Page 10 of Feels Like Home

Jace shoved his hands into his front pockets, lowered his head, and appeared determined to make it to the ice cream hut unseen.

“My eyes are up here.”

“Huh?” Jace blinked himself out his thoughts and stared up at Ian. His brows were wrinkled in the cutest way. “What was that?”

Ian stopped. “We’re taking a leisurely stroll. Enjoying the evening, right?”

“Am I missing something?” Jace asked. “We were walking. I was putting one foot in front of the other.”

“While concentrating heavily on the crack in the sidewalks.”

“I…” Jace pulled his hands from his front pockets. That pretty pink blush that Ian liked made an appearance. “I’m not used to walking with other people.” He looked around as if some overzealous chatterbox would jump out and attack him with pleasantries.

Ian took Jace’s hand. “Is this okay?”

“Yes.”

“Walk at my pace, hon. Look straight ahead so you don’t run into any utility poles or cane-wielding grannies. Pretend you’re enjoying my company as we stroll slowly toward some delicious ice cream. The sun is dipping behind the mountains. The crickets are out.” Ian drew in a breath. “Someone’s barbequing, and now my mouth is watering.”

“You just ate,” Jace pointed out.

“I’m trying to paint a pleasant picture for you so you’ll derive some pleasure in the moment.” He squeezed Jace’s hand.

“I am enjoying your company.” Jace returned the squeeze. A small victory. His mate cleared his throat. “I hear the birds, though I don’t smell any barbeque.”

Ian’s heightened senses had detected the aroma.

“I smell freshly cut grass. I like it.” Jace squinted at the sunlight piercing directly into his eyes. “I hear kids playing somewhere nearby. It’s warm out instead of scorching.”

“Your shoulders are relaxed, Jace.” Ian smiled at how calm his mate’s features were. The strain totally gone. “Now you’re walking like you’re experiencing the moment instead of plowing through it.”

“I get anxious when I’m in public.” Jace peered skyward at the overhead trees. “I’m no good with small talk. I end up standing there, feeling both panicked and brainless. I wouldn’t blame you if you thought I was a flake.”

“Everyone lacks confidence in one area of their life or another.” Ian spotted an empty park bench across the street from the ice cream hut and guided Jace to it. He stretched out his legs in front of him. Then he rested his arm on the back of their seat. Jace sat back, his left shoulder blade touching Ian’s hand. “Talking to people isn’t your strong suit. Not a big deal.”

Jace eyed him. “You don’t seem to lack confidence.”

“Not in that area of my life.” Ian watched a small dog chase a Frisbee. “Families make me anxious.”

“Do you mind me asking why?”

“Never knew my parents. Family structure is foreign to me,” Ian admitted. “Holidays are something other people celebrate. They hold no meaning to me.”

He’d never known a mother’s hug. A father’s pride. Sibling rivalry. What family gatherings felt like. Ian had been abandoned as a kitten, raised by the streets, and he was jaded in so many ways. He was self-taught in every aspect of his life.

“But if you never knew it, you don’t miss it, right?” As Ian played with the ends of Jace’s black hair, he wondered what the holidays would mean now that he’d found his mate. Would Jace choose to spend them with his family, leaving Ian home alone? It might seem like a ridiculous worry to most. It wouldn’t if anyone had spent the last 243 years never experiencing the warmth and laughter around the table at Thanksgiving or Christmas. His birthday had been just another day of the week. The Fourth of July was nothing more than a dazzling display in the night sky as he tossed and turned in bed.

“I’m at a loss for words, as usual.” Jace plucked at the material on Ian’s left knee. “My family is small. It’s just me, my mom, and my paternal grandma. Holidays aren’t a massive gathering in my house, but…” Jace focused on Ian’s knee as the skin puckered between his eyes. “I mean, if you want, you’re more than welcome at my house to celebrate with us.”

Ian tilted his head back and cleared his throat. He blinked several times to clear away the tears from his eyes, concentrating on the shape of the clouds lazily drifting by.

Celebrate a holiday with his mate’s family. Why did that scare him so much?

“Ice cream.” Jace patted his knee. “It’s calling to me from across the street. I can already taste the swirls of strawberry melting all over my hand and sticking to my chin.” He stood. “Be prepared for my embarrassing way of wearing more of it on my shirt than getting it into my mouth.”

“We’ll make you a bib out of napkins.” Ian took Jace’s hand and crossed the street once a few cars passed by. “If anyone snickers, I’ll accidently drop some on their shirts.”

Jace gasped. “Would you really do that?”

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