“It’s not only today, Nico.You’ve been sneaking out.”
Nico’s brain stopped working.“What?”he croaked.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice.I won’t ask what you’re up to because you’re an adult, but you’re the future alpha.You know better.”
Chris bumped his knee against Nico’s, but Nico didn’t react.No, he was still trying to make sense of what his father had said.
He knew that Nico was sneaking out.It was good that he wouldn’t ask why, but Nico was panicking.He was going to have to tell his parents about Mackenzie eventually, but was he ready to?Would Mackenziewanthim to?What would Nico’s father think about Nico dating a human?These were all questions that Nico was terrified of getting an answer to.He looked down at his plate, swallowing hard.“I’ll do better,” he murmured.
“You’re already doing great,” Nico’s mother said as she glared at his father.“Your father and I are proud of you, and you’re still young.You deserve a bit of respite.”
“He should be focused,” Nico’s father argued.
“And he is, but no one can be focused twenty-four seven.You certainly weren’t when we were young.”
Nico’s father huffed, and Nico relaxed.He didn’t have to tell his parents about Mackenzie yet.He should talk to Mackenzie before he did, which meant telling him who he was.Thatmeant that there was a risk that Mackenzie wouldn’t want to be with him anymore, and he hated that.
But he didn’t have a choice.He couldn’t keep these two parts of his life separated any longer.
He didn’t think he could afford to.
* * * *
“OKAY, SPILL,” DEANsaid as he settled back against Mackenzie’s couch.
One of his hands went straight to his stomach, something Mackenzie doubted he realized he did.It was cute, so Mackenzie didn’t say anything about it.He knew Dean.He’d stop doing it just because Mackenzie had mentioned it.
“What do you want me to say?How’s the baby?”Mackenzie asked, taking a sip of coffee and hoping Dean would get distracted.
He should’ve known better.
“The baby’s okay, and you are, too.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.Was there any doubt that I wasn’t?”
“You aretoofine.You’re always smiling and checking your phone.You met someone, didn’t you?”
Mackenzie pressed his lips together.He and Nico hadn’t really talked about their relationship, something they probably should do, but he was excited to tell Dean about it.He didn’t think that Nico would mind.They were serious about each other, which meant that they’d eventually meet each other’s families.The thought made Mackenzie anxious, but he knew it would be fine when it happened.Maybe he could prepare some people for it, though, and there was no one better than Dean to talk to about these things.
“I did meet someone,” he admitted.
Dean grinned.“Tell me about it.Also, how did you manage that?You only moved in a few weeks ago.”
“Didn’t you meet Jasper soon after you moved into the forest?”
Dean waved Mackenzie’s words away.“I was here for work.”
“We actually met before I decided to move,” Mackenzie explained.“It was the day you found out you were pregnant.I was shaken and didn’t get into my car right away.This guy asked me if I was okay, and we ended up talking.We exchanged numbers, started talking, and here we are.”
“Tell me everything.”
Mackenzie had missed this—spending time with his brother, sitting on the couch, and not having to rush anywhere.Moving had been the right decision, even though he’d been a bit hesitant.He didn’t think he’d regret it.He had a home here and his family.In a few months, he’d get to meet his niece or nephew, and he’d be there to watch them grow up.
He settled deeper into his couch.“Well, his name’s Nico, and he’s a bobcat shifter.He’s a carrier, like you.Talking to him really helped me understand more about what you’re going through.You can thank him for me not pushing harder for you to move.I might have insisted if he hadn’t pointed out that it wasn’t my decision to make and that you knew what you needed better than I do.”
For some reason, Dean was frowning.Mackenzie did the same, wondering what was going through his brother’s mind.“I’m not going to try to convince you again,” he reassured Dean.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Dean said.“But you said that his name is Nico and that he’s a bobcat shifter?”
