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“Anything that’s not here,” she said easily. Even as she appeared calm I could see her fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of her shirt. Theo reached over and held them.
“Don’t worry, muse. She’ll love you.”
She nodded and turned around, heading back into her room.
“Can you stay with her while we run home? I need to get ready, too,” I admitted, giving Theo and Jordan a look that said they better not leave.
“What do I wear?” Jordan asked, looking alarmed now.
“No suits,” I said. “Be casual.” Mostly because I wanted to see Jordan truly unfiltered and out of his usual dark attire.
Two hours later, we were standing outside of the two-story farmhouse I grew up in. The drive took an hour but as we wound down those country roads I could barely contain my excitement.
My mom was on the porch the moment the tires hit gravel. My dad, Gordon, stood behind her, a lazy smile on his lips.
“Felix!” she shouted. “Warren!” We both were already moving forward to crush her in a hug. I breathed in the scent of her flowery perfume and smiled.
There was truly nothing quite like coming home.
“And you must be Tori and Jordan,” she said in a soft tone, shoving me unceremoniously aside to get to them.
Jordan was dressed in jeans and a black sweater, his hair down and tucked behind one ear. For once, he looked unsteady on his feet and Tori reached out for his hand, giving it a squeeze.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs.—”
She cut Jordan off and shook her head. “I’m ‘Mom’ to you, young man. Now get over here,” she said, rushing forward and hugging him. He stood stock still, eyes wide and startled as she squeezed him tight then moved on to Tori who did the same.
Watching them both get a hug and not know how to handle it nearly broke me.
“You two act like you’ve never been hugged before,” she teased, though the question laced her words.
“My mom didn’t hug,” Tori said, the words falling out and shocking her. Those gorgeous green eyes were wide but my mom just hugged her again. Jordan’s eyes softened at the sight before she tugged him in, too.
“Oh, my babies,” she cooed. “Get used to it.”
When she pulled away, she dabbed at her eyes and carted them inside. By the time Warren and I made it to the kitchen they were at the table with snacks in front of them.
“Oh no you don’t,” Mom called out as she saw me and Warren trying to sit, too. She rushed over and yanked us closer to the counter, giving us jobs like usual.
“Don’t get used to it,” I called out to Tori and Jordan. She’ll put you to work, too.
“Not today, this is their only time as a guest. Next time they’ll be family,” Mom said as she poked her potato peeler in the air between us.
Seeing my mom fuss over my mates was the best. She made sure they were fed and happy, telling them awful, embarrassing stories that made them laugh without holding back.
Every moment was full of so much love that my heart was bursting.
“That smile looks good on you,” Dad accused. His hazel eyes that matched mine twinkled as he teased me.
“Having mates is everything,” I managed to choke out as I watched Mom give Tori a hug and slid another slice of pie on Jordan’s plate.
“You’re right about that,” he agreed. “And your momma has a way of making everyone feel loved. It looks like they needed that mother’s touch.”
“You have no idea,” I said with a humorless laugh. “That’s why I couldn't wait to bring them by. They needed her just as much as I needed them.”
“That alpha looks at you both like you shit rainbows.”
I gave him a dry look. “Classy, Dad.”
