Chapter 13
Thirteen
Codie
It'd been ten days since Pythor and I went to the park.
We'd gone on a walk around the neighborhood twice since, and spent some time with each other every day.
We'd continued with our lessons too, and I was starting to feel a little confident in my chances of escaping an attacker.
I still didn't think I'd win in an outright fight, but I could escape holds and try to make a run for it.
Pythor hadn't brought up the fated mates thing even once, and I had a feeling he was waiting for me. I still didn't know what to say or think about it, so I'd happily stuffed it into the corner of my mind.
"Uncle Codie!" Alia said, breaking me out of my thoughts, and I glanced down at her.
"What's up, princess?"
She grinned up at me, her sparkling blue eyes—just like her mom's—full of enthusiasm. "Can I make a painting?"
"Of course! Let me grab you a canvas and some paint. Wanna do it here or in the studio?"
"Studio! I want to be all professional!"
Chuckling, I led her to my studio, unfolding the smaller easel I kept in a corner for her. Then I grabbed an adequately sized canvas before setting everything up in the middle of the room.
"There we go. And for the final touch..." I walked over to the door, and unhooked her apron from behind it, helping her put it on. "Now you're ready to make a masterpiece."
She grinned, then got started as I sat down on the floor to watch. I didn't really have anything in this room to sit on except for the stools I used while painting, and the floor was much more comfortable.
Nessa had dropped Alia off so she could shop for groceries in peace—and so Alia wouldn't sucker her into buying too many snacks—and she would be back anytime now.
I'd texted her about some of the things I'd done with Pythor, but we hadn't talked face to face since the week before last since her parents had been visiting last week and she couldn't come over.
Pythor had gotten my groceries for me with his magic, and it still made me smile every time I ate some cereal.
Hella came into the studio, done with her nap, and made a beeline for me before trying her best to climb into my lap.
"She's so silly," Alia said with a laugh, and I chuckled, noting the speck of bright pink paint on her nose.
"That she is. Can I see what you're making?"
"Not yet!"
The doorbell rang, and Hella shot to her feet, racing off to make sure it wasn't anyone unwanted.
"Looks like your mom is here. You okay on your own for a bit?"
"Yep! I'll be good."
Smiling, I left her to her painting and made my way to the door, opening it once I'd checked the security feed.
"Hey," I greeted, holding the door open so she could walk in with her many shopping bags.
"Hi, yourself," she said, then glanced at Hella as she stood watching, tail wagging slowly as she came to the conclusion that Nessa was an acceptable visitor. "He really got you a dog."
"Yeah," I murmured, wishing I could tell her it was so much more than that. But the whole demon and mates thing was a secret, and I couldn't tell her, no matter how much I wanted to.
"Come on. Help me unpack and tell me all about it."
I locked up after her, then followed her into the kitchen, falling into our usual routine as I told her everything I could about the time Pythor and I spent together.
I even told her about the night Pythor came over to comfort me and then guarded me all night while I slept, though I had to edit out the 'my new dog teleported to get him' part.
Nessa was quiet for a long moment when I finished speaking, and I let her work through her thoughts as I focused on the task of putting away all the perishables.
"Codie," she murmured, and I turned to look at her, a carton of eggs in my hand.
"Yeah?"
She gave me a soft smile, her blue eyes peering into me. "You like him, don't you?"
I fumbled the eggs, almost dropping the carton. Nessa caught it just in time, then carefully placed it on the counter before giving me her full attention and waiting patiently as I tried not to panic.
I knew from the way she'd said it that she didn't mean 'You like him as a friend,' and that... I didn't know what to do with that. I'd avoided thinking of Pythor in that context since the moment we first met because it was safer.
Trusting Pythor as a friend was one thing, but anything more?
"Hey, I didn't mean to make you anxious. You don't have to like him, Codie. If a friend is all you feel comfortable being, then that's okay," she murmured, squeezing my forearm.
I nodded mutely, then sighed. She was the only one I could talk to this about—I certainly couldn't talk to Pythor, at least not until I'd made sense of my tumultuous thoughts—and there was no point in keeping my feelings a secret from her.
"I'm scared," I admitted, and she stepped closer, allowing me to lean my shoulder against hers as we leaned against the counter side by side. It felt easier to talk without looking at her.
"Of Pythor?"
I shook my head quickly, a smile quirking my lips without conscious thought.
"For some strange reason,"—maybe because he's my fated mate—"he doesn't scare me at all.
Hasn't since the first time we talked. I mean, he's exactly the kind of man—build-wise, I mean—that I'd be terrified of if I came across him on the street, but Pythor.
.. he always makes me feel safe. No, not just safe.
Protected. Like he'd fight off anyone who tried to hurt me. "
"He does have that bodyguard vibe going, especially when it comes to you," she mused, and I wondered what she meant by that. She'd only seen us together twice, and that was during the self-defense classes, where she'd had to leave early the first time.
I shrugged, unsure what to say to that, and she blew out a soft breath.
"Codie, I'm not gonna push you. If you're not ready for a relationship, you don't have to do anything. No one can dictate what you should do except yourself. You said you're scared, but not of Pythor. Then what?"
I pursed my lips, struggling to put it into words.
"I... I guess I'm scared of what comes after."
"After?"
I nodded, then stared at the floor, a little embarrassed to admit it even though I knew I shouldn't be. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't.
Checking to make sure Alia wasn't around—Hella seemed to be keeping her company, since she was also nowhere to be seen—I said, "I don't—I don't know if I would ever feel comfortable,"—safe—"having sex with someone, even Pythor.
It's kind of expected in a relationship, though, isn't it?
What if he gets bored of me, or tired of waiting? "
What if it damaged our mate bond and the friendship we'd built, and I lost everything?
Nessa was quiet for a long moment, and I imagined she was trying to find the words to console me because she knew I was right.
"Does Pythor care about you? Actually care about you?" she asked, and I didn't even have to think about it.
"He does."
She glanced over at me, a smile on her lips. "Have you told him? About what happened?"
I shook my head. "He knows that someone hurt me. And I said I didn't want a relationship, so I think he has an idea."
Nessa nodded. "Okay. Then knowing what you know about him, do you think he's the type to pressure you, or push you before you're ready for more?"
"No way!"
"Is he a patient guy?"
I thought about how he'd played catch with me, how he walked around the community with me, how he'd stood at the gates for ten whole minutes while I tried to gather up the courage to step out before giving up, and how he'd never once seemed like he would rather be elsewhere.
"Yeah."
"Do you think he likes you?"
I blinked, thinking about how Pythor had explained his sexuality to me. "I think there's... a chance."
Ness nodded, then cupped my elbow, tugging me to face her.
"I know you're scared, sweetie, but to me, that doesn't sound like a man who would demand more from you than you feel comfortable giving. If your heart wants him, I think you should go for it."
"But what if I fuck up and lose him as a friend too?"
"You won't fuck up," she assured me, which did nothing to assuage my fears.
I was glad Pythor was off at the center right then because the thought of him overhearing any part of this conversation was downright mortifying.
"How about this? Let's call him over for dinner. You don't have to do or say anything to him about your feelings, but I'd like to properly meet him as your friend rather than your trainer."
I pursed my lips for a long moment, then relented with a nod, mostly because I did want the two most important adults in my life to meet.
"I'll text him."
"You do that. Then can you check on Alia while I finish up here?"
"Sure."
Me: Would you like to come over for dinner with Nessa and her daughter?
Pythor: I'd love to! What should I bring?
Me: You don't need to bring anything. Say 6 p.m.?
Pythor: I'll be there.
Sliding my phone into my pocket, I went to the studio, where I found Alia still busy with her painting while Hella slept at her feet.
"May I see it?" I asked as she glanced up, her eyes flicking from me to the canvas she was working on.
"I'm almost done. Give me two minutes."
"Okay."
Exactly two minutes later, she put her brush away and grinned. "Done!"
I walked around to her side, peering at the canvas and smiling widely. She'd done a portrait, with a pink-haired woman, a man clad in an oversized coat, and a sweet girl standing between them with a big, blobby, black dog sleeping at her feet.
"Aww, it's us!"
"Do you like it?"
"I love it. I just might display it in the living room. Unless you want to take it home?"
She shook her head, giving me a sweet smile. She looked so much like her mom, though her hair was a natural, warm brown color. "Nope. This is for you."
"Thanks, kiddo. I'll treasure it."
"You better."
"Would you like to come have a snack? Your mom's back."
Her eyes lit up, but because she was a good girl, she washed the brushes and palette she'd used first, then took off toward the kitchen as soon as I'd removed her apron, shouting, "Mom!"
I chuckled, then hung up the apron before following her, leaving Hella to continue her nap.
When I came into the kitchen, Alia was halfway through describing her new painting while Nessa listened intently, and the scene made me smile.
While I rarely made portraits—and never professionally—I was tempted to paint this moment, just like I'd been tempted to paint Pythor's demon form.
I hadn't gotten to see it again, since I felt weird asking him to shift, and he hadn't done it himself yet.
Once she was done, Nessa promised she'd take a look at it as soon as she was done there, then told her about Pythor, and that they'd be meeting him tonight.
Alia turned to me with wide eyes. "You made a new friend, Uncle Codie?"
"You don't have to sound that surprised," I muttered dramatically, making her giggle. The sweet sound warmed my chest, and I wished I could protect her from all the shit in this world.
I was glad she wasn't my kid, because I had a feeling I'd have turned into one of those paranoid parents who didn't let their kids leave the house at all and destroyed their lives because of their own fears.
I tried not to think about all the dangers Alia faced every time she went out, because I already had too much fear to deal with, and I didn't think I'd be able to function if I thought too deeply about it.