Page 27 of Eddie

“The way she manipulates you?”

It hurt, but it was fair. Eddie wasn’t wrong. Matthias knew that his mother was manipulating him. Hell, his entire family was doing it. He just wasn’t sure what to do about it.

Before, he hadn’t had a reason to stand up to them. He hadn’t really had a life beyond his job, and he didn’t want to lose them. Now, though? He had Eddie, and Eddie was worth losing everyone. It wasn’t like they cared about Matthias beyond his wallet and the help he could provide, anyway. Matthias was pretty sure that if something was to happen to him and he called Noah or even Jenna, they wouldn’t answer, let alone come to help. He didn’t have anyone who would do that.

Except that now, he did. He knew that no matter what happened, Eddie would always be there for him. He might be human, but he wanted this bond as much as Matthias did.

“You have to wait for me,” he whispered. “I know I’m asking a lot. I realize I shouldn’t and that you should be free to do whatever you want, and you are.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Eddie said in a tone that made Matthias wonder if he was rolling his eyes. “I’m not thinking about dumping you just because we haven’t seen each other in a while. Do I like the situation? Not at all. I want it solved, definitely, and as soon as possible, please. Even if we don’t talk about anything, I want to see you. I’m not ready to end this relationship just yet, though. You’re going to have to do much more than this for me to do that.”

“I don’t want us to end.” Not before they’d even started.

“Then you need to really think about what’s going on and what you want to do. I’m not breaking up with you, although I’m not even sure we’re together to begin with since we haven’t talked about it, but I can’t wait forever. I understand wanting your family to be your priority for a while, but how long is that going to take? Because, from what you’ve told me, they always need you. You make their lives easier. Your sister always has someone to rely on when she does something stupid, and your brother can get money and support from you. Your mother treats you like you’re their father. I haven’t heard much about your actual father, so I don’t know about him. What I do know is that they’re taking advantage of you, and I know you realize that. I’m not going to tell you that it needs to stop because it’s your life and your business, but while I’m willing to wait, it’s not going to be forever. Eventually, I’m going to give up, and no one will be able to blame me.”

“Just give me a little more time.” Now that Matthias knew how frustrated Eddie already was, he’d work harder and faster. And if he couldn’t make sure that his brother would stop being an idiot and everyone was safe, well, he wasn’t letting Eddie go, anyway. If that meant that his family had to deal on their own for the first time in forever, so be it.

EDDIE’S NIGHT HADN’T been peaceful. He’d slept, but he’d kept waking up, and he was grumpy this morning. He was pretty sure everyone could see it because as soon as he arrived at work, people gave him a wide berth. They stayed away from him like he had the plague, which was perfectly fine with him. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to talk to Matthias.

They hadn’t solved anything. Eddie had been hopeful they would, but he should’ve known better. Part of him had thought that he was more important than Matthias’s family, but now, he knew that wasn’t the case. He even understood why. It freaked him out a little that Matthias’s brother had been so willing to drive under the influence, and he didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of that. He understood why Matthias had stayed back to ensure that didn’t happen, but unless Matthias chained himself to his brother or tied him up somewhere, eventually, Noah would be on his own. He’d have to make his own decisions, including whether or not he should drive while he was drinking. There was a lot that Matthias could do for him, but he couldn’t stay there forever. Noah was an adult, and he had to take responsibility for himself.

Eddie wasn’t sure Matthias would let him.

But it was none of Eddie’s business, was it? Yes, Eddie was Matthias’s mate, but for now, they didn’t have a relationship. Matthias had begged him to wait for him, and Eddie would, but he wasn’t sure he could do it forever.

Even though most of him wanted just that. Hell, who was he trying to fool? He was pretty sure that even if things didn’t work between them and Matthias popped up again in a year or two, he’d give him a chance. He might not be a shifter, but he felt the bond between them, and he wanted it.

He didn’t understand how Matthias was able to dismiss it. He didn’t believe that Matthias didn’t want him—in fact, he was sure Matthias did. It just wasn’t enough when it came to Matthias’s choices and his family. As much as Matthias wanted Eddie, he wasn’t taking the next step.

“Okay, who peed in your cereal?” Valentine asked as he entered the room, holding two cups of coffee.

Eddie was holding a hammer, and Valentine eyed it as if he expected to be hit. Eddie rolled his eyes and put it down. It wasn’t like he’d been working, anyway. No, he’d been staring at the wall instead. Maybe he should go home. He wouldn’t be of any help. Hell, for now, he was hindering the crew more than he was helping since everyone was avoiding the room he was in.

Well, everyone except Valentine. He was still keeping his distance, but he was here. It wasn’t the same as having his mate, but it made Eddie feel a little better. He wasn’t alone.

“Is one of those coffees for me?” he asked.

Valentine held one out quickly. He watched Eddie as if he expected an explosion, but Eddie just sighed and took a few sips. It was good and warm, and it did help him feel a little better.

“So,” Valentine started.

“I’m not going to be able to get you to stop annoying me, am I?” Eddie asked.

“Half the crew begged me to talk to you. You glared at John so hard he was in tears.”

Eddie snorted. Considering that John was several inches taller than Eddie and built like a brick house, he doubted that was the case. “John’s fine.”

“He is. Are you, though?”

That was a complicated question to answer. “I don’t know. I talked to Matthias yesterday.”

“Don’t you talk most evenings?”

“We do. I also saw my friends yesterday evening, though.”

Understanding dawned on Valentine’s face. “And they told you to talk to him.”

“I just don’t know what to do. He says he wants to come back and be with me, but he hasn’t done anything to make that happen. I feel like I’m second next to his family, which kind of makes sense since they’re his family and he barely knows me, but I’m his mate, and I don’t feel like I’m important. Hell, he didn’t even call this morning.”