Chapter 9 Buckle
BUCKLE
My heart flutters. Two mates. TWO MATES!
My chipmunk dances, and I can’t help but grab my keys and dash over to Pax and Aaron’s house.
I live on their property and it doesn’t take long.
I knock as I enter and I’m greeted with the cutest scene of Aaron on the floor playing with Willow and Forrest. Pax watches them from the recliner, one hand resting on his baby bump.
For once, I’m not jealous. Their heads snap up to me.
“Welcome home,” Pax says.
“Bucky!” Willow squeals and I drop to my knees to scoop her up in a hug.
“Sweet dumpling, how are you today?” I smash a kiss to the top of her head. Her curls tickle my nose.
“Good.” Willow shoves a toy in my hand and plops down on the ground in front of me. The toy, Baby Minky, feels different in my hand. He doesn’t feel like sadness and tears. He feels like hope and love.
“Are you okay?” Pax asks, his brows crinkling as he takes me in.
“The best,” I say as I boop Willow’s nose with Baby Minky’s. I lock eyes with my best friend. “I met my Fated mates.”
“Mates?” Pax and Aaron say together.
“Mates!”
Smiles slowly spread across both their faces.
“Damn,” Pax says. “Fate didn’t know how to handle you, did she?”
“Who are they?” Aaron asks.
I picture their pretty faces in my mind. Abel’s big eyes taking everything in and Perry’s soft looking curls. “You know the librarian I have a crush on?”
Pax gasps. “Abel? The sweet Beta that’s always helping?”
“That’s the one!”
“And the other?” Pax asks.
“A Omega squirrel shifter named Perry.” I sit cross-legged and Willow climbs into my lap.
“I’m so happy for you, Buckle.” Pax moves to stand, but I hold up a hand to stop him. I lift Willow and she squeals again as she latches on to my neck. I hug my best friend before sitting on the couch with Willow in my lap.
“How did you meet?” Aaron asks as he leans against the couch. “Probably not as epic as our meet-cute.”
“Epic-er,” I say.
“Pffft,” Aaron says, but there’s no malice in the reaction.
“I just got home, and I needed to let my chipmunk out.” I continue on with the story and Aaron grumbles that maybe connecting with my Fated mates was more epic than their meeting.
I mean… I got kidnapped by a hawk! “Technically I’ve known them both.
Abel for a few years now. But Perry I met when I worked on his car, then sadly didn’t quite remember him until we reconnected. ”
“Sometimes Fate works mysteriously. Seriously, I’m so happy for you.” Pax reaches out to squeeze my hand.
I swipe a curl from Willow’s face as she drools on my chest while she naps. One day I really will have this. I know it deep in my soul.
“Wanna stay for dinner?” Aaron asks as he pushes to his feet. “I’m making spaghetti.”
“MMmm, your spaghetti should be illegal,” I say. “What can I help with?”
I lay the sleeping Willow on the couch and follow Aaron. Maybe I can get Aaron to teach me how to make his spaghetti so I can woo my men with it sometime.