Chapter 19
AARON
I love Pax. My business is totally thriving, and I really enjoy getting to know Buckle and Pax’s family. But… I’m homesick. Of course, I see everyone as much as I want via video chat, but it’s not the same.
I confirm an order of dragon costumes for the dinosaur line as I lean on Pax’s shoulder.
I should have gone with an Easter theme since it’s April, but I wanted to be different and go my own direction and it’s working.
My business is booming and I have people wanting to do collabs.
I’m living all my dreams, so why am I so sad?
Pax threads his fingers through my hair as he flips through the streaming channels.
He had a long day at the garage and I’m glad to bring him a little comfort with my touch.
He puts down the remote and tugs me up to clutch on to me.
It’s my turn to be the pillow and we shift to make him comfortable.
“So, I’ve been thinking,” Pax starts. He swallows, then starts to play with my fingers. “My lease ends in June. What if I don’t renew it? You have to be missing your family and your house. I know we visited last month, but that’s not enough, is it?”
I push to sit up straight, bringing him with me. “Are you saying you want to move in with me?”
“Yeah. I’ve really enjoyed helping you with packing and shipping orders. It’s been fun. And things are picking up. I thought maybe I could be your helper.”
“You want to help me?” I don’t know why I find it surprising.
He loves working at the garage, but I have noticed how bright he is when we’re working on orders together.
We sing silly songs together and he helped me design some new stickers.
Heck, he’s the reason I went with Valentine’s Day dinosaurs.
He’s got such a good eye for design and marketing.
“Of course I want to help. But only if—”
I kiss him over and over.
“Yes, please. I’d love your help. I’d be overwhelmed if you weren’t here. And I’d love to take you home and rub your scent on every inch of my house.” I nuzzle his neck, breathing him in.
“Then it’s settled.” He nods and sinks deeper into me.
“You’ll get to be around family when your sister’s Omega has their babies.
Our baby will be raised with all their cousins.
” He looks up at me. “Will our baby be a shifter, too?” He cups the small swell of his tummy.
“If they aren’t, what if they’re jealous of all their shifter cousins? ” Tears well in his eyes.
“Darlin’, our baby won’t be jealous or feel left out or anything no matter what they end up being, because they’ll be so loved by everyone it won’t matter.”
“It might matter to them,” Pax whispers.
I concede, because we both know he’s right. “Most of the kids born from shifter and human pairings, especially Fated mates, favor the shifting parent.”
“I’d like that for them.” He rubs his tummy. “I hope they’re a shifter. But no matter what, I love them with all my heart.”
“Same.” I kiss the top of head. “Your family and Buckle are, of course, welcome to visit. Or we have plenty of property if you want them to live on the family estate.”
Pax snorts. “Please do not offer to move my mother to your family estate. My sisters, I can handle. But mother, it’s best to have her at a distance.”
I chuckle. “And Buckle?”
Pax sighs. “He’d probably take you up on the offer. But he loves being around his family. He’s really social and babysits his nibblings all the time.”
I nod and breathe him in. “I kind of do want to ask him. At least to visit. I can’t imagine you without your best friend around.”
“We’ll do what you’ve done with your family these last few months. Thank goodness for technology.”
“What if you put in your notice? Start helping me now? We can set our own schedules. You can sleep in late and I can make you breakfast at a leisurely pace. Take care of you.”
He stiffens, and I struck a chord.
“You don’t have to take care of me.”
“I know, but I want to. I want you to know you’re loved, and I’d do anything to make sure there’s a smile on your face every day.”
He softens again. “I know. And I know I’m stubborn.
With you, I’ve discovered more of who I am.
Who Pax is. I keep chipping away to find the layers underneath, and I think Pax is soft.
A lover. I don’t have to be hard anymore because I have you.
I can let go of this preconceived notion of what an Omega is supposed to act like because you’ve shown me a different way.
You’re always just Aaron and you let me release my walls. I can’t say thank you enough.”
“Oh, Pax.” I kiss him again and again. “I love watching you blossom.”
“You’re my sun, Aaron.”
We make love slowly on the couch. He’s beautiful when he rides me. No, he’s beautiful all the time. My perfect Omega.
When we tell Buckle we’re moving at the end of Pax’s lease, he’s shocked. He doesn’t beg Pax to stay, but there’s a quiet sadness at our next game night.
“We’ll still get to see each other,” Pax says across the table from his best friend. He moves his game piece and drops it on the new spot.
“I know, but I thought.” Buckle shakes his head. “There are a lot of things I thought.” He grins at me, then at Pax as he makes his move. “I’d hoped to find a partner and we could raise our kids together.”
My heart aches for the man. Since I’ve been around, he’s dated so many Omegas and keeps getting his heart broken. None of them is Pax, and he needs to learn to stop comparing everyone to my mate.
“But you’re already living out the dream.” Buckle reaches for Pax’s hand and squeezes it. “I’m happy for you, even if I’m a little jealous.”
“You can move with us,” I offer.
Buckle’s head snaps towards me. “What?”
“My family estate has plenty of room. We can build you a cottage or something on my land. Maybe you need to get the heck out of Virginia to find your Fated. Have you tried traveling? What if you’re destined to partner with a pretty gazelle?”
He scratches the back of his head. “Is it weird that you’re offering to give me land to build a house on to be close to the man I’ve harbored feelings for, for decades?” He cocks a brow and we all chuckle.
“Very weird, I’m sure. But have you met me?” I point to myself. “I am weird. Heck, we can haul your trailer and plop it somewhere on my land.”
Buckle shakes his head. “I’m not saying no. But don’t be surprised if I take you up on the offer when you move.”
“Sounds good to me.” I lift his hand and shake it. “Whatever it takes to make Pax happy.”
“Whatever it takes,” Buckle squeezes my hand.
“You two are so weird,” Pax says. “And I love ya.” He leans into me and presses a kiss to my cheek.