Page 67 of The Secret Mate Society

“Mom…” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.“It’s just… it’s not?—”

“Ethan,” she said softly but firmly.“You’ve been through a lot and this is your first time on your own.After your… hospitalization, I’m a bit worried.Just let your poor mother check in on you for some peace of mind, huh?”

I glanced at Calder knowing there was no way out of this.

“Alright,” I said, trying not to sound as worried as I was.“I’ll see you Friday then.”

"Perfect!I'll see you Friday afternoon.I love you, honey."

"Love you too, Mom," I managed before she hung up.

I set the phone down with trembling hands, staring at the blank screen.The reality of what was about to happen crashed over me like a cold wave.My mother, the only family I had left, was coming to Portland.To a city where a monster had been hunting me, where human hearts were being left as calling cards, where I was falling for a man who kept secrets that could apparently get people killed.

"She's really coming," I said, more to myself than to Calder.

"Yeah," he replied grimly."She is."

I turned to look at him, seeing the tension in every line of his body.He was staring at the ceiling, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.

"I really wish she wasn’t," I said."But it’s impossible to change her mind once it’s made up."

Calder's eyes met mine, and for a moment I thought he might finally tell me the truth.Whatever he was hiding, whatever secrets he'd been keeping, I could see him weighing whether to share them.

“I guess we’re gonna need to keep an eye on her then,” he nodded.“So hopefully she likes me…”

It never even dawned on me that Calder would be nervous about something like that.Instinctively I reached out, pulling his forehead against mine.

“She’s going to love you,” I said softly.

He glanced up at me.“How can you be so sure?”

“Because you make me happy,” I replied, shrugging as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.“What else could she want?”

Calder smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.“Let’s go on another date.Tonight.”

I grinned back.“Anything you say.”

Chapter29

Ethan

Despite my upbringing in the more rural parts of New York state, I had never actually been to a cider mill.In fact, I couldn’t remember doing anything remotely fall or Halloween themed since I was barely in elementary school.So when Calder handed me a helmet and drove me out to an apple orchard on his motorcycle, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

I could smell the place before we got there.The air was full of the scent of baked goods, cinnamon, and apples.It was like walking past one of those candle shops in the mall.The smell was so intense and lovely that I nearly melted on the spot.And the moment my helmet was off, all I could think of was food.

"God, it smells incredible here," I said, breathing in deeply as we walked toward the main building.The orchard stretched out in neat rows around us, heavy with red and golden apples that caught the afternoon sunlight.Families wandered between the trees with baskets, children's laughter mixing with the distant sound of a tractor.

Calder's hand found mine as we approached the entrance, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture so natural it made my chest warm."Wait until you taste the cider donuts," he said, that rare genuine smile spreading across his face."They make them fresh every hour."

The main building was bustling with activity.Couples and families moved between displays of pumpkins, gourds, and apple varieties I'd never heard of.The warmth from wood-burning stoves mixed with the sweet scent of caramel apples and kettle corn.It felt wholesome and normal in a way that made me almost forget about monsters and missing hearts.

"Two ciders and a dozen donuts?"the woman behind the counter asked with a knowing smile as we approached.

"Make it two dozen," Calder said, pulling out his wallet."And whatever else you recommend."

Twenty minutes later, we were seated at a picnic table outside, surrounded by paper bags filled with treats.The hot cider warmed my hands through the paper cup, steam rising between us as we shared apple cider donuts that were somehow both crispy and tender.

"This is perfect," I said, watching Calder lick cinnamon sugar from his fingers.The simple gesture shouldn't have been so attractive, but everything about him seemed designed to make me lose my mind.