When I thought the day had finally settled down, I got called into the office for a computer patch. At least it was right before lunch. I could drop it off with IT and grab something to eat with Steven. I hadn’t talked to him much lately; it was safe to say I was pretty much focused on my mate. He understood, though, and didn’t think anything of it, although he did admit to me he felt a little jealous and wished someone would call his number by accident too.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you kind of look like crap,” he said and grabbed a cheese fry from our pre-lunch greasy goodness.
“Thanks.”
“I’m serious, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I didn’t sleep well last night is all. Bad dreams.” I grabbed a fry and shoved it in my mouth.
“Nightmares about anything fun?” Steven often turned his dreams into short stories, saying one day he’d write a book. He hadn’t yet, but he looked at every dream as the potential for a new story idea. It was kind of adorable.
“No, they were all awful. Harry decided he’d had enough and left me.” Saying it out loud was like a gut punch.
“Enough of what? You guys are, like, inseparable.”
“Because I hadn’t marked him yet,” I whispered.
His eyes went wide.
“It felt like I was asking too much.”
“Just once, Remy, would you listen to your words and see how you make your life more complicated than it needs to be?”
“Fine, Mr. Words of Wonder, what would you do?” Because I could use all the advice.
“What would I do? Soon as he walked in the door, I’d be nibbling on that sexy neck of his.” He didn’t keep his voice low, and I heard the older woman at the table next to us gasp. She was human and probably thought we were talking about sex. Ugh.
“Just like that?”
“Yeah, just like that. But also, I don’t think he’s upset about it. I don’t think this is a manifestation of that, anyway. He might be longing for that bond, but that’s not what this dream was about.”
When did he become the dream guru?
“What are you going on about?” I pulled the whole platter of fries in front of me when he went to grab one. It wasn’t time for him to eat, he needed to speak.
“They’re mine now, because you were mean.”
“I wasn’t mean. I just think it’s yourinner selfneeding you to be bonded fully, because maybe it’s not just the two of youanymore.” He did know how to be discreet when he wanted to, not saying koala. Sometimes I didn’t understand my bestie.
“The two of us? I’m a one-alpha kind of guy.”
“Not you and Hari. You and your koala. I think maybe you’re expecting.”
“What? I…” Could I be pregnant? Wouldn’t I know if I was?
“Well, let’s put the evidence on the table. You look like you didn’t sleep well.”
“A lot of people don’t sleep well.” I usually did, though.
“And are you more tired than normal?”
“Yeah.” Exhausted.
“And you said you didn’t feel well this morning, that your stomach was kind of hating you and you’re not sick.”
“Fine. But that doesn’t automatically mean pregnant.” Although I wasn’t sure what other options it could mean.
“Are you doing the things to get you pregnant without any protection?” This time he was loud again. Was he trying to traumatize that old lady?
