Chapter 14

Lauren

“ Tell me what's going on! ”

Her elaborate gestures were like a slap in the face.

“ It's not what you think. ”

“ No? Because it looked like you've been crying or having sex, and you were alone with Denny. Do you know how that looks? You've always taught me to be better than that. ”

I took a step back as if she really had just slapped me.

“ That's enough. ”

The look on her face told me she understood I'd had enough.

“ Are you going to talk to me or yell at me? Because I'm not going to stand here and just be berated. And I wasn't having sex with Denny, but if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business. ”

“ None of my business? I'm your sister. And he has a mate! ”

“ I know. I’m his mate! ” If we were arguing aloud, I would have yelled that, and I knew Kylie heard me loud and clear.

All the fight in her depleted as she sat down in the chair he'd been in just moments ago.

Feeling the tension in the room ease, I took my seat on the bed and then grabbed his pillow and hugged it.

“ M-A-T-E? ” she asked for clarification.

I nodded. “ He's my true mate, Kylie. ”

“ Wow. ”

“ Yeah. Wow. ”

“ This is big, Lauren. You've never even kissed a guy before and now you suddenly have a mate? ”

I blushed remembering all the kisses Denny and I had shared that day.

“ You kissed him? ” she asked, but there was no need for me to reply. I knew my face told her all she needed to know. With a shrug she continued. “ I can see it. I mean he's really nice and hot. ”

I growled. She couldn't hear me but the look of surprise on my face must have clued her in.

“ Did you just growl at me? ”

“ Sorry. ”

“ Do you want to talk about it? ”

“ Nope. ”

“ Lauren. ”

“ I just needed you to know. We were out in the woods by the lake today. ”

Her gasp was audible. “ The lake? ”

I nodded.

“ Are you okay? It's a pretty big lake. ”

“ I know, and no, I wasn't okay, but I am now. It helped talking to him. ”

Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head this time.

“ You told him about the accident? ”

I nodded. “ I told him everything. ”

“ Wow. ”

“ Yeah. Wow. Anyway, we came back here for something to eat and then we were talking and I realized my phone had died at some point and I sort of freaked out on him. ”

She grinned. “ Well, he might as well know what he's getting into. ”

“ Hey, what's the supposed to mean? ”

She shot me a knowing look.

“ Kylie! ”

Her whole body shook as she laughed then lunged out of her seat to tackle me on the bed.

I squealed in surprise. I hadn't seen this playful side of my sister since the decision for her to attend Archibald Reynolds was made. She'd been so mad at the world and now she was happy? It didn't make any sense. But I was glad for it.

She rolled away from me and sat up on the end of the bed with her legs crisscrossed so she could communicate better.

I moved to lean against the headboard, cuddling Denny’s pillow. His scent helped to soothe my nerves. I was still in a bit of shock that Kylie was taking this all so well.

“ Why didn’t you just tell me? ”

“ I don’t know. It’s just all so new and confusing. You’ll understand some day. It’s not easy to talk about, especially with my little sister .”

“ If you can’t talk about it with me, then who? ”

I sighed. There was only one answer that sprang to mind. “ D-E-N-N-Y. ”

“ Really? That’s not like weird or anything? ”

I shrugged, then shook my head. It wasn’t weird at all.

“ I like him. ”

“ So do I. ”

“ Why were you fighting then? ”

“ We weren’t really fighting. ”

“ But you were upset. ”

“ I already told you. I got distracted and let my phone die and just sort of freaked out on him. ”

Her eyes grew wide. “ Do you think he’s mad? ”

“ No. He’s fine. ”

“ How can you be so sure? ”

I shrugged. “ I don’t know. I just do. ”

“ We should check on him. I don’t want you to screw this up. ”

“ Hey. Have I ever screwed anything up? ”

“ Remember that souffle you tried to make one Christmas? ”

“ Food doesn’t count. I meant when it comes to the important stuff.”

“ Never. You’re the best, and he’s lucky to have you. If you want him, that is. Just because he’s your true mate, doesn’t mean you have to accept him, does it? I mean D-E-N-N-Y seems like a great guy, but what if he wasn’t? What if he was mean or ugly? ”

I laughed. “ I don’t know, because he’s neither of those things.”

“ You really do like him, don’t you? ”

“ I do. ”

“ You should tell him then. ”

“ I think he already knows. ”

“ I’m okay with it, too. I hate thinking about you being all alone. ”

“ This isn’t stuff you need to be worried about. It’s my issue to sort out. You just concentrate on making friends and doing the best you can here. I’m so proud of you. ”

“ Maybe it’s time you did something for yourself, Lauren. I’m going to be okay here. I already have friends and somehow, it’s going to work out. ”

“ Who are you and what have you done with my sister? ”

She rolled her eyes at me. “ Don’t joke. I’m serious. It’s time you stopped worrying about me and did something for yourself. You’re always taking care of me. Maybe D-E-N-N-Y can take care of you now. You deserve that. Just don’t be so stubborn that you refuse to let him. ”

“ When did you get to be so smart?”

She closed the gap between us and hugged me. When she finally let go, she gave me the sign for “ I love you ”.

Tears sprang to my eyes.

“ Love you, too .”

“ I’m going back to my friends now. We’re good right? ”

“ Always. ”

“ Want me to send him back? ”

“ I don’t know. ”

“ That means yes. Just tell him you’re sorry for being crazy. ”

“ I am not crazy. ”

She just stared at me as if I was crazy and then left, laughing.

Well, that went better than I expected , I thought.

There was a knock on the door and then Denny poked his head in.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Is Kylie okay?”

“Yes. Happier than I’ve seen in a long time.”

“So, are we okay?”

He looked so cute and hopeful as he waited with just his head through the door.

“Yeah, we’re good. I’m sorry I freaked out on you.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that.”

“Try telling that to Kylie.” I rolled my eyes.

“Can I come in?” he asked, hesitantly.

I snorted. “It is your room.”

“Not if you need your space.”

“I’m fine. Kylie’s fine. I’ve calmed down. And I really am sorry. The thought of her alone and scared without a way to reach me just freaks me out.”

“But she’s not alone or scared.”

“I know that. And maybe it’s an unfounded fear, but that’s the kind of thing I worry about, so I make sure she always has a way to reach me. I never let my phone die like that. If it hits fifty percent I start to freak out.”

“Guess I was too much of a distraction. It was probably my good looks. I’ll try to be less attractive in the future so you don’t get too distracted.”

I laughed and threw his pillow at him.

He easily ducked out of its path.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, sometimes.”

I loved how confident and comfortable he was with himself. Had I ever been that confident about anything for myself? Kylie’s care, sure, but not when it came to me.

And the truth was he wasn’t wrong. He was insanely attractive. I’d never thought that about anyone before. How had Kylie put it? He’s hot. That didn’t even do justice to this gorgeous man.

I was still a little in shock how quickly my sister seemed to accept him. Maybe that’s just how it was with true mates. I really wasn’t sure.

“I know things aren’t perfect. I’m probably what most people consider a hot mess, but are all true matings this easy?”

He barked out a laugh. “First, you’re the furthest thing from a hot mess. I have never met a woman so strong and independent before. I’m not even sure you need me in your life, but I’m not too proud to admit I sure as hell need you.”

I started to protest, but he held up his hand and cut me off.

“And for the other part about easy matings, that’s just not a thing. I’ve been around enough true matings to see that firsthand. I’m glad you aren’t trying to fight it, but most people seem to. I don’t think I ever could, but I’ve seen it happen a lot. Miscommunications, overwhelming emotions, and all that shit while trying to get to know a person is not easy. And sure, we’re going to have some bumps along the road. There will be some ups and downs.”

“Like me freaking out and trying to push you away?” I guessed.

“Yup, stuff like that. I can’t guarantee it’ll always be easy, but I can guarantee that if you stick with me, together we can make it through anything.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know how valiantly you fought for Kylie. That speaks volumes for the kind of person you are, Lauren. And if you fight for us with even half that determination, then we’re going to be just fine.”

“And what about you?”

“I’m loyal to a fault. You have nothing to worry about with me. I do tend to be a flirt, and I’ll try to curb that out of respect to you, but it is in my nature, just so you know. But I would never act on it. Hell, I rarely did even before I met you. Now, there’s no way in hell I could ever even look at another woman. You are all I want. You’re all I need. And whatever is best for you is what’s best for me. Even if it means leaving my sanctuary here and following you back to New York, because I was one hundred percent serious about that.”

“Denny . . .”

“We have a few days to decide, and I think we’ve hit enough serious for one day. How about we just go out and have a little fun tonight? The brothers asked to host a party here tonight. I told them it would be okay. Why don’t we hang out, have a few drinks, dance, you know, normal stuff?”

Right. Normal stuff. The normal kind of stuff I have never done in my entire life.

Yet somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to confess that to him. He was president of his fraternity, still in college. He was young and fun, living a carefree life with little responsibility.

Sure, I may be younger than him, but in many ways, I acted far older and was probably more mature.

That wasn’t really fair because he’d never done or said anything that led me to believe he was immature or anything. But a party? I was struggling to wrap my mind around it.

“Relax, Lauren. Just breathe.”

I hadn’t realized how wound up I’d gotten myself until he spoke. He then wrapped his arms around me, causing my whole body to shudder against him.

“I’m okay,” I told him. And I was, but I was also confused by everything happening between us.