“Ahhh,” the old dragon chuckles. “Must be a new bond. It’s hard to leave them alone at first, isn’t it? Those are good days, enjoy it.”
Julia spots me and gives a small wave, flushing when half her tiny audience turns to look at me. I wave back and then settle in as she begins to read in her clear, expressive voice. I’m quickly drawn into the stories, as engaged as the children.
I can’t help picturing her reading toourkids. Or singing to them. It’s not fair that they won’t get to know her the way that all these random kids at the bookstore get to know her.
Maybe I can bring our pups in to listen. It’s a public place, kind of. Would it upset her to see them? Would she ask us to leave? Would shequit?
I want to howl at the thought of never seeing her again. Of our pups never knowing their dam. I know this is how it has to be, but I really fuckinghate it.
“Settle down, son,” the dragon mutters under his breath. “Your scent is ruining the mood.”
I look around and see several of the monster children closest to us have their ears flattened or are plugging their noses. “Sorry.” I take a few deep breaths to let go of the negative feelings. Thankfully, Julia starts a sing-along that distracts the kids while my scent clears.
The old dragon turns to me. “She’s got you in knots, eh? Running around with someone else?” He must spot my surprise at his close guess, because he nods knowingly. “Happens a lot when you’re fated late. My advice is don’t let it fester. Take it to Court and let a Fate sort it out. They’ll figure out a way to make it work, even if it looks a little different than the standard model.”
“We’re okay.” I promised her I wouldn’t force her into anything, and I won’t. I’ve got a mating and a full pregnancy to show her the kind of mate I can be. If she still doesn’t choose me by the end of it, I’ll have an answer I can live with. “Sorry about the scent. I just got in my head.”
“Pops! Pops! I got a sticker!” His little granddaughter runs up and climbs into his lap to show him her prize, a sparkly sticker shaped like a frog.
He holds it up so the shiny paper catches the light, admiring it. “Well, isn’t that a beauty? What a treasure. Keep it safe so you can show Aunt Dayna.”
She tucks it into the pocket of her overalls, and I can’t help wondering why she’s not going to show the sticker to her parents. I guess maybe all families are a little bit complicated.
The children and caregivers begin to disperse, some wandering into the aisles of the store and others heading for the front door.
The dragon stands, picking his granddaughter up at the same time, and claps me on the shoulder. “Good luck, kid.”
I chuckle at being called a kid when I’m heading toward forty, but I could use the luck. “Thanks.”
“What was that about?” Julia asks. In the bustle of families, I hadn’t noticed her walking over. She still has the picture books tucked under her arm.
“Just chit-chat. Your stickers are a big hit.”
She lights up. “Aren’t they? I thought they were so cute when I found them. Perfect to go with the stories today.”
“Very cute.”
“Do you want one? I have extras.” She dives a hand into the pocket of her apron and pulls one out for me. I take it, of course. I don’t have any use for a sparkly frog sticker, but she’s so damn adorable, I can’t refuse.
I stick it to my phone case with the same reverence as the little dragon who saved hers. “Thanks, pretty girl.” I know I’m being too flirty, but I loveseeing Julia change colors and smelling her scent strengthen. I loveaffectingher.
“You’re here for the papers,” she says, fanning away her fluster. “Let me go fetch them from the back.”
“I’m here to see you,” I say to her fleeing form, although I don’t think she catches it.
She returns a minute later with the folder and hands it to me. “I signed all your paperwork, and Richard’s too, so everything is a go. Do you think we can schedule something on such short notice?”
She worries her lower lip with her teeth, and I stare, mesmerized, at the tiny stripe of pink wetness where her lip skin meets the inside of her mouth. All I can think about is how much I want to kiss her. How it won’t be long until I can cover her in kisses now that I have this folder in my hand. It won’t be a relationship, but I’ll have one night to give her all the kisses I can squeeze in.
She asked a question, though. I need to answer it.
“Um. Yes. Of course. Saturday.” I have a lot to do in the next couple days. I need to talk to the lawyer and clean my house and figure out what to cook for her. I need to get new sheets for the bed. I need to finish decorating the nursery so Julia can see it while she’s there, since it’s possible she’ll never come back.
She breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh, good. I was worried we might have to wait anothermonth, and then it’d be tougher to hide the pregnancy from my kids. This is great.”
“Great,” I repeat, even though it doesn’t sound so great when she puts it like that.
“Text me the time once you make the appointment, and we can meet at the clinic.”
