Chapter 2 #2
Because when push came to shove, yeah, he’d fucked up royally in Los Huego, but it hadn’t just been the scent of pine and the sea that had brought Liam back to Havers. It’d been Felix and the way Liam felt when they were together. The way his wolf craved to be near him.
Home wasn’t this stupid town, it was Felix Simms.
Liam took his time washing up and got dressed.
He’d been in there for a good hour, and it smelled like his mom had gotten back in the interim.
The aroma of fresh baked cookies teased around the door to his room.
He scrubbed a hand through his damp hair and made his way downstairs to the kitchen before she came looking for him.
There, he could leave. If she came upstairs, he’d be trapped.
His mom was bustling around the industrial-sized kitchen, her wide hips shimmying.
A smile ghosted over his lips. She had to be listening to gospel Christmas music on those earbuds he and Kelsey had gotten her for her birthday.
His mom had been leery of them at first, but once she’d figured out how to make a playlist, it’d been game over.
And the rest of them were blessedly spared from being subjected to her crappy Christian rock and all things Mariah.
She hipped the oven closed and turned, jumping when she spotted him, a hand to her throat. “Oh! Liam!” She pulled the buds from her ears and set them on the counter. “I didn’t hear you come in! How was your day?”
He shrugged, pulling up a seat to the breakfast bar and pushed a jarred candle with balsam ringing it to the side before running a hand over the worn olive Formica.
The rest of the counters were lined with baked goods in various stages of preparation, and a smear of royal icing was on his mom’s plump cheek. “My day was okay, I guess, yours?”
She waved at the assembly line of cookies.
“Well, if you can’t tell, the bake sale’s an absolute mess.
What they were thinking letting Kressida Pao manage it this year…
she might have an affinity for talismans, but the woman is a menace when it comes to fundraisers.
How she thinks it’s all going to come together in the next two days—but you don’t want to hear about all that.
” She batted a hand at him and switched on her mixer. “Did you have an interview?”
Fuck. “No. You know how the offseason around here is.”
His mom raised a brow at him. “I do, but rumor has it there’s an opening at town hall.”
“I don’t think I’m government material,” he quickly said.
“Nonsense,” she scoffed, plopping down a package of manila tags in front of him and a sheet of stickers before going back to the stove.
“Work on putting those together for me, would you? You certainly have the credentials after working at that big firm, and I’m sure Felix would put in a good word for you.
He’s such a nice young man.” She shot him a knowing glance over her shoulder, and Liam felt his cheeks heat.
He took a deep breath and held it for a beat before he started peeling and sticking.
He’d never discussed his preferences with his parents, but he hadn’t tried to keep anything from them either.
They weren’t dumb, and considering his mom did his laundry, she would’ve smelled his mating pheromones on the tracksuit Felix had borrowed the last time he was here.
“Yeah, he is, but I don’t think us working together would be a great idea.” Especially with Liam’s law license suspended. If he did and someone caught wind of it, he’d be disbarred. Not that she knew about that, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her.
“Mmm. Well, Sheila Watt said Dempsy’s might be hiring after the New Year. You’re not going to be able to live off your savings forever, you know. It’d be a shame to squander that nest egg of yours.”
Liam grimaced, reaching for another tag. Jenny had already done that for him, but he wasn’t getting into that with her either. “I’m not ready.”
His mom put down her spatula to face him. “No one’s ever ready, Liam. You just have to take life as it comes and hope for the best. You’ve got far too much to offer to keep sitting on the sidelines. It’s high time you got back into the game and go for what you want.”
He snorted. “Did you seriously just make a sport’s analogy?”
“Oh, you know your father and football,” she huffed, filling up a pastry bag.
“Silliest thing I’ve seen, but it’s important to him, so I’ve been trying to show more interest. It’s not all bad.
I do enjoy tailgating, and once I mentioned buffalo dip, I didn’t even have to twist his arm to get that new crock pot I’ve had my eye on. ”
“Way to go for what you want,” Liam chuckled, slapping on another sticker.
His mother shrugged. “He gets his dip, I get my crock pot, everybody’s happy…except a certain son of mine, and unfortunately, no amount of my cooking is going to change that.”
Liam pushed back from the counter. “Mom—”
“Stop right there,” she snapped, targeting him with her spatula and glaring at him over its tip.
“This needs to be said. Jenny was never right for you, and I’m furious she’s robbed me of my grandbabies and dragged those sweet angels into this mess.
Your father and I couldn’t give a fig if they’re yours or not—it kills me they won’t be here for Christmas.
Whatever went on between you two…” His mother shook her head.
“You’re better off without her and free to go after what you want.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that’s always been a certain freckled young man. ”
Liam swallowed the lump in his throat. Were they really gonna have this conversation? “Yeah, but the pack—”
“Oh, screw them,” his mother snapped. “There’s more than one of them out there that fancies someone outside of a traditional pairing, and in this day and age, you’d think they’d be more understanding of that.
Were, witch, warlock, male, female—Liam, you’ve tied yourself up in knots for how long?
There’s no point in making yourself miserable just to suit convention. ”
Liam stared at her, his jaw dangling. “W-what are you…”
“Honey, what I’m saying is if Felix Simms is the one who makes you happy, go get him. I can’t keep watching you make yourself sick trying to be what you think everyone else wants. It’s time to think about yourself.”
Liam dragged a hand over his face. “What about dad?”
“What about me?” His father came in and dumped his lunch bucket into the sink, a rush of cold air swirling into the kitchen on his heels. He kissed Liam’s mother’s cheek and snatched a cookie, her spatula just missing his knuckles.
Shit. Liam’s anxiety surged as the big alpha leaned back against the stainless steel refrigerator, chewing.
“Phillip Montgomery, those cookies are for the bake sale, and I was just telling your son he’s better off without Jenny and to go get that young man of his.”
Liam’s father grunted, fiddling with his eye patch. “Who? Felix?”
What? Liam’s mouth went dry. How did he—
“Yes, Felix. Who else do you think we’re talking about?” she asked, hands on her hips.
“It’s been a long day, Tess.” His dad sighed and took another bite of cookie, chewing slowly before he swallowed. “But I agree with your mother.”
Liam broke out in a cold sweat. “You do?”
His dad grunted. “Felix seems like the solid sort, and the way he stepped up for the town’s commendable.
Thankless and more than a little dumb on his part, but commendable.
You need that kind of stability in a partner, and Jenny sure as hell never had it.
If he makes you happy,” his dad shrugged and popped the last of the cookie into his mouth, “then it’s kind of a no-brainer. ”
Kind of a— “What about the pack?”
His dad blew out a long breath. “Were culture is what it is. My heart led me down the traditional path and taking alpha was the natural progression. You need to listen to yours. If that’s not where it’s at, then you’ve got no business stepping up.
There’s plenty of other weres capable, but none of them can live your life for you. ”
Liam wet his lips, feeling faint.
“Don’t get me wrong,” his dad said, running a hand over his beard.
“I think you would’ve made a fine alpha if you had your heart set on it, but there’s no shame in stepping aside for someone else.
The last thing I want is for you to shoehorn yourself into a role you’d come to resent.
That’s not good for anyone, least of all you…
but I’m pretty sure I’m preaching to the choir there. ”
“Yeah,” Liam hung his head, tears pricking at his eyes. “Thanks.”
“We love you, Liam,” his mother said. “We just want you to be happy.”
He nodded as he stood. Yeah. That’s what he wanted, too.