I urged my little bro to tone down the volume, but he was bouncing around, stealing crackers and cheese and asking Bronson a million questions about how he was dealing with being adjacent to shifter life.
“Why should I whisper?” Dale tossed grapes in his mouth. “You don’t care, do you, Bronson?”
My mate shook his head and took my hand, telling me to relax. But how was I supposed to do that when Dale was pacing aroundthe kitchen, rallying off facts about my life, and my parents were due here soon.
“Did you know I was with Linc at the bonfire and the morning after?” Dale grabbed a soda and plonked himself in an armchair.
“He might have mentioned it.”
“So, I’m the hero of the story. You two are together because of my party choice. If it hadn’t been for me, you two would never have met.”
I groaned, thinking of Dale draped over Mike. Thank gods he was in my brother’s past.
But Dale wasn’t done. He detailed how I’d had a meltdown the following morning and came up with the wildlife photographer cockamamie story.
“I didn’t have a meltdown.” And I defended my lie because what else was I supposed to have said?
Bronson laughed and side-eyed me. “You asked Dale for advice?”
Now that was funny, and I giggled along with him. Dale made a face and couldn’t understand why that was so hilarious.
“I have so many embarrassing stories about Linc if you want to hear them.”
Bronson asked me if I had any tales about Dale I wanted to share.
“So many.” I folded my arms, ready to regale my mate.
“Hey, that’s enough. I’m supposed to be giving Bronson ammunition for when you argue.”
A car pulled into the drive, and Dale bounded out of the chair and out the front door.
“Parents of mine. How are you?”
“Do you know this kid, Laurie?” That was our alpha father, George. He and Dale shared the same sense of humor.
“Never laid eyes on him before. Maybe someone left him on the doorstep.”
“Very funny, you two.”
The three of them tried to enter the front door at the same time and got stuck until Dale darted forward. My little brother quieted as I introduced my mate to our folks. There were hugs all around, and I didn’t know why I was so nervous. I glanced at Bronson, hoping he wasn’t overwhelmed, but he returned my smile as my omega dad held him tight.
My father held up a bottle of champagne, and when Dale whooped, he told him he wasn’t old enough to drink. My brother protested, saying he was over twenty-one, but my dad asked for ID.
I’d compared meeting Ronnie to what was happening now, which wasn’t fair. She was protecting her son, whereas my folks were gushing over us being mated.
Father uncorked the champagne with a loud pop, and everyone ducked except Bronson until I yanked him down.
“He always does that. It’s his thing.”
“To our son and his mate, and not forgetting Linc’s panther. We wish you the happiest of lives.”
I commandeered Dale into helping us bring the food out. It was mostly cold cuts with salads, fruit, and bread, and everyone helped themselves.
“You must expand on how you met?” My dad, Laurie stabbed a tomato and popped it in his mouth. “We’ve heard a little from Dale.”
I groaned because in my brother’s version of our meeting, he was the superhero in a cape, and without him, all was lost.
“Don’t believe a word of it. Dale embellished the details.”
