Chapter Fourteen
Duncan
Clay held out his hand, and I laced my fingers with his. “Are you doing okay?” he asked.
“As well as can be expected, I think. I’m not doing bad. A little nervous though.” We were finally making it to a family dinner. I’d been in a bubble with Clay for three weeks now, and it was time to get back to reality. Charlie had reassured me that he and Silver were going to be at the dinner, so that helped.
“Mica is super nice. You’re going to like him a lot. And he lives not far, as you know.”
I nodded. It almost seemed like more of a hassle to get into the vehicle and drive to Mica’s house, but we were bringing a massive bowl of fruit salad as well as a cake. Not one that we’d made. No, it was one that Clay had picked up at the bakery because apparently, it was their parents’ mating anniversary celebration, and they’d been together for forty-three years now. But trying to carry that down the block, along with the bowl of fruit, was just asking for something terrible to happen.
“I’m sure all of your brothers are nice. I’m just really worried about meeting everyone on such a special day.”
Clay gave my hand a squeeze and then let it go. “Their actual mating anniversary is on Thursday. They’re leaving to go on a cruise on Tuesday and will be gone for ten days. They’ve discovered a sudden love for going on cruises, which we all find ironic since Ma really wanted all of us mated and giving her grandchildren.”
Clay pulled close to the curb and parked behind what I knew was Charlie’s SUV. “We live just down the road from him. How did they get here first?”
“Because Charlie makes this macaroni salad that Mica absolutely loves, and I’m sure he brought it over early so none of us could get to it.”
I looked over at Clay. “Do you need macaroni salad? I can learn to make it, I’m sure.”
Clay shook his head at me. “No. I like it just fine, but it’s not my thing like it is his. I’m happy with other foods.”
I’d seen Clay eat all sorts of food in the three weeks we’d been together, but never macaroni salad. “I don’t know other vehicles. Are any of your other brothers here?”
Clay nudged his head toward the house. “The green motorcycle there is Slate’s. He refuses to get an actual vehicle. The green bike is his.”
I looked at the bike, then over at Clay. “Slate. He’s the youngest?”
“Yeah.”
“You said all of your brothers were alphas. But I can’t see you being comfortable on that thing.”
Clay snorted. “Slate isn’t overly comfortable on it either, but that doesn’t stop him from riding the thing. He’s not quite as big as the rest of us. He’s five years younger than Mica and just hit thirty this year. Over the next few years, he’ll grow a few moreinches and put on at least fifty more pounds of muscle, so his days of riding it are numbered.”
“Oh. I’ve only ever seen you and Silver, and neither of you are small guys.”
Clay shook his head. “Nope. Neither are Flint nor Mica.” He looked up at the rearview mirror and grinned. “Want to meet Flint? He just pulled up behind us.”
I turned around and looked at the black truck that was behind us. “Do you all drive massive trucks?”
“Yes.” Clay leaned over the center console, and I moved in for a kiss. He pulled away quickly and opened his door. I did the same, wondering what Flint was going to be like. I noticed he didn’t have anyone with him and had to wonder about his mate that he’d met.
Flint came toward the SUV while shaking his head. “I can’t believe you’re mated,” he said just before he pulled Clay into a hug. I stood there by the back corner of the SUV, unsure what to do. Thankfully, I was rescued by a familiar voice.
“Duncan!”
I turned at the sound of Charlie’s voice and smiled. I started toward him, worried that he was going to fall. He looked ready to pop already, which couldn’t possibly be right. He still had over two months left to go with his pregnancy.
“Charlie,” I said when I reached him. I hugged my now brother-in-law and smiled at him again. “How are you feeling?”
Charlie sighed. “Like I’m pregnant. I no longer fit behind the wheel of any vehicle, and Silver has insisted that I go on paternity leave early.” Charlie gave me a forced smile. “Friday was my last day at work.”
My eyes widened. “Already?” I wouldn’t see him at work anymore? I was sad about that, but I honestly understood.
“Yeah,” Charlie said as Silver came out the front door. “I was going to go on leave anyway, and I just decided that going earlywas probably a good thing.” Charlie looked upset. “I’m most likely not coming back. At least not for several years.”
I hugged him again just as Silver reached us. “That makes sense though,” I said before letting him go. I looked over my shoulder at Clay and shook my head. “He would love nothing more than for me to quit and stay home. Or come work at the security company.” I shook my head again.
