“I think it’s a decision between both mates, not just me. If you wanted to stay home, we would figure out how to make that work for us. But if you want to work outside the house, that is something I could also support you in. Daycare wouldn’t be an issue, since I am a freelance programmer and am home most of the time.” Isaac reached over and took my hand in his. “I believe in equality in a mating. Raising the kids shouldn’t automatically be shoved onto the omega. Unless that is what the omega parent decides they want. I want a partner in life; you know what I mean? Someone who has their own thoughts and dreams and shares them with me and works with me so that we both have the best life we can build together. So, if you are afraid I will force you to give up on what you want, you don’t need to be. I want you for you. That includes every part of you. Including your hopes, dreams, career, and hobbies.”
Some of the worries that had been plaguing me dissipated with his words. Perhaps Fate did know he was perfect for me.
The rest of the time waiting for dinner to be done was spent talking about our favorite books, television shows, games, and movies. I was surprised to find that a lot of our interests matched incredibly well. Even among fated mates, I knew there could be a lot of disconnect when it came to these things. But Isaac and I were almost matched perfectly in those areas. And it looked like even my cat was enamored with my mate.
“I can’t explain the obsession; it’s just there.” Isaac shook his head. Spice lay in his lap, allowing Isaac to pet her withoutcomplaint. Something unheard of normally. “No matter what mood I’m in, I can pick up a zombie apocalypse series and be content for the next several hours. My brother used to joke with my sister that I secretly wanted a zombie outbreak to occur so that I could test out my theories on which books had it right or which shows had the worst ideas on how survivors would truly react.”
“My sister gives me a hard time, too.” I chuckled, thinking of all the times she’d poked fun at my interest in the apocalyptic genre. “It’s hard to explain that I get comfort somehow out of reading or watching people face these situations and overcome the obstacles. But in a scenario that isn’t actually going to happen. I mean, at this point, I won’t say never, but zombies are still pretty unlikely to be the cause of our fall.”
Isaac bounced a bit in his seat. Spice decided she was done with him for now and leaped off the couch, wandering off down the hall leading to my bedroom. I wondered if Isaac did that a lot when excited about a topic and just how often Spice would choose to sit in his lap now that she was aware of that possibility.
“I get that. If I have anxiety, there is something about reaching for my favorite box set and reading about a group of survivors that makes me realize we always will find a way to overcome. I’m not sure why others don’t understand that logic.”
“That’s okay though. I make fun of my sister’s obsession with collecting trading cards with pretty men on them. I mean, I will listen to music and follow a group too, but I stop at thecollecting photocards and obsessing over collecting them allpart.” I didn’t even collect baseball cards as a kid.
“My friend does that.” Isaac shrugged. “I tried to see the charm of collecting things like that. But I found that I either have to go all in on the obsession and get every single one, or I must decide to stay sane and just not start a collection. I am not onefor casual collection or things. I need all the pretties, or none of them, to feel satisfied.”
“Ah. I see.” I understood completely. “That’s how I was with collecting hardback books. If I got a book from a series, I needed the whole series. Then I needed the whole backlist of titles from the author. Then I found they did collabs with other authors, so I needed those authors’ books as well. I started to run out of space and money pretty quickly.”
“But physical books are so amazing.”
“They are. But my obsession knew no boundaries.”
“So, what do you do now?” Isaac pointed at the small bookshelf in the corner of the living room. “Did you learn to say no to the new books?”
“More like my bank card reminded me I can’t buy all the pretties. I had to rewire my thinking. I will get all the books, but it might take years instead of days to complete the collection. It wasn’t easy. But it was necessary.” The alarm on my phone went off, indicating the oven was done with dinner. “Looks like dinner’s ready. Let’s go introduce your taste buds to the deliciousness that is baked mostaccioli.”
“I’m ready.” Isaac stood up and clapped his hands. “Noodles, Italian sausage, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses? All the goodies in one dish. There is no way I won’t fall in love with it.”
Much like, there really was no way I wasn’t already falling in love with my mate.
Chapter Six
Isaac
Hiding what was going on between Thomas and me from my best friends was not an easy feat. Charlie and Spencer both knew me way too well. They’d know there was something on my mind and eventually want to talk about it. But I’d promised my mate that for now, we would keep our connection under wraps. Even though Spencer and Liam didn’t know the guys at the fire station well, I couldn’t risk them accidentally spilling the tea in public and having it get back to Thomas. So, I was keeping my lips sealed on finding my fated mate. That also meant that I had to keep my tattoo covered up. There wasn’t an easy way to dismiss a glowing tattoo, especially since Charlie knew what the radiating light meant.
“Aren’t you hot in the sweater?” Charlie narrowed his eyes at me, I knew he was connecting dots that I wish he wouldn’t yet. “I have the heat on and you’re drinking hot tea. Why are you covered up like that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I am coming down with something?” I shrugged, wishing he would just drop it already. He’d mentioned my clothing choices a few times already while we were hanging out. Couldn’t he see I didn’t want to talk about it?
“Shifters hardly ever get sick.” He pointed out the obvious. He really wasn’t going to let it go today.
“Listen.” I finally looked my best friend in the eyes and told him as much as I was willing to. “There are some things I can’t share with you now. I am okay. Things will be okay. No need to worry about me and my clothing choices, okay? When the time comes that I can open up, you will be one of the first people I spill all my secrets to. Can we drop it now? Please?”
“Fine.” Charlie still had a bit of his brattish pout, but I knew he would let it go for now at least. “But I better be the first one you talk to about it. Spencer can wait a few extra minutes. I’m number one this time, okay? I’m pregnant and hormonal and deserve to know it first.”
“You really are being a brat lately.” I tussled his hair and gave him a side hug as we sat on the floor going through the newest delivery of baby clothes he received. “But I promise I will tell you first this time. He got to know about my last breakup first anyway.”
“I know. That’s why it’s my turn.” Charlie hummed as he held up a mint-green onesie with a yellow duckie on it. Then he held up a bright-yellow one with a green turtle on it. “I think these will be the outfits I put on them first. I adore the colors and these characters are just the cutest.”
“They are adorable.” I looked at all the other outfits he had laid out. They were all equally precious looking. “These two kids are going to be the sweetest-looking twins I’ve ever seen. And that is coming from someone with a lot of nephews and nieces. So don’t tell my brother or sister.”
“I promise I won’t even rub it in Spencer’s face next time we all hang out.” Charlie giggled and put the two onesies to the side before starting to put the other outfits back into the colorful bin he had them in. “His daughter is precious though. Cookie does fit her well.”
“He hates that I named her better than he did.” I shrugged. “I can’t help it that people prefer the sweetness of Cookie over the old-fashioned sounding Fortuna.”
“Just don’t rename my babies, okay?”
