14. Carlton

"Don't wait up. Love you."

I ended the call. Theo hadn't picked up. He was probably pissed as I'd promised we'd go out to dinner. But the team and I had to order in—crappy pizza—and we'd be working late into the night, sleeves rolled up and needing a shower. The large conference room where we congregated with bottles of water, cans of soda, and mugs of coffee reeked of unwashed bodies.

I hate this place,my beast complained.

He wasn't the only one.

My working hours were driving a wedge between me and my mate. I reasoned with him that working from home allowed him to take breaks and sneak in an hour of work while I watched TV in the evening. Not that I was in the apartment much except to sleep, and watching TV was a forgotten pastime.

When we finally staggered out the door, my head fell forward on my chest as the elevator made its way to the lobby and finally the parking garage. But as my colleagues strode toward their vehicles, I pushed the button and returned to the lobby. I was too exhausted to drive, even though I'd drunk a coffee an hour earlier.

Squinting at the phone, I ordered a rideshare and slumped against the outside of the building until my phone beeped, telling me the car had arrived. I was tempted to lie down on the back seat, but the driver might've been pissed if he had to wake me, or worse, drag me out.

As it was so late and there was little traffic, the car sped through the empty streets and deposited me outside the apartment block. I left the car door open, and the driver yelled, "Hey." I apologized and closed it as he grumbled about customers having too much to drink.

I couldn't be assed to correct him, and when I tiptoed into the apartment, one living room lamp was one. Midnight stirred and gave me a look before turning over and ignoring me. He'd chosen a side, and it wasn't mine.

Thinking Theo and I were on opposite sides of a situation was silly and childish, but there was a chasm between us, and it was getting wider. Tossing off my shoes, I fumbled for my tie before recalling it was over a chair in the conference room.

I flicked off the lamp, and as much as I wanted to tumble into bed, I needed a shower. If I was honest, I wasn't looking forward to sliding between the sheets and the tension wafting off Theo. Even if he was asleep, which my bear told me he was, him turned away from me suggested he was annoyed. Angry, even.

When we first mated, Theo would stay up and wait for me and we'd talk while I ate leftovers or warmed up the dinner he'd made. And we'd sleep in one another's arms. And in the morning, we'd go through our morning routine, yawning, complaining about the new day and not enough sleep, and kissing one another multiple times before I swept out the door. Often while waiting for the elevator, I'd dash back inside and we'd kiss again and say how much we'd miss one another during the day.

But lately, Theo would stay in bed, telling me to have a good day, or he'd feed the cats and return to the bedroom, leaving me to shovel cereal in my mouth before going to work.

We were mates and that bond couldn't be broken. I hadn't lied when I'd explained to Theo about shifters. But mates could grow apart, even when living in the same home. Like humans, they had to work at their relationship.

I crawled into bed. Theo was awake, I was certain. His body was so stiff and his breathing wasn't slow and even. But I was so exhausted, I didn't say anything. I didn't have a solution, so what was the point of discussing it in the middle of the night?

Weirdly, ever since we won the contract—the big prize making us the number one construction firm in the city—I'd gotten little satisfaction from my work. I had a hard time focusing, often had to rewrite documents, got distracted during meetings and stared out the window, and it was harder to get my team enthusiastic about the new project when my mind was elsewhere. With Theo was where it was.

The alarm rang as soon as I closed my eyes—or that was how it felt—and I dragged myself out of bed. When I came out of the bathroom, Theo was not in bed, and I trudged into the living room. He glanced at me, mumbling good morning while the cats tumbled around his feet, almost tripping him over.

"Wow, our babies are growing fast."

My beast drew a sharp breath inside me—I didn't know he could do that—and told me to shut up.

Theo swung around, his jaw clenched. "Of course they're growing, but you're never here." His voice was decibels higher than usual. "They miss you."

The fur babies appeared pretty content unraveling a ball of wool. I was pretty sure my mate was talking about himself. I stood behind him and placed a hand on each shoulder, but he tensed and I removed them. A pit of despair formed in my belly, and I imagined coming home one night and being locked out.

No! We can't leave!

We're not going anywhere, I assured my beast, but it was an empty promise because Theo was his own man.

"I'm sorry. This isn't what you signed up for."

Theo turned on his heel, his face reminding me of an angry storm cloud, dark and ready to burst.

"I understand there's give and take in every relationship. There are times when one of us has to travel for work or spend longer hours at the office, but even when you are here, your mind is elsewhere."

My mate's beautiful big eyes glistened with tears, and the trembling of his lower lip chipped a piece off my heart. I hesitated to hug him, but my beast urged me to. Better to be rejected than not try was his advice. But he was a beast, what did he understand about affairs of the heart?

It was the single tear trickling over Theo's cheek that almost broke me, and I outstretched my arms. He didn't hesitate and he fell into them, his sobbing echoing on my chest. My tears mingled with his, and I reflected on how I could have lost the most important person in my world. I still might. One hug didn't resolve anything.

Theo wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. "I love you, Carlton. But you have to go to work."

That was weird, my mate who resented me being at the office telling me to get out and go there. I was conflicted, thinking I should call in sick and thrash this out with Theo, not let it fester any longer.

"Go. If you're able to get away earlier tonight, we can order in and discuss what our future looks like." He gripped my hand, his fingers entwined with mine, just like our lives, and I was reluctant to let him go.

"It's okay." He sniffed and attempted a smile. "We'll be here when you get back. All five of us."

The kittens attacked my shoes. Were they playing or telling me I'd better do what Theo asked or else?

"Promise. I'll leave by seven." I whipped out the phone and texted the team.

Early night tonight. Done by seven.

I received thumbs-up emojis along with fireworks and party poppers. There was also one eggplant. That had to be a mistake. Theo giggled when I showed him, his laughter reminiscent of a wind chime, something I hadn't heard in a while.

"I gotta go, but I'll send you eggplant and peach emojis during the day."

He cracked up and placed a hand over my heart. "Just come home. That's all I ask. And drive carefully."

As soon as he said that, I recalled I left the car at work last night. But sitting in a rideshare allowed me to send the first of my eggplant and peach emoji combination.

Stop. But if you weren't going to the office, I'd ask for the real thing.

Being at work won't stop me. While I hated people who went to the bathroom and used their phones—gross. Think of the germs on the phone—I'd lock my door, close the blinds, and snap a pic or two. Nobody would know.

I was one of the first people in the office, and I raced to my office, not even stopping for coffee. Slamming the door, I got dick pic one done and sent. By lunch time, I'd sent ten and had almost gotten caught, having to sit at my desk with my pants around my knees. Thank gods I had a big old wooden desk and no one could see my lower half.

Theo had to be happy with the stream of pics, and being at home, he sent a video of him jerking off. Damn!

Now I want one of your hole!he texted.