Page 76 of Facade

It had occurred to Heath when he woke up that morning that Jace had to be struggling under the pretense of only being coworkers with Clarke. They had been meeting in the basement to speak freely, and nurture the bond. That was why Jace had reacted strangely to Heath mentioning the spelled alert.

Heath was glad they’d found a way to carve out some time for themselves. But the basement was far from optimum, and only a short-term solution. Neither Jace nor Clarke had to carry on the charade at his house. But they still didn’t have privacy with him right there.

The best way Heath could repay Jace for his thoughtfulness and including Heath without complaint, was to give him time alone with Clarke. So, the errand was manufactured, with that goal in mind. Whistling a cheerful tune, he waved, and climbed into the car, not giving either of them a chance to protest.

Heath picked up a coffee cake and assorted pastries from a bakery. Then he got a few basics at a grocer, being careful not to be gone longer than an hour.

Nadine, Roger, and Brady were supposed to come over at eleven thirty. Heath wanted Jace and Clarke to have at least a half hour to themselves, but didn’t trust Nadine not to arrive early. Since she didn’t know about Clarke yet, his sister discovering Clarke and Jace at the house without him there could be problematic.

When Heath parked, Jace came out to help him with the bags. 007 looked calmer and happier than Heath had seen him since the start of term. He was happy to have contributed to that.

Jace slapped him on the shoulder before reaching for one of the bags. “Thanks, man,” he said. “Not everybody, hell, very few people, would concede territory even briefly when they are trying to establish a connection. I know you did that for me, and I won’t forget it. You’re the best bond brother I could have asked for.”

“That was for both your sakes, but I was thinking the same about you the other day,” Heath mentioned. “You could have taken advantage of your history with Clarke, and didn’t. It goes both ways.”

“That it does, TFS,” Jace agreed.

Heath smirked at that. Jace was giving tit for tat by abbreviating triple fudge sundae, and calling him TFS in the same tone Heath used when he said 007. He didn’t mind, and found it amusing.

“I just hope things are as smooth with the third guy when Clarke finds him,” Heath commented.

“That would be best for her, but I’m not very concerned about him causing trouble if he isn’t all in immediately,” Jace said. “You and I are a solid team. We’ll make sure he falls in line.”

Clarke opened the door for them then, ending the discussion. She looked a little nervous.

“Hey, if you’re worried about how Nadine will take the news, try not to be,” Heath said as he walked toward her with bakery boxes in hand. “She already likes you, and will be thrilled that we’re mates.”

Clarke took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. “I like her, too, and it will be great to have more support. Talking to Nadine at the game last night had me feeling guilty for hiding this from her. Going totally off script from the original plan has me jittery, though.”

“That’s normal, Primrose,” Jace said in a bolstering tone. “But plans should be fluid, and meant to change when new developments arise. Don’t borrow trouble. If it finds us, we’ll beat it up.”

“Right,” Clarke said. She looked calmer for approximately two seconds before her eyes went wide, and she hastily shut the door. “Shit! They’re early. I’m not prepared.”

Heath was very glad now that he’d anticipated Nadine being unable to restrain herself a moment longer, and gotten home when he did. After Clarke fled further into the house with Jace on her heels, he reopened the side door off the mudroom.

He stepped outside, closed the door behind him, and waited for his sister and her husbands to exit the vehicle. “Funny, I’m positive I asked you to come over at eleven-thirty, not eleven-ten,” Heath said pointedly.

Nadine huffed at that. Roger and Brady had the grace to look embarrassed.

“Be grateful I wasn’t here at sunrise, hammering on your door, and demanding answers,” Nadine said. “This is ridiculous, Heath.”

“I would have turned you away, but that would have been better than this. And it’s not ridiculous,” Heath countered.

Roger and Brady were looking at the big utility vehicle parked next to his car in the drive with a Mars College sticker on the windshield curiously.

“So a coworker stopped by,” Nadine said impatiently. “Tell him you have an engagement, so you can tell me what you’ve been hiding.”

They hadn’t discussed exactly how to go about this, but Heath decided that it might be best to give Nadine something before she entered the house. She hadn’t said as much, but Heath knew that most of her nagging came from a place of love and protectiveness.

Nadine worried that he might have gotten himself into a difficult situation. She was ready to charge to his rescue with Roger and Brady by her side.

“My mate is here, and is nervous at the prospect of this conversation,” Heath admitted. “You showing up early put her in a tizzy. She has enough stress to deal with, and doesn’t need more.”

Family or not, Heath wouldn’t tolerate Nadine upsetting Clarke unnecessarily. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mind him admitting that he was now bonded without her present. That seemed a better option than letting Nadine storm the house in his defense.

“What?” Nadine asked with wide eyes. “Did you say mate? This is the best news!”

His sister squealed in excitement, and rushed to tackle Heath, or maybe hug him. It seemed to be both at the same time. Roger and Brady watched her with fond smiles.