They looked at each other and grinned because some things were just true. Salmon, honey, berries, these were all things that were necessary for life, and he wasn’t going to be the bear who decided he didn’t like those normal things.
“I’m glad you got away from him.” Con went to make tea, getting out glasses and starting the kettle. “I can’t believe he would chase you.”
“Me either, honestly. I mean, it’s not like I’m the only bear available. It’s not like it was a love match. I don’t even think he liked me very much. I felt like it was sort of one of those things where everybody was forced to do it.”
“Huh, well that’s kind of weird. You said it was set up by a matchmaker?”
He shrugged. “It was a contract between our families, sort of like an arranged marriage.”
“Arranged mating?” Con’s eyes went wide. “Creepy.”
“Yeah, they’re a little hidebound.”
“Which is weird because Race is so not hidebound. He’s kind of amazing.” Was Connal vibrating? He thought Con might be vibrating.
Nolan stared over at Connal for half a second and then went back to putting things back together. “You know, you’re right, he’s really not one to follow the rules, but he left home really early.”
“He was precocious, huh?” Con winked as he poured water into the cups and teabags, then added honey and lemon to the hot, hot liquid.
“Yeah. He was not one to be put down, you know? They couldn’t keep him in line, so he just ran.” Nolan figured he probably ought to resent Race for that, but he didn’t. He was so glad his brother had gotten out because Race would have gotten himself killed if he’d stayed.
“That’s wild, man. The three of us grew up in a very different space than you guys.”
“I can tell you’ve always been free to do what you want to do.” He put another piece into place, gluing it down, and he was really pleased at how this was coming along.
Connal brought him his cup of tea, sliding in to sit across from him again. “Just tell me what you need me to hand you.”
“Thanks.” They worked together quietly for a while until Nolan’s skin prickled, the hair on the back of his neck rising, his nose twitching.
That meant that Rye was in the room, and he glanced up, smiling when Ryder came over to put a hand on his lower back. “Hey, what are you two working on?”
“Nolan’s really good at this. He’s reassembling the drone.” Con waved a hand at the parts still strewn across the table.
“Well, look at all this. You think you’re going to be able to make it fly again?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so, mate. I don’t think it will ever work again. Not without new parts. I can make a reasonable facsimile, so you absolutely know what it looked like. If we find some kind of computer part, maybe you can get images off of it.That part I’m not great with, but I can totally give you something to see.” Nolan didn’t even know if that would help, but it was better than sitting there. He shrugged. “It’s not worth much, but?—”
“Hush. You’re amazing.” Ryder kissed him on the top of his head.
“Race is really good with the digital part. Maybe he could make the camera work,” Con put in.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. We’ll ask him when he’s feeling a little bit better.” Ryder gave Nolan a squeeze. “Right now, this is great. Being able to see what it looks like, being able to maybe find the manufacturer information because you’ve got it where it’s supposed to be is going to be handy. Even if they’ve scrubbed off the serial number, having a reasonable facsimile, like you said, would make it easy to find the brand and all that kind of stuff from the pictures. Having tea?”
Con rose and went to get another mug out. “You want honey and lemon like us?”
“Sounds great. You guys want me to make some sandwiches or something? I don’t even know what time of day it is.”
“Maybe breakfast sandwiches,” Con said.
Nolan nodded. That sounded really good, and his belly rumbled.
Rye grinned at him and kissed his cheek. “Breakfast sandwiches it is. I have some English muffins, some sausage, and I’ll make some eggs.”
“I’d offer to help, but—” He held up his hand. “Grease and glue fingers.”
They all had a bit of a chuckle about that, with Ryder swooping in to kiss him on the nose, then on the mouth.
“We’re going to fix this, and we’re going to make it clear, mate, that you’re your own bear, and that you’re welcome here. Herschel is not.”
