Chapter 26
Clink!
Aiden’s eyes snapped open at the sound of a dish being placed on the coffee table next to him.
Jamie froze, a grimace on his face. “I was trying to be quiet,” he said.
Aiden yawned and sat upright. “It’s fine. I’m not tired.”
Jamie raised an eyebrow.
Aiden sighed. “Well, I’m not that tired.” He sniffed the air and moaned. “Those smell good. Chocolate chip?”
“Your favorite. Or at least they were your favorite when we were kids,” Jamie said. He took a seat on the other end of the sofa, placing one arm along the back of the seat.
“I still love them. I just haven’t had them in a while.” He reached for the plate. Four fluffy pancakes covered with maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar were piled high on the blue plate. He picked up the fork that had been lying on a napkin next to the plate and tucked in.
They were delicious. He ate like a starving man. He looked up when he realized Jamie was silent. He swallowed the bite in his mouth. “I’m sorry. Did you want any?”
Jamie grinned. “No, I’m fine. You like them?”
He pointed to his half empty plate. “You could say that.” He lifted his fork to take another bite. “They’re delicious,” he said before popping the sweet piece of heaven into his mouth.
Jamie smiled. “Now I know you’re starving. I’m not that good a cook.”
Aiden’s temper flared. “What? Of course, you are. Don’t insult my mate like that.”
Jamie’s cheeks flushed crimson. “You’re sure about this mate stuff now?”
Aiden finished chewing. He placed his fork on his plate and lowered the plate onto the table. He shifted positions so he now sat sideways on the sofa, facing Jamie. “C’mere.” He reached for his hands. Jamie placed his hands in Aiden’s.
“When I look at you, the word just feels right to me now. I’m not sure why I didn’t realize we were mates before. Maybe I just wasn’t ready. I know now, though. I feel it in my bones. My phoenix feels it, too. My chest burns when I don’t know where you are. When we’re together, I feel like I’m home.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped slightly.
“What? You don’t believe me?”
Jamie shook his head. “No. No, I do. It’s just… we’ve wasted so much time. Sucks we only figured this out when we have to fight your father.”
“I know,” Aiden said. He squeezed Jamie’s hands. “We have no choice. We need to take him and the idiots he has working for him out. Then, we’re going to make a wonderful life here in Grey Lake.”
“If we do survive this—” Jamie began.
“We will survive,” Aiden interrupted.
Jamie sighed. “OK. After we survive this, you know we’ll have to stay here and protect Grey Lake at least until Amber grows up. I assume at that point, her phoenix will want to protect the village. She may not want us around, interfering.”
“We’ll get to see Iris’s baby grow up. Then when Amber’s ready, we’ll see how it goes. If she’s uncomfortable with us in town, we can travel, go wherever we want. I told you, wherever you are is home to me,” Aiden said.
Jamie wiped at his watery eyes.
“Aiden tugged on Jamie’s hands. “No, no, no. None of that. No crying. We can’t have you crying while I’m sitting here eating the best pancakes I’ve ever had.”
Jamie laughed. “I got it. No crying.” He nodded at Aiden’s almost empty plate. “Do you want any more?”
He shook his head. “Nah, not right now.” He pushed back so he was leaning against the arm of the sofa. He patted his chest. “Right now, I just want to rest here with my mate. Come on up.”
“What? I don’t want to hurt you?”
Aiden scowled. “Are you serious? Get up here now. Come on and snuggle up.”
Jamie shook his head. “I never thought I’d hear you say the phrase ‘snuggle up.’” He climbed up and lay next to Aiden with his head resting against his chest.
“I never had a reason to say it before now,” Aiden deadpanned.
“Is this alright? I’m not too heavy, am I?”
Aiden groaned. “No, now rest. Or at least keep me company while I rest.”
“Alright, bossy boots.”
Aiden dropped a kiss onto Jamie’s forehead. “And don’t you forget it.”