I blush, knowing I can’t argue facts. I am completely head over heels in love with Oklahoma. I haven’t told any of my friends that I’m pregnant. One, they wouldn’t believe me. I wouldn’t believe me either. It’s impossible to know so early, but since he isn’t exactly ‘normal’ and the only way to seal the bond is to fuck until I get pregnant, there wasn’t really a choice in the matter.
I wouldn’t change anything.
Everything feels right.
“I know. I know. I haven’t been around much, but he is so?—”
“Hot,” Jess finishes my sentence. “The man is hot and the way he looks at you?” She fans her face with her hand. “Undeniable. I would be locked up in that house too if I liked men.”
I snicker, tossing a pillow at her. “You have your happily ever after.”
Jess watches Millie pick out a shirt from her suitcase. We’re all getting ready to go out tonight. No chasing. No studying weather patterns. Oklahoma is taking us to his favorite bar.
He’s worried he’s kept me away from my team for too long. He isn’t wrong. I haven’t been a great member since meeting Oklahoma. Now that the mating heat is over, and we’ve been able to be away from one another for a few hours, I’ll be able to get back to work.
Even if I already miss him. I hate when he isn’t near me. Is that what the bond is like? Constantly needing to be with him at all times? I feel like there’s a part of me missing while he, Westin, and Jazz make their rounds on the ranch.
“She’s pretty perfect,” Jess sighs, the completely in love kind of sigh.
“Is this too much?” Reina asks, walking down the hallway in a short black dress.
“Ow, owww,” I shout while Jess whistles, bringing two fingers into her mouth.
“You are wearing that for sure. There’s no way a cowboy won’t buy you a drink if you’re wearing that.”
She pops the top off her burgundy lipstick. “Perfect, then I’m not changing.”
Millie huffs. “I give up! I have nothing to wear.”
Jess gets up and squeezes my shoulder. “I’m going to go help her, but hey,” she leans down to whisper so Ruka can’t overhear. “You deserve to be happy too, Nari. I know you and Ruka aren’t getting along right now, but he will get over it. Youdeserve to feel whatever is making you smile this wide. You deserve happiness, and if Oklahoma makes you happy, that’s all that matters. Ruka isn’t used to having to share you. He probably feels like it’s just him now, you know? Do you…plan on leaving The Dust Bunnies?”
I gasp, my eyes going wide as saucers. “No! Never. This is my life. That hasn’t changed.”
“Then everything will work out.” Jess kisses my cheek, leaving me alone with my brother, who is reading weather systems on the laptop.
Completely ignoring me.
“Are you going out with us tonight? I’d like for you to,” I admit, holding an old, puke green pillow against my chest that must have belonged to Oklahoma’s grandma.
“I’m going. I need a night out.” He pinches the bridge of his nose, yawns, and rubs his eyes. He closes the laptop and sets it to the side. “You really like him, don’t you? I’m going to have to get used to him being around, aren’t I?”
I hold back the truth from Ruka. I want to say I don’t just like Oklahoma, I love him, but I’d get a lecture again since I haven’t known him for long enough. Ruka doesn’t have all the details, and I’m not sure if he ever will. I mean, he will need to eventually when he sees I’m not aging as fast as everyone else.
I’m not even going to bring up that I’m pregnant. Ruka will lose his mind. My parents will be happy. They have been wanting grandchildren for a few years now, but Ruka is protective.
And I love him for that.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and play with a frayed edge on the pillow. “Yeah, Ruka. I do. I really like him. He isn’t a bad guy. He treats me well. And he doesn’t want me to stop chasing. I don’t want to stop chasing. This ranch could be our hub. We love the wide-open space, and we could study so many tornadoes. Just last night, I saw an amazing rope! We could finally move outof that house that’s falling apart. We could be happy here, but you have to give it a chance. You have to give him a chance.”
I stop talking, not wanting to oversell the benefits of Oklahoma. Ruka will find that suspicious. He’s a very suspicious guy now that I think about it. He trusts no one. Except me.
Well.
He used to trust me. I don’t know if he still does.
He stares at me, his leg bouncing as thoughts swirl around in his head. I hold my breath, waiting for an answer before he smiles, showcasing two dimples on either side of his cheeks.
“Fine. But these cabins need some work before we can move in. Jess and Millie will need their own place. I guess I could room with Reina if there isn’t enough space for all of us to have our own, but you’re right. His land is pretty perfect for tornadoes, but I swear, Nariko, if he hurts you, I’ll feed him to Marvin.”
