Chapter Thirteen
Charlie
I stared at the phone, my slow pregnancy brain trying to process the message. This was the second time this week that an unknown number had reached out to me. At first, I’d decided to ignore it.
I figured it was just the wrong number. Someone reaching out to someone else, telling them they weren’t worthy of their mate.
I knew at the time that it couldn’t really be meant for me.
After all, my mate was my fated, and I was the only one worthy of him.
So, it had to be a wrong number. That night, I deleted the message and curled back into the spoon position Jamie had me in.
Today, I was taking the message differently.
Maybe it was because I had grown even larger in my pregnancy and felt insecure.
Maybe it was my hormones making my paranoia go crazy and causing a lack in my self-perception of worthiness.
Regardless, today, I was not just dismissing these messages as accidental.
Today, I needed to know why I was being sent them.
Unknown: Sorry to tell you the truth.
Unknown: But your mate is mine.
Unknown: Leave him and let him be happy.
Unknown: With me.
“What the fuck?” Isaac looked over my shoulder and saw the text. “Who the fuck is that? And why are they lying?”
I shrugged. “Dunno. But maybe they aren’t.”
“The hell you say?” Isaac swatted me in the shoulder then rubbed it gently.
“Sorry, I forgot I had to be gentle with you for a moment. But seriously, brat. You are believing that shit. Be smarter than that. Your alpha loves you and only you. Have you seen that man? When you are around, he has heart eyes. I swear, I never believed in those before. But after seeing Jamie around you these last several weeks, I am a firm believer that there is such a thing. You are his world. Whoever texted that to you is playing games. Just ignore them.”
“I can’t.” I picked up my sweater and grabbed my cross-body bag. “Let’s go.”
“Um, okay.” Isaac stood from the couch he had just plopped onto. “Where are we going? Grabbing matcha at the café? Shopping for baby things? Oh, I know—the bookstore.”
“None of that—well, maybe the matcha on the way back.” I opened the door and locked it up once Isaac was outside with me. “We are going to go check on my mate. I need to make sure this text is bullshit.”
Isaac let out a long-overdue sigh. “You do realize this is a dumb idea, right?”
“Maybe. But I gotta do it.” I clapped his shoulder. “And as my bestie, you must come along for the ride. Make sure I don’t commit any crimes.”
“Fine.” Isaac got in the car and buckled his belt. Once I was in the driver’s seat, he continued. “But now you owe me matcha afterward.”
“Deal.”
The number had sent an address this time. It was a café on Main Street. I knew it. It was one of my favorites. When I pulled up, I did see my mate sitting at the table, along with Thomas. Two omegas were standing near their table, smiling as they spoke. One of them was Zane.
“Charlie, just because that Zane dude is standing there doesn’t mean anything weird is going on with Jamie.
Remember that.” Isaac rubbed his hand on my back.
“Look, Thomas is there with him. Just like he told you. He was meeting up with his friend today. A buddy day, just like you are having with me. Can we go now? I want my matcha.”
I looked at my phone. A new text had just come through.
Jamie: Augh. Zane showed up at the café Thomas and I are at. He is so annoying. Wish you were here.
I texted back. It’s your lucky day. Isaac and I are just outside. See you soon.
I turned to Isaac with a smile. “Guess we are meeting up with Jamie and Thomas. Let’s go.”
I then ignored the tiny, distressed squeal that came from my best friend.
I wasn’t sure why he was acting so weird whenever I mentioned the other firefighter, but I could only focus on one thing at a time right now, and that was not the thing I was choosing.
I needed to rescue my mate from an unwanted admirer.
Walking into the café, Isaac and I went directly to the table my mate was seated at. I silently scooted past the gabbing Zane and planted myself onto Jamie’s lap. Isaac hesitatingly took the seat next to Thomas, who in turn refused to look in my best friend’s direction.
I really needed to figure out what was going on there. But later. Now, I need to focus on my mate and this pest.
“Hey, Zane.” I gave a small wave and a one-sided smile. “How have you been?”
“Good.” Zane stood before us, a bit of his brightness dimming. His eyes darted to my cell phone that I had placed on the table as I sat. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Got a couple of crazy messages today, but I just deleted them. Sometimes, you just need to ignore annoying things like that and worry about the people who matter, like your best friend or mate.” I raised my brow and ran a hand down Jamie’s chest. “Don’t you agree?”
“I gotta go.” Zane grabbed the hand of his friend, who had remained silent the whole time, and stormed away.
“What was up with that?” Jamie tilted my chin in his direction with his pointer finger. “Claiming me in front of him, baby?”
“Of course.” I leaned in and kissed Jamie’s nose. “He needs to stop trying to steal my man.”
“I think we know who sent those texts now.” Isaac pointed to my cell. “Show Jamie the bullshit that got sent to you today. He needs to know someone is trying to start shit.”
I hadn’t planned to, because after the insecurity wore off and I realized Jamie would never betray me, the text just seemed laughable. But since my bestie brought it up, I had to show it. I pulled it up on my phone and shoved it at my mate. “Here. I think someone is stuck in the land of delulu.”
Jamie read the screen and then showed Thomas, who scoffed.
“As if Jamie has eyes for anyone but his mate.” Thomas rolled his eyes. “Even at work, you are all this man can talk about.”
“See. I told you.” Isaac nodded and pointed at my mate, who was staring at me. “Big, ole heart eyes, right there.”
“You see that, too?” Thomas glanced at Isaac, and I could see an energy pass between the two.
I noticed Isaac pulling down the sleeves of his sweater, hiding his tattoo.
Oh. Interesting.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell him to stop.” Jamie wrapped his arms around me. “There is only one mate for me, and that’s this brat here.”
“Hey, he’s my brat.” Isaac narrowed his eyes, but his lips fought a smile. “But I guess I can share.”
A small, tiny rumble came from the direction of Thomas, and I caught a glimpse of Isaac’s hand reach over and brush his leg, immediately silencing the beast.
I need to question my bestie once we leave here.
“Well, now that the mosquito is gone, I’m stealing your mate again for some more fun. You two finish your café lunch, and we will see you later.” Isaac stood and pulled me from my mate’s lap. “Charlie promised me matcha.”
Walking away from the table, my best friend leaned in and whispered, “I don’t want to talk about it, please don’t ask. Just get our drinks and pretend you saw nothing.”
I guess I’ll have to just wait until he’s ready. Damn. I want that juicy news.