Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
PAX
I stared at my phone, but it didn’t give me the answer I was looking for.
“You can do this.” Dray was sitting beside me in bed.
“Can I, though?”
“Your folks deserve to know you’re happy and coupled up, and most of all, that you’re pregnant.”
Gods, I’d been in town for about two months, had met my one and only, and I was carrying our children.
For a human couple who’d had doubts about me coming here, there would be so many questions.
My parents loved me, but they’d wonder if I was making a mistake.
I should have told them about Dray and the pregnancy, but I’d chickened out.
I put a hand on my belly, and once reassured that the eggs were fine, I hit the call button.
Mom answered on the second ring. “Pax! I was just thinking about you. How's everything? How’s the town treating you?”
“Yeah, and it's great. Also, I found a job.” I was stalling. “How are you and Dad?”
“We're fine. Your father's playing golf, and I've joined a book club. Do you have news? I hear that catch in your voice that you get when something’s going on.”
Damn, my voice had betrayed me.
“Nothing's wrong. I just, ummm, yeah.” I looked at Dray who gave me a thumbs-up. “I have some news.” My hesitation was giving me away.
“Oh gods. You're moving back home. I knew that house was too much and you’d change your mind.”
“No, Mom, I’m staying here, and I’m really happy.”
“Hmmm. Okay. What is it about that place that makes you so happy?”
Gods, my mother was going to ferret out my news before I could spit it out.
“I met someone.”
I was met with silence, but that wouldn’t last long, so instead of my mom filling it, I started talking.
“His name is Dray, and he’s a contractor.” I stood up. “He’s been helping with the house repairs, and we kinda connected.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you, but I was secretly hoping you’d be coming back here. I miss you.”
“But there’s more.”
“How much more can there be, ‘cause unless you’re pregnant…” Mom finally ran out of words.
“Surprise, I am pregnant.”
This time the silence continued for so long I thought we’d been disconnected or she’d fainted.
“Mom?”
“I’m here.” Her voice was close to a whisper. “It’s a lot to take in all at once.”
“We’re both excited.” Dray got up and put his arms around me which slowed my galloping heart.
“It’s so sudden and fast. What do you know about him?”
My mate placed his lips on my mark, and I took a deep breath. My instinct was to shout at Mom, but if I put myself in her position, I understood she was just worried about her baby.
A door slammed in the background. “Your father’s back.”
This was followed by muffled voices, suggesting she’d put her hand over the phone. I sighed because my father would interrogate me.
“Pax.” Yep, now it was Dad’s turn. “Your mother says you're pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“Is your… ummm, partner there with you now?”
Oh no, Dad wanted to talk to Dray. But I didn’t want that. Once they’d digested the information we could FaceTime.
“Ummm, maybe.”
“You can tap once for yes and two for no if you need help.”
My darling dad was worried I’d somehow been coerced into having a man’s baby.
“I’m fine and happier than I’ve ever been. This is where I belong.”
I held the phone away from my ear, as there was a thump and crackling, and Mom came back on.
“Guess what? We’re coming to visit.”
“Mom, there’s no need.” But there was. They needed to make sure I was in the right place with the right person.
“We’ll be there this weekend. Love you.” She hung up.
I slumped onto the couch and held my head in my hands. Dray kneeled in front of me.
“Give me the bad news.”
I lifted my head. “They’re coming here this weekend.”
“What’s so bad about that?” He patted my knee.
“They’re human and you aren’t.”
“Pax, my dragon isn’t going to burst out of me and break into song. He’ll stay hidden.”
I wanted to believe that we’d appear as a normal human couple, but worry grated at me as I imagined the opposite.
My parents must have driven all night because they arrived just after breakfast. I peeked through a gap in the curtains as they got out of the car and pointed to the newly clipped hedges and the lawn Dray had mown yesterday.
“Here we go.” My belly was churning, and that couldn’t be good for my eggs
Dray squeezed my shoulder. “We’ve got this.”
We walked down the path hand in hand, and Mom raced toward us. She pulled me into a hug while Dad shook my mate’s hand.
“You must be Dray.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
The conversation between Dray and Dad was stiff and formal, so I suggested a tour of the house. My folks hadn’t seen the place in years. But just as we got inside, a knock at the door interrupted us. Dray opened it and his Dad, Pops, Garrett, Aunt Raine, and Anderson charged in.
“We brought food so you don’t have to cook this weekend.”
Dray made the introductions as I checked to make sure no one was showing their scales or fangs.
“Pax, when are you going to lay your eggs?” Anderson was checking out my flat belly. “I can’t wait to have dragon cousins.”
“Eggs? Dragons?” Mom looked from me to Dad.
My legs gave way, and I sank onto the couch.
Aunt Raine grabbed Anderson and hugged him tight. “We haven’t talked to him about… you know… the birds and the bees.” She gave a nervous laugh. "Hence the eggs thing.”
“He has a very active imagination.” Dray shot his cousin a look.
“Why don’t we have something to eat?” Pops suggested and bustled into the kitchen. “I made my grandpa’s special recipe.”
“Dragon-breath peppers.” Anderson grinned and folded his arms.
Oh gods, more dragon references. I was wishing I hadn’t finished all the vanilla ice cream because I needed to put something sweet in my mouth.
“It's just a name,” Dray added. “For spicy peppers.” He laughed. “It’s not actual dragon breath.”
My parents shared a look, and a knot of tension formed in my belly. I hoped I wasn’t going to be sick.
But as Dray was telling my folks about his business, Uncle Noel walked in.
“Hello.” He stopped and sniffed. “Do I scent humans?”
“Humans?” Mom squeaked.
“Just regular old humans.” Dray glared at his uncle.
“Not shifters,” Anderson piped up.
“Shifters?” Dad looked at me as if he wanted me to explain.
“Night-shift workers.” Garrett had finally come to the rescue. “At the plant. Outside town. They have very different schedules from us day-shift folk.”
“There's a plant outside town?” my dad asked. He was an engineer, and that piqued his interest.
"Yep. It’s a big one too, and it makes things.”
My head shot up because Dad would want Garrett to explain further.
“What things?”
And there it was.
“Plant things.”
I groaned, and everyone looked at me, worried something was wrong with the baby. Gods, I hadn’t told my folks I was having more than one. Maybe we could let that be a surprise.
Pops herded everyone to the table. It was only ten o’clock, but I figured if everyone was eating, they’d have less time to talk about dragons and shifters.
“The weather’s nice today for—”
Dray cut his uncle off. “For the birds and any gardeners or golfers.”
I sat at the table stuffing food in my mouth and counting the hours till my folks left.
But after lunch, Dray herded everyone out, saying I needed time alone with my parents. I held his hand, not wanting to let him go even though I understood he was right.
“Dray’s family is interesting,” Mom began.
“They’re quirky and close-knit, but they’re kind, and they’ve welcomed me and treat me like a son.”
“I’m glad, because if they weren’t, I’d try and convince you and Dray to come home.”
Dad put an arm around my shoulder. “And now for the most important question.” He held up a finger. “Nope, not a question but a statement. You love him. I saw it in your eyes and the little glances and touches you shared. You’re in sync and head-over-heels in love.”
“Awww.” I brushed the tears away. “That’s so sweet, and yes, I adore him. He bought me pickles at two A.M. and his dragon… I mean, his beast…”
Mom put her hands over her ears. “Pax, we don’t want to hear about your sex life.”
I giggled, and Mom joined in, followed by Dad. We group hugged, and I wondered if I could convince them to move closer. But I decided it’d be better for us to visit often so we were far away from the family and any possible dragon reveals.