Chapter 24
MIKA
"We're going to be late," I said for the tenth time. I spotted Jett's sock sticking out from between two couch cushions. The little rascal was crawling and pulling himself up to a standing position already, and leaving behind socks, bibs, pacifiers, and anything he could grab.
"Dinner's in two hours. We won't be late."
"We're bringing the before-dinner snacks," I countered. "And we live close enough to walk if we forget anything."
Gabe's shoulders slumped. "I know. I just want today to be perfect."
"My sweet amusing omega," I said, grabbing him around the waist as he tried to dart past me for the pile of freshly folded laundry. "Your dad and Ross will fit in here just fine."
"But the wolves—"
"Bruce's dad won't stand for any bullying, and neither will Bruce. And gods help them if my mom hears a single bad word said about Ross." She was almost as smitten with the lion shifter as Gabe's alpha dad was.
"I know." He sighed. "I need two more towels and onesies, and then we can go."
Except we couldn't leave yet, because then he decided to put the laundry away before Snickers, our kitten, knocked it over. To be fair, I should have put them away when I finished folding them, but now we were late.
I grabbed the food from the fridge, Gabe snapped Jett into his seat, and then we finally walked out the door. A few minutes later, my sister Faria pushed open the patio door to let us inside.
"It's about time," she teased. "We expected you an hour ago."
Mom looked like she wanted to say something, too, but she grabbed the snacks from my hand without a word.
"Seriously, Mika," Faria continued. "It's not like you to be late. Or messy. Is that a stain?"
I glanced down to find a spray of green dots on the thigh of my khaki pants. "Shit."
"Faria!"
Her eyes widened at Mom's tone, and then she danced away with a shrug. "He gives us shit all the time."
"Girl …" Mom watched her go, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I raised her to have better manners, but brothers were made for teasing, as she likes to remind me."
Faria usually saved that bit of wisdom for her twin. I sighed. "She's right. We should have been here an hour ago."
Mom tugged the diaper bag from my shoulder, letting it drop to the floor by my feet. Then she stepped into my space, hugging me so tight it brought tears to my eyes. "You are meant to be here when you show up." Her chin dug into my shoulder. "Not a moment sooner, and not a moment later."
My face scrunched so tight it hurt. "That's bullshit and you know it."
"For your job, maybe, or your court appearances. Not for family. When it's just us, you are always on time."
I relaxed into her hug, dropping my chin to her shoulder. "I don't think I'll ever be on time again."
"That's not true," she said. "You aren't as painfully early as you once were, but you're still early." She pulled back and swatted my chest. "But if you ever show up late to dinner, I might say a few choice words."
She'd dipped into the tone Gabe called her "mafia boss." After watching a few organized crime documentaries with him, I had to agree. "Yes, Mom."
She grinned and patted my cheek. "Let's get these snacks out to the hungry masses."
I plated the snacks and followed her around the dining room, passing plates around until every group had one.
Then, I watched them from my usual perch against the wall by the kitchen door.
Gabe bounced Jett on his hip, listening to my little brother Nathan tell Carl and Ross about seeing real meerkats on his first trip to the zoo.
I'd heard it a million times before, but he entertained the newcomers with his arm gestures and meerkat antics.
I sidled up to my mate and slid into the circle beside him, flattening my hand against his lower back. He turned into me, and I kissed his temple, unable to resist when my heart felt so full of love for him and for our extended families.
Mom was right. We had arrived on time. Nobody cared that Carl and Ross were both alphas.
Nobody but my little sister minded the giant green stain on my pants.
We were part of one big, happy, blended family now.
It had taken Gabe a little longer to find happiness with his folks, but now was the perfect time to start.