AllFreeNovel
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“I think Ivan was right,” I mentioned, already looking at the attic door while Riggs cut some steaks and salted them for that night’s supper.
“We already know he was right. That’s why we signed up for the app.”
I snorted. “Not that. I meant about the tree. What if one of these females is the right one and she wants to come up tomorrow or the day after that. Look around at the impression it’s going to give her.”
Riggs barely looked up from his steaks. Our attitudes had reversed a bit. I was now excited, and he was grumpy as a bear just out of hibernation. “It looks like two single men live here.”
“Exactly,” I replied and tugged on the string that opened the door to the attic. “We want her to feel comfortable and welcome here. Because we want this to be her home. Help me get the tree down.”
“Give me a minute,” he said and went back to sprinkling the salt all over the meat.
We pulled down the box that contained every Christmas decoration we owned. Pathetic at best.
“We need more. Plus, the comforter is thin and faded. We should get a new one. Something warm in case she’s human.”
My best friend grunted beside me while taking a peek into what would be one day our master bedroom—one that we would share with our mate.
“You want to go to the city? We could use a few things for the pantry. We should be stocked in case we are snowed in.”
I chuckled. “Again, you mean? We are always snowed in for at least a week. But this time it might be more…fun.”
A smile rose on my friend’s face. He got up and grabbed his coat, along with his wallet and keys. We hopped into our shared vehicle and in minutes, we were on the road and making our way to the city. We bought everything we thought a female would need. Things to make her comfortable. Things to show her that our home was hers as well.
For the dream of a mate—a lifelong companion and perhaps mother to our children—it was the least we could do.
“Did we get everything?” Riggs asked, sparing a glance into the back of the truck. It was packed full of all we needed and more. We hadn’t spent a fortune, only picking out high-quality things that would last.
“If we didn’t, then we will bring her to the city when we can and get her anything she desires.” I nodded, happy with our decision. It felt like moving forward. A step in the right direction.
“When we get home, I’ll go out and get a tree. I know the perfect one. I’ve been watching it grow since the spring. It will make an amazing Christmas tree. We have the one in the attic, but this one will be so much better.”
Riggs chuckled. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t feel like falling. It feels like not being stagnant anymore.”
That night, we sat on the couch, looking over our hard work. The Christmas tree was a proud centerpiece of our entire living area. It was strung with lights and we’d done our best to make it sparkle with ornaments and tinsel despite the salesman saying it was out of style. I didn’t give two shits about fashion. We’d had it on my trees growing up, and I loved it. The light coming from the fire danced along the metallic strings, making me remember a time long ago.
We’d exchanged the master bedroom comforter for a warmer one perfect for sleeping in on a winter’s morning.
“There’s been notifications while we worked today,” Riggs mentioned and pulled out his phone.
“Let’s look at them.”
We flitted through all of them, none of the females catching our eyes until the last one did, the latest one. Her name was Marney. She had short platinum hair and a smile that made me want to kiss her lips.
“That’s her,” Riggs whispered.
“Yeah. It is.” I got my own phone out, ready for whatever was next. “What do we do now?”
Riggs clicked a button. “We can send her a message.”
“Should we? Is it too soon?”
Riggs shrugged. “Doesn’t feel too soon, Nacho. It feels not soon enough. What is your bear saying?”
I reached inside me, in the depths I couldn’t see, and communicated with my animal.
He approved.
