"Almost a year." His cute blush was back across the bridge of his nose. "I know, I should have looked into buying bookcases months ago."
"I'm glad you didn't." I cleared my throat. "I didn't mean like … I didn't want you to trip over a stack of books and breakyour leg or anything. I'm glad I could help, even if that meant introducing you to my mom."
"She's lovely!" He planted his hands on his hips and frowned, reminding me of every interaction I'd had with Becca over the years, which was only a handful of times. Bruce liked to keep her to himself. When we saw each other, it was my duty as his friend to tease her about Bruce, and she responded as his biggest cheerleader. She had perfected the stance, shout, and ponytail toss. The only thing missing was a megaphone.
"Mom's a lot," I said. "I know this. Even she knows this. Everyone dating a Mears must answer to her. Every meerkat shifter therapist in the United States has probably heard of her."
Gabe dropped his arms to his side with a far-away look. "But she liked me."
"Of course she likes you!"
His gaze snapped to mine again, his expression a mixture of hope and anguish. I wanted to punch whoever had told him he wasn't good enough. Instead, I stood and raised my arms to my sides, inviting him in for a hug. He crashed into me, burying his nose against my chest, and I held him, taking in the fruity mixture of aftershave, botanical hair products, and sugary omega scent.
"I like you," I whispered into his gelled curls.
"I like you, too," he said. "You're right, this is a lot."
I stepped back, hands resting on his shoulders, unable to let him go completely. "Thank you for telling me. What can I do to help?"
He shook his head. "Stop being so perfect, sit your ass on this couch, and watch some meerkats while I sort through the wreckage of my life."
I sank onto the couch, and he flopped beside me, a hand raised to his forehead. Then, he bounced to his feet and winked. "I am also a lot, in case you missed the memo."
I watched him bend at the knees to grab the first leaning stack of true crime novels.
"Let me know if you need help."
"You're here." He flashed a grin at me over his shoulder before turning back to the bookcase closest to the apartment door. "That's enough."
An overbearing alpha would have picked up stack after stack of books and started shelving them willy-nilly. I still felt the pull to help, but I silenced it with a few clicks on my phone. Once the show finished buffering, the cheerful introductory music played, and I settled down to watch another hour of meerkat education.
By Sunday afternoon,everyone in my family knew my fated mate's first name. I wasn't even surprised when I got a text notification from Bruce the minute I stepped onto the front porch after family dinner. He sent me the location of a bar on the way back to my apartment, and I agreed to meet him there.
"Leaving already?" Mom asked from behind me.
I turned to face her, holding my phone up so she could see Bruce's smiling face at the top of our chat conversation. "Bruce wants to meet me for a drink."
She frowned. "The builders aren't going to wait forever."
I'd come outside to avoid any talk of moving back to the compound, but Mom wouldn't let me go without reminding me of her offer. "Gabe's not ready for that."
"That's what you said about Sunday dinner." She rolled her eyes. "You're looking at a ten-month build. That's how long you have to convince him to move in with you when it's done."
"Mom."
"Mika, my second-oldest child, oldest son, and nearest and dearest to my heart, after your dear dad and siblings, of course."
I chuckled at her contradictory description, which she often paraded out to guests, along with Dad, my older sister, three younger siblings, and me. "Mom, he's not like us."
"How so?" She leaned back against the side of the house under the porch awning, drawing me in. Just when I thought she would be combative, she always turned it around with genuine curiosity.
"His alpha dad left when he was young."
"Left the home, but he's still in the area, or …"
"Or." I didn't know where Gabe's dad had moved, but I got the impression it was too far to drive in a day.
"That's rough," she said. "His omega dad never remarried?"
