7. Justin

7Justin

I probably should have putup more of a fight about staying at his house, but my wolf and I— couldn’t put the decision on the beast alone— wanted to stay with him.

Even though he clearly doesn’t want you here?

I tried not to think about that possibility. Or maybe Kairo didn’t know that we were mates. I couldn’t tell what he was, but I knew he wasn’t a shifter. So, possibly he wasn’t aware.

But that thought didn’t fly because his brothers seemed to know. I’d heard them tease him about it. Not that he’d said anything to confirm or deny it. It felt like he didn’t say much unless it had to do with the house,

“And this will be your room,” he said, opening the door to a beautifully decorated room in light blues and white that reminded me of the seaside.

“I can share with the kids. I don’t mind,” I said.

For what felt like the first time since we’d pulled up to his condo, he looked at me. “Why would you need to share with them? I have plenty of space here, and they’ll just be in the next room.”

I nodded but didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what to say.

“Someone will be in to take the bed away and put in two cribs.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, looking at him even though I couldn’t quite bring myself to look him in the eye. There was a wealth of things to look at aside from those dark orbs that seemed almost black. Kairo seemed like he was carved from marble. Even his cheekbones were perfectly sculpted. Really no one should look that good. “The kids can sleep on the bed just fine. Besides, Sara’s a little too big for a crib.”

“She’s three, right?” he asked, “I’ll let them know to bring a toddler bed.”

I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to change his house that much since we wouldn’t be there that long, but a part of me thought maybe he was doing it because this could become permanent… maybe?

If that was the case, the whole condo would need childproofing. There were way too many things that little hands could grab and break and sharp pointy objects that gave me hives just thinking about the accidents that could occur.

Thankfully we’d brought the playpen with us. It was scary how efficiently everything I’d pointed out had been packed up. Luckily, the kids had fallen asleep in the car, so they were napping in yet another spare bedroom so that the one that would be theirs could be cleared out.

This still felt like a dream. I needed to call my best friend and apologize and thank him for this. Whether or not Kairo—it felt weird even thinking his name—accepted we were mate’s, at the very least, the house would be done. Maybe I could find someone who could move in, and in exchange for housing, I’d pay them a reduced amount to watch the kids while I worked. And if they fixed up the apartment over the garage, I could rent that out too and bring in some extra income.

I closed my eyes and said a thank you to whoever was looking out for us up there. My sister and her mate, I was sure, maybe even my dad too. For the first time in almost nine months, I could breathe easily. Maybe things would be alright. It seemed like our luck was finally changing.

And you have a mate… I glanced over at him again… I wasn’t sure what to do with that. Was I meant to say, hey, you’re my mate? I groaned just thinking about it.

When Theo started crying, Kairo was showing me around the kitchen. It was so high-tech and shiny I felt like I would need a degree to operate the appliances in it.

“I’m sorry,” I said and hurried to the bedroom where I’d put them down before he woke his sister up.

When I pushed the door open, he put his arms up, and his mouth quivered, and I hurried over and picked him up. I lifted him off the bed, and he immediately burrowed into my neck. I knew he was scenting me.

I quietly took him out of the room and to the entrance where all our things were and grabbed the diaper bag.

“Don’t worry, buddy, I’ll get you changed and fed in no time.” Thankfully I’d thought to pack the pre-made food I’d batched cooked on Sunday for the week. So I just had to pop the pasta and chicken in the microwave, and it would be ready to go.

I went to the room that would be mine to quickly change Theo. I’d had enough practice doing it. Besides, the last thing I needed was for my nephew to pee all over all the nice furniture. It surely wouldn’t endear any of us to Kairo.

Maybe that was why he hadn’t said anything. Because of the kids. Did he think I had too much baggage? Well if that was the case, we didn’t need him. My niece and nephew were a part of me.

After I got Theo changed, I crushed him to my chest, “We’ll be fine,” I whispered to him, “We don’t need anyone else, just you, me, and Sara. And soon we’ll have a new house. Everything will be fine.”

I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince… but Theo didn’t seem to be buying it because he started crying again.

I bounced him as I walked to the kitchen, “Don’t cry, baby,” I crooned, “Food is coming.”

Damn, I left the cooler bag with his food at the door.I turned to leave the kitchen, but there Kairo was with the bag I needed.

“I thought you might need this.”

I smiled gratefully. “Thank you so much.” Something warm filled me. Aside from Ashley, who I paid, and Chris, who was my best friend, I hadn’t had anyone to lean on, and… no, don’t go there, he’s probably just trying to get the crying to stop.

I was about to set my nephew down when I realized I’d forgotten to bring the high chair. Damn… Okay, it’s fine. I can do this.

I moved Theo, so I held him with one hand on my left hip and made sure to bounce. All the while making shushing sounds. I opened the bag with one hand and searched through the containers. Thankfully everything was labeled, so it wasn’t so hard to find. But I had to remove everything in the bag because, of course, the one I wanted was right at the bottom.

I didn’t bother trying to find a plate; I just stuffed it into the microwave. When I stared at all the buttons, it was my turn to feel like crying. I felt Kairo behind me without turning around. Our bodies were so close that I knew I would be against his chest if I leaned back, so I held myself perfectly straight.

He pressed a couple of buttons, and the microwave came on. It occurred to me I should have been paying attention instead of breathing his scent that smelled like amber and pineapple. Who knew those two things would go well together? And that I would like it so much.

When I felt like the food would be heated enough, I opened the microwave. I blew out a breath when I realized the plate I wanted to use was in the baby bag in the other room. Suddenly, as if he could read my mind, a plastic bowl was placed before me.

I glanced towards Kairo, but he wasn’t looking at me. He must be paying attention, though, if he knew what I’d been looking for because he’d even included a serving spoon. I tried not to smile at the gesture, but I couldn’t help it.

I managed to get a little out, even though it was a balancing act with Theo still in my arms. At least the crying had been reduced to sniffles. I put the plate back in the microwave, and managed to get it going, and felt so proud of myself. It was comforting that Kairo hadn’t left the room even though I’d figured it out. I did my best not to glance in his direction, but it was all I wanted to do.

When the microwave pinged, I grabbed the bowl out and walked over to the small dining table that sat four. I tried not to imagine me, Kairo, Sara, and Theo years from now sitting here having breakfast before he took them to school, and I went off to the bakery.

But of course, the image was superimposed on my brain. And maybe we’d add a little one of our own to the mix. Nope, not going there and definitely not thinking about what Kairo and I would have to do to get that little one here.

I took a seat keeping Theo on my lap while trying to feed him, but now that the food was ready, he refused to eat. He constantly turned his head when I brought the spoon to his mouth.

“Do you want to feed yourself?” I asked my nephew. Sometimes I put the food on a plate or the high chair tray, and he grabbed it with his fist and shoved it in his mouth. Giving it a try, I held up the bowl for him. It hadn’t escaped my notice that our host was hovering, still in the kitchen with us. Not that I was complaining. As self-conscious as it made me feel, my wolf wanted him close. And so do you.

Theo didn’t seem to want to eat, but he also wouldn’t stop whining. Unable to comfort him, tears pricked my eyes because I wasn’t sure what was wrong. And you don’t want him to think you guys are too much trouble.

I hated the fact that thought even occurred to me because it didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. It was pretty simple. Kairo either wanted us, or he didn’t.

Suddenly Theo was lifted out of my arms, and I looked up, stunned to see that Kairo had picked up my nephew.

“Do you have something that belonged to his moms?” he asked.

I nodded and hurried out to the suitcase, pulling out the sweatshirt the kids sometimes slept with even though it smelled less and less like my sister and her wife. Still, it was one of their favorites because they’d shared it, and both of them had worn it around the house a lot.

I rushed back to the kitchen and handed it to Kairo. He wrapped Theo in it, and my nephew burrowed into the sweatshirt, and to my astonishment, he stopped crying.

“How… I can’t believe… how did you know that was what he needed?” I asked.

He shrugged, then simply replied, “I know what people wish for.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant. Hold on… did Kairo have some kind of mind-reading powers? I felt my cheeks heat. I certainly hoped he couldn’t read minds because the ground would have to open and swallow me if he knew what I’d been thinking every time I looked at him.

I glanced his way and found him looking at me. I lowered my eyes and begged whoever was listening, oh, please don’t be able to tell how much I want you to do naughty things to me.