Chapter 25
25
I blinked as I absorbed what my parents had said. “So, you’re going to return to your homeland and not return? When are you leaving?”
“In a week or so,” Mom said. “We’re finalizing the flight details still.”
My mouth dropped. “Why were you worried about me visiting if you’re leaving so soon?”
“We’d like to see you as much as we can before we leave,” she answered. Out of the side of her mouth she mumbled, “It’d be nice to see you mated before we left, too.”
“Ay, you can’t rush her,” Dad said and tsked.
“When did you guys decide on this?” I asked.
“Just a few days ago,” Dad answered. “We’ve been thinking about returning for a long time, but when we heard she was sick, we knew it was time. Plus …” He smiled. “… you’re all grown and even if you aren’t mated, you have a good support system here even if we do leave.”
“The bartender is gruff, but he good to you and can help you more than we can,” Mom said with a nod.
Taking a deep breath, I absorbed the news and asked, “What do you need me to do to help you prepare to leave? Are you selling the restaurant?”
“Well, that’s the other news,” Dad said and glanced at Mom who nodded. “We’re selling to the twins.”
My mouth dropped. “What?”
They both nodded.
“They confirmed yesterday and signed papers,” Mom answered.
The back door opened as the twins walked in.
“Speak of the devils,” I said and put my hands on my hips.
They both looked at me in shock.
“Oh, uh, you told her?” Jong-hyun asked softly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were doing something so important?” I asked. What other crazy life decisions had they made without telling me? We weren’t mated yet, but we were dating so I’d thought they would tell me things like this.
“We decided to use part of our share of the winnings from the poker tournament to buy the restaurant,” Jong-min explained. “We were talking amongst ourselves, before you got fired actually, about wanting a business that was ours. One our pack could run so we didn’t have to worry about finding jobs. When you got fired because of that slimy mermaid, we knew it was the right decision.”
“We didn’t tell you yet because your parents wanted to tell you about their trip first,” Jong-hyun added as he walked closer and took my hands.
“Does this mean I won’t be working for Gina?” I asked.
They both shook their heads. “Actually, we think it would be good for you to work elsewhere. We know you get worried about money so having a separate stream of income will give you ease of mind,” Jong-min explained.
He was right, damn him.
“So, you four will work here?” I asked.
They both nodded.
Jong-hyun squeezed my hands. “And if you decided you want to come work here, you can. We just want you to have options.”
“Is that why your brother is here?” I asked.
“Your brother here?” Mom gasped.
“He’ll leave soon,” Jong-min said with a scowl. “He came unannounced to try to convince us to return to our homeland.”
“You don’t want to go?” Dad asked.
Jong-min shook his head and Jong-hyun put his arm around me, hugging me against his side.
“We were not happy there and going back now will not change that,” Jong-min answered. He looked at me and his lip twitched in a smile. “Plus, we have something here we won’t give up.”
“So, you do want to mate!” Mom shouted.
I facepalmed and groaned, “Mom.”
“We need to talk about a few things with your parents about the restaurant and things. We’re going to have a pack discussion tonight. Can you go to the store and pick up steaks and vegetables for dinner?” Jong-min asked me.
They were clearly trying to get rid of me, but it was okay because I needed to get some items from the store anyway.
“Sure,” I said with a nod, and kissed all four on the cheek. “I’ll come by tomorrow,” I promised my parents.
They nodded and followed the twins towards the office in the side of the restaurant.
A pack owned restaurant would mean they wanted to stay here for an extended period of time. Did that mean they were ready to commit to being mated?
I hadn’t talked to them about it recently, but I was more than ready to accept them as my mates, too.
Inside the grocery store, I waved to the employees I knew, grabbed a cart, and started my shopping. If this was a serious pack discussion, like it sounded like it was, I wanted to get something really delicious for dinner. Steaks were good, but I wanted lobster, too, as well as something yummy for dessert.
Staring at the bakery displays, I tapped my lips as I debated what to get.
“Don’t accept,” a male, accented voice said behind me.
I turned and smiled at the twins’ brother. “Hello, brother of my boyfriends.”
He hissed. “It is ridiculous they are dating you.”
“You don’t even know me,” I said and put a hand on my hip. “Besides, it’s not up to you what they do. They’re adults and capable of making their own decisions.”
“Why won’t you just let them go?” he asked with a scowl.
“Uh, because I love them, duh.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then you can leave me alone.”
“Don’t accept their offer to be mated,” he said urgently. “Please.”
One of the bakery workers came out, wiping her hands on a cloth. “Are you ready?”
“Can you give me that chocolate cake?” I requested and pointed at the one in the display case with bright flowers decorated on it.
“Certainly,” she said and grabbed a box to put the cake in.
“You aren’t good enough for them and they’re going to ask you to be their mate! It’s insane!” he snapped behind me.
Sighing, I turned and said, “What’s insane is you thinking you can come here and tell me what to do. What’s insane is you going behind your brothers’ backs to try to ruin the happiness they’ve found.” Smiling to show my shark teeth I said, “We’ve fought for this happiness and I’m not going to let you or anyone else ruin it. If you want to talk to someone, go talk to your brothers.”
He took a step closer, his body starting to glow as he drew on his magic. Cat ears popped up from his head and his hands turned into lion paws with large claws. “You will listen to me.”
With a deep sigh, I pulled out my phone, videocalled Jong-min, and turned the camera to face his brother. “I have a situation,” I said.
Jong-min growled loud and started shouting in their native language.
His brother reverted to human form, saying something softly back.
I turned the camera towards myself and made a kissy face at him. “See you at home.”
“Smack him upside the head if he says anything else,” he ordered me.
I saluted him. “Yes, sir!”
He muttered something in his language I’d heard quite a few times and was pretty sure was akin to, “crazy woman.”
Taking the boxed cake from the worker, I smiled and said, “Have a wonderful day.”
Cake obtained, I skipped to the checkout line. I was determined not to let anyone ruin my day. Especially not a grumpy feline shifter who didn’t know me.
Especially when it seemed like our pack discussion tonight might involve a mating discussion. No, it would, because even if they didn’t bring it up. I one hundred and thirty percent would.