? I’m not sure.
But then I went into the kitchen, and I ran for the nearest trash can.
I feel terrible now. I’m shaky and dizzy.
And the scent of everywhere is really bothering me. ”
I smiled. Not because my mate wasn’t feeling well, but because of the reason. “Sweetie, I’ll be there to pick you up in just a bit. I want you to leave the restaurant though. Go out into the zoo somewhere and sit down. Somewhere with fresh air, all right?”
“I’m afraid to leave the nearest trash can or bathroom.”
“I know, but perhaps it’ll help. And maybe grab some bread on the way by. I know you might not want to eat, but if I remember correctly, bread and crackers helped Charlie.”
I smiled at Silver. “Well?”
“I think he’s pregnant. He’s throwing up and not feeling well at all.”
Silver’s face turned from one of concern to happiness. “Definitely get that pregnancy test.”
“Will do. I need to go get him, though, because he said the scent of the aquarium and the restaurant is making him nauseous.”
“How’s that going to work?” Flint asked. “He works at the aquarium, right?”
I nodded. “I guess until things get better, he might need to take some additional time off. I’m not going to complain about that.”
“You know, we could really use help here around the office,” Silver said. “If he’s determined to continue working, he could come here. I don’t think there are any weird scents here.”
“I’m going to try,” I said. “I need to go pick him up though.”
“Hang on,” Silver said. “I still have my pass for the parking lot. I can take you and drop you off. You’re going to want to bring his SUV back anyway.”
“Yeah, but…” I pointed to Flint.
“He can wait.”
“I really can,” Flint said. “I’m not going anywhere until lunch, and that’s only to beg Charlie for forgiveness.”
“See? He’s fine.”
I nodded and left with Silver. “Sweetie, Silver is bringing me to the zoo since he has a parking pass for your parking area. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“Okay. I brought a plastic bag with me, and I’m sitting outside on a bench. I think I need to go farther away from the aquarium, though, because the scent of the salt water is really upsetting my stomach.”
I winced. Silver saw it and raised an eyebrow. I knew that look. “We’re climbing into his truck now. If you can start to make your way to your vehicle, that would be the best place for you.”
“Okay. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll start walking that way.”
“Is he all right?” Silver asked as we walked out the back door.
“He said he brought a plastic bag and is sitting outside on a bench. He’s better, but the scent of the aquarium is making him nauseous.”
“I can get you a pregnancy test on the way back to the office, then run it by this afternoon. I don’t think you’re going to need it though. It sounds like he’s having pregnancy sickness.”
I felt bad for Duncan. I didn’t want him to be sick. I wanted him to have an easy pregnancy if he were to end up pregnant. The fact that he was getting sick from the scent of the aquarium was concerning.
“Maybe. Or perhaps he’s having some sort of reaction to a scent at the aquarium.”
Silver stopped just beside his truck and stared at me. “He’s newly mated. Had a heat. And now the scent of a place that he’s worked at for a few years is suddenly making him nauseous. What do you think is really happening?”
I sighed. “I get it. You’re most likely right. I just didn’t want him to have a difficult pregnancy. I wanted it to be easy for him. He’s struggled enough in life already.”