Hopefully?
Perhaps splitting time was the way things would have to be. It sounded awful, but if I couldn’t find work, it was the only option. I didn’t want to be too snippy at Fate, and I wouldn’t want any other mate, but it would have been nice if my mate was a doula at a birthing center in my same town.
Glancing at my phone, I saw my mate had only been gone an hour and a half. This was going to be a long day without him.
I wasn’t going to do well if we couldn’t find a way for us to be together full-time. Maybe my mate would have ideas. Better ones.
Chapter Twelve
Zac
“This is great. Thank you for cooking.”
I had made a spread for my alpha. Tyrus had sent me home a bit early and insisted I make my alpha a big meal after I told him the short story of how I’d met my mate.
But a knot lay in my stomach. Things were great between us emotionally but, physically, something was about to change. Call it omega’s intuition. Call it sixth sense.
Once Edris’ car was fixed, our future was uncertain. I had to make the best of the time we had.
“You’re welcome. I didn’t know what you liked.”
I’d cooked up a feast. Braised short ribs. Yellow rice. Creamed spinach. Twice baked potatoes. Garlicky green beans. Hot honey chicken thighs. I thought the bear would like the last dish especially.
Edris filled my plate and passed it to me before serving his own food. He was a gentleman and always looking out for me. Walked on the street side of the sidewalk. Opened doors. The works. I tried not to think about how I almost ruined this the first night we met.
We both almost did.
“Tell me about your day, Zac.”
I shared about the patients without getting into specifics. I took my oaths seriously and respected my patients’ privacy. Most of my days this week were routine appointments and tours of the birthing facility for omegas and couples who were expecting and hadn’t chosen where to give birth yet.
Of course, in my opinion, we weren’t the fanciest center, but we were the best. Omegas felt comfortable and at home. A place where calm abounded.
That was what we strived for.
We talked some more, and my stress melted. Until his phone rang.
“I’m sorry. I have to take this.” He spoke to the other person. Jesse, he called him. Our mechanic.
I put my fork down, folded my cotton napkin, and set it on the table. Until I knew what Jesse was saying, my appetite was soured.
Edris wrapped up the conversation with the words I didn’t want to hear. “I’ll pick up the car in an hour.”
I had an hour left with my mate. My wolf howled and whined. The contents of our dinner sat on my stomach like a brick.
“You’re leaving,” I said.
“My car is fixed. I have work to get back to. Meetings. Schedules.”
I nodded. My brain understood completely. He had a life before me and had one still in the city. A career and dreams and goals. Unfortunately most of my mate’s existence had nothing to do with me.
Not even had anything to do with this town. Not even close.
“At least take some cake.” I got up and flitted around the kitchen, packing him pineapple upside-down cake along with some leftovers he could eat at home. He said he loved to cook but seldom had the time.
And maybe, maybe he would think of me while he ate it.
“Sweetheart, stop,” he said, coming over to wrap his arms around my middle while I fretted over packing him snacks and food.
