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I should. I know I should. This is big. Fated mates is big. I’m sure he knows we’re fated as well, but maybe he’s waiting for me to mention it? Who knows?
“Yeah, but after my doctor’s appointment. I want all the facts. If it’s bad news, I need to explain that and Weylet’s to him.”
Brandon nods in understanding. “I get that. Good luck. I want you to be happy. If your asshole boss does that,” I bump him with my hip, making him laugh, “then I think it’s a good thing. Make sure you let me know what happens after your doctor’s appointment, please.”
I kiss his cheek, bidding him goodbye. Peter, a shy accountant, is coming in as I get to the lobby. “Hey!” I say happily. Peter is a really good guy that was in a bad situation until Mason and Brandon helped him out. Now he’s working with Brandon instead of being stuck at his last firm.
He smiles at me, ducking his eyes. “Hey, Benji. How ya doin’?”
“Good. Chatting with Brandon. You should come to lunch with us one day.”
He looks up at me quickly, nodding. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’d love to.”
I say goodbye to him, walking out of the office, feeling better than I have for the past week. I can get over what I’m feeling for Rome. Hopefully, the doctor gives me good news, so I can get my mate.
Chapter 4
Rome
Sofar,it’sbeeneasy to steer clear of Benjamin at work. He’s avoiding me as much as I’m avoiding him, but not for the same reason, I’m sure. There’s something about how skittish Benjamin was the day after our … interlude that made me not want to discuss what happened.
Or give him back his underwear. They were in my pocket—after I reluctantly washed his jasmine and citrus scent from them—and I planned to return them, but he dropped his eyes as soon as I walked into the office and didn’t look at me for the rest of the day. Even when he came to give me messages.
His insults and jabs don’t even land how they used to. His voice is shaky and he doesn’t make eye contact when he says something snarky. Gods, I didn’t think I’d miss the days where Benjamin was an asshole to me.
When I gazed into his eyes the other day when I greeted Maximus, I wanted to go to him so badly. I needed to hold him, to talk to him about what we’re both going through.
I’ve never felt this inner turmoil before. With my ex, I felt straightforward emotions—fondness, then infatuation, then love. When he broke my heart, I felt anger, loathing, disgust, broken, and then a little dead inside.
With Benjamin, I feel that strong possessive feeling that makes me want to mark him, hold him, keep him with me wherever I go so no one will think about taking him from me. Crazy feelings I’ve never had for anyone else.
Today, I walk into the office twenty minutes late—something that’s unlike me—and Benjamin barely acknowledges it. All he said was, “Your messages are on your desk. Mr. Pooler called.”
“Okay. I was able to solve his problem,” I mention as I tap on his desk, wanting him to look me in the eye.
“What problem was that? Him not knowing how much you’ve done for omegas?” His jab falls flat and I feel a pang in my chest when I think that us fucking might have taken the snark from his tone.
I laugh uneasily, feeling the roiling in my gut at talking to him, but not being able to have him. It’s almost a physical ache. “No. His mate might not have long to live, and his mate’s family is trying to take their home since they don’t have kids.”
His eyes fly to mine, wide and unsure. “Oh. Um … did they not want kids or could he not …?”
“Didn’t want them. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Not all omegas have to have kids just because they’resupposedto.” My lips curl in disgust at that old way of thinking.
His eyes flash and something unreadable slides into his expression. “Do you … want kids?” I open my mouth to answer, but he shakes his head. “Never mind. That was inappropriate. I have an appointment on Friday. I plan to leave an hour before lunch but I’ll come back as soon as it’s over.” Benjamin turns to his computer, dismissing me.
Sighing inwardly, I take the hint for what it is and I go to my office. Luckily, I have a full schedule today with new clients and new laws, so I won’t have time to think about Benjamin for a while yet.
Even though I want to think of nothing else.
The hours slip by and I get lost in my work. I find a rhythm and I get a lot accomplished. With how hard I’ve been working today, I won’t need to do overtime tomorrow.
Blowing out a long breath, I swivel around in my chair and look at the office door hoping I can burn a hole through it and see Benjamin. Am I crazy? Is this weird behavior? This fated mates shit is going to kill me.
Like I conjured him up, Benjamin knocks on the door, then pokes his head inside. “It’s time to go. I sent your schedule for tomorrow and I sent your proposal for the newest law you’d like to have struck down. The finance one,” he rushes to say when I scrunch my brows. “It’s done. I’m going now.”
“Benjamin—”
“No.” He shakes his head, eyes downcast. “Please no. I can’t. Not right now.”
