Page 69 of Shiny Things

“Why are you bringing this up now? I know you’ve been seeing her in secret for years. So why now?”

“Actually I wasn’t. Sure we were friends and would hang out, but that was it.”

“And now? What changed then?”

I softened and smiled despite how angry I was at my father.

“She finally let our ravens meet. I’m pretty sure I’ve known all along.”

“Ah shit. She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

“She is.”

He ran a hand through his thick graying hair. “Your mother is going to freak out when she finds out. She’ll likely forbid it.”

“I’m a grown man. I don’t live my life by her rules, Dad.”

With a sigh, he nodded resolutely. “I’m not sure you ever did. Well, go get Kim and bring her to the house. Let’s getthis over with quickly. If nothing else, it’ll ease the news of the Collectors when I tell her about them. She’ll have something she considers bigger to worry about. You.”

I groaned. This was not the way I wanted to do this, but I knew it was necessary.

All I had to do now was go home and convince Kim that it was time to share our news with the rest of my family. Because really, what could possibly go wrong with that?

*****

“You want to do what?” she yelled back at me.

“Would you calm down. I promise it’s going to be fine. My dad already knows. And we can ask Gia and Ryan to join us for backup.”

“Why would we need backup if everything’s going to be fine?”

I huffed in frustration.

“We already told your family, and rumors are starting to spread. This is important, babe. I don’t want my mother to find out through the local gossips. We need to be the ones to tell her.”

“So tell her. You had no problem telling your dad on your own, or Ryan. Why do I have to be there this time?”

I grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to stop pacing holding her until she finally looked me in the eyes. I could see she was upset and freaked out. I knew I had to tread lightly.

“She’s my mother, Kim. I may not always agree with her, and I might not even like her sometimes, but she’s still my mother, and I do love her. This is important to me.”

Her fight started to wane.

“And it has to be now?”

“Yeah. I think it does.”

“Okay,” she finally conceded. “Just give me a minute to change and get ready.”

I nodded as she left my arms and went to my bedroom.

“We can swing by your place if you need to pick up some things,” I yelled, remembering she didn’t have anything of hers here, though I really wished she did.

“It’s okay. Gia brought me over a few things this morning while you were in your meeting.”

I grinned happily. It was a start.

Kim stepped out of my bedroom wearing black pants and a sexy V-neck blouse that buttoned up to just above the crest of her breasts. Her long dark hair was brushed straight to a shine, and she was wearing black Vans. She looked hot.

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