Chapter Six
William
The Bearclaw Inn was only a few hours’ drive from my house, so I opted to leave early and take my time. And that would be great, once the actual day got here. And it was still a day away, leaving me with nothing to do but fret and fuss and worry about whether I’d made the right decision to go or stay.
But I had committed, so I would go. And I needed something to fill my hours until it was time to leave because if I just sat around here, I would end up wallowing in missing Lars and wondering where he was and talk myself out of the possibility of there being someone else. I truly believed that the short time we’d had together was better than a lifetime with anyone else.
And how fair would that be to whoever might arrive at the Bearclaw Inn anticipating a mate?
Overthinking…
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to work my mind around the possibility that someone else could make me feel the way Lars did. Or if not that way, different but equally amazing. I was sinking fast when my phone rang, sending me bouncing to my feet with gratitude for whomever was calling.
I’d talk to a spammer at this point, but it was my omega dad.
“Son, thank the Goddess we got you. I know you’re leaving for your weekend out of town”—I hadn’t actually told my dads why I was going or where because where would tell them why—“but if you have just a few minutes to help us with a website issue, we’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll be right there.” Thank heavens for something to occupy my time.
“No, you don’t have to come. You can probably take care of it from there. Your father and I don’t want to bother you when you’re getting ready to go.”
“Dad, you know you’re more comfortable if you can watch what I’m doing.” Usually that bothered me a little, having them breathing down my neck and asking lots of questions. “So, just let me grab my keys, and I’ll come right to the shop.”
“All right. We’ll be waiting.”
When I got there, they had managed to do something to the website and locked themselves out. I sat down to figure it out, while they stood in their preferred positions looking over my shoulders. This time, I didn’t mind so much, grateful for the distraction.
“Okay, I’ve got this now. It’s fixed and I’ve set it so you can’t lock yourselves out.” It really wasn’t difficult. “Why don’t I just run through your pages and see if anything needs tweaking.” I lifted my hands, prepared to continue working, but Father patted my shoulder, and I turned the chair around to face them.
“We’re good, Son. Wait and fool around with it after your trip. Where did you say you were going?” Father asked.
“Going with anyone special?” Dad added.
“No, just driving by myself.” I knew I was being deliberately obtuse, but I still didn’t feel comfortable telling them about where I was going and why. They’d been so crushed for me when I was heartbroken over Lars. I was afraid that if I told them I was going to the Bearclaw and if they knew the stories about it, they would get too invested before I even went there and met whoever was there to meet me.
“And where did you say your destination is?” Father asked. “Or are you just going to drive for three days?”
“Dads, I’ve been all over the world in the past several years, and you didn’t even know where I was. I think I can manage a weekend trip on my own.”
“Told you.” Dad poked Father in the ribs. “He’s got a date.”
“Mm-hmm.” Father nodded wisely. “You were right.”
Those two were wily. “What do you know?”
They looked at each other and back at me. “Nothing until now,” Dad said. “But we won’t press you for more information.”
“We won’t?” Father frowned under Dad’s glare. “Oh, right. We won’t.”
The two of them were dying to ask, but really, I wasn’t ready to share, and I didn’t even know what made them come up with the idea I might have someone new. But I accepted their respect for my privacy and left them to go home and pack.
Having worn uniforms so much of the time, I didn’t have a big wardrobe, so there weren’t many choices to be made. The weather was predicted to be nice, so I packed my scarred leather duffel with slacks and a couple of button-down shirts, shorts, and a pair of jeans and a few other things, like toiletries.
It felt beyond odd to be going to meet someone new, but at some point, a person has to find a fulfilling life. Lots of people didn’t have a fated mate at all, but they went on to have families with a chosen mate. Why couldn’t I do the same thing?
And why didn’t that sound at all appealing?