Page 43 of His Determined Bear

I nodded, “Oh right, yeah. I’ll see you guys later,” I said to mom as I headed for the door. When I opened it, I felt like my insides were vibrating, just like the last time I went out with him. He was just so…, I couldn’t even come up with a word.

“Hey,” Graham said and smiled.

I managed a small smile back at him. At least that was better than how I'd reacted the last time he’d met me at the airport. I wasn’t running to the nearest bathroom, so I was taking the win.

Everything inside of me had frozen on the spot when I looked up and saw him at the airport. I’d thought that I would have some time to prepare before I had to face him. I hadn’t known excitement and panic could exist in almost equal measure until that very moment.

And then I said yes to going over to his house. I wasn’t sure what I’d been thinking when I agreed to that…All I know is that I’d wanted to see him again ever since he’s dropped me off. And spending a little time with him now would give me answers about the man that fathered my child.

At least that was what I was telling myself. I kept telling myself it had nothing to do with his words before we’d hooked up. I kept reminding myself that alphas said whatever they needed to before sex.

But my brain,… you mean your heart… wasn’t getting the message.

So here we were with Graham calling out a greeting to Aaron and my mom before leading me out to his car. My palms were sweaty, and nausea threatened again. I told myself to breathe. Apparently, it wasn’t just smells that could trigger the urge to empty the contents of my stomach. Stress and anxiety could do it too. And since I seemed to be existing on a constant diet of both at the moment, apparently the porcelain god and I would keep getting better acquainted.

When Graham got into the car, it felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out. How was it that he did that to me?

Suddenly I felt his warm hand on my thigh, and my whole body came alive even as it froze in place.

Graham must have noticed because he retrieved his hand, leaving me to feel the loss.

“We don’t have to do this if it makes you this nervous,” Graham said in a low voice. And I could hear in his voice how much that cost him.

“Why would you think I was nervous?” I asked.

He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Well, for one thing, your leg was bouncing so hard I was worried you were preparing for takeoff.”

“Okay, so maybe I’m a little nervous,” I admitted. “But it’s not you.”

The skepticism was written clearly on his face.

“I promise.” Right then, I wanted so badly to blurt it all out. Tell him we were about to be dads. But I didn’t. But I also knew my plan to be aloof to him wouldn’t work either. I liked Graham. I really liked him.

I put a hand on his thigh, and he gasped like he’d been scalded. “I promise everything is fine. Let’s get out of here. You promised there would be food.” I hadn’t had much of an appetite recently, but apparently, it had returned because my stomach growled.

That got a genuine smile from Graham, but then he added seriously, “If you feel uncomfortable or nervous, remember I promised to bring you straight home—”

“If I wanted to leave,” I finished for him. “I know.” I was worried I wouldn’t be able to leave this time. Even if it was best for him.

* * *

When we drove past the turn that was supposed to lead us to his house, I frowned and glanced his way.

“I need to pick some stuff up at the grocery store,” he said.

I nodded and sat back. The truth was I really didn’t care what we did. I just wanted to spend some time with him.

When we pulled into the supermarket and parked, my brain flashed back to when Graham and I first met.

“Remember the first time we met?” I asked. Because apparently, I was a sentimental idiot.

“You mean when you were being loud on the phone and accused me of eavesdropping?”

“Did you or did you not listen in on a conversion that wasn’t for you?” I asked.

Graham shrugged, but a smile tugged at his lips. He held my gaze as he spoke, “I knew you were special from that moment.”

I swallowed, but my throat was completely dry. Why did this man say these things? Why did he make it so easy to believe him? And why was he being so nice to me after I’d been a complete jerk to him?

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