Page 88 of Choose the Bears

“Aww…” Kevin snarked, rallying quickly, but my nanna whacked him on the arm.

“Just you wait,” she said. “You’ll find a girl that will have you selling your fishing boat because all you want to do is get closer to her. She will be all that matters.” Nanna’s eyes met mine. “Just like your Imogen does to the three of you. Word is you’ve been protecting her, looking after her.”

“We’re trying to, Nanna.”

“Good boys.” Her focus shifted to Imogen. “And if they don’t, you come and talk to me. I’ll set them straight.”

“I appreciate the offer, Glenda,” my mate started to say.

“Nanna, that’s what everyone calls me now,” she corrected. “Now, tell me more about how the lot of you met. There’s been stories but that Flo, she never tells it right.”

I sat back then,letting the afternoon warmth settle over me. Now that the initial excitement at meeting Imogen was satisfied, a strange kind of rhythm set up around the table. People talked with the ease of those that knew each other well. I half listened to updates on people’s lives, who was moving house, having a new baby, the situation over at the new shifter school, but none of it really sunk in, not when Imogen was here. My eyes found the slender slope of her neck and trailed down it, almost able to see it. Her skin marked by our fangs, forming angry red marks at first, then healing to something far more discreet. If we were good enough, if we proved ourselves, then one day she’d let us formalise the bond, and then the only thing that would part us was old age.

“Have something to eat, sweetheart,” Mum said, giving me a nudge, but I couldn’t tell her this. That the only thing I craved was the woman sitting beside me, and food, wine, and beer would never cut it again.

“Areyou sure you’re all safe in that building of yours?” Gail asked.

We were trying to make our goodbyes, but like most family things, leaving happened in stages. We’d gotten past the deck and out the side gate, so we were getting closer to the car, but not close enough.

“They have to be,” Mum reasoned. “It was built with all those security features.”

“Probably more secure than our own house.” This was one of Kyle’s dads. He shot us a knowing look, making clear he understood that his mate was fussing, but he wasn’t about to stop her. Gail was a mother hen, clucking over her chicks. “They’ll be fine. They’re also trying to get home.”

“Oh, of course!” She clapped her hands to her cheeks. “I’ll let you go.” I took a step further away. “But you’re sure you don’t want some leftovers? There’s so much food.”

“Because you always over cater, Mum.” Kyle stepped between his mother and us. “We love you. Lunch was amazing, but we don’t want to be eating the same meal for the next few days straight. Eat the food yourselves or take it to the meeting centre for the other ladies to enjoy.”

“That is a good idea.” Gail patted his arm sadly, but then looked past him. “Now, Imogen, if you still want that recipe?”

“I do.” My grip on her shoulders tightened and I couldn’t believe I had that right, the feel of her still foreign and unfamiliar. “That salad was amazing.”

“It’s the apple,” Gail said, sucking in a breath, ready to give us the whole recipe verbally before the sounds of her mates clearing their throats had her pausing. “But I’ll email you the details.” Her focus shifted to Asher. “You need to get Imogen a replacement phone.”

That was a sore subject. We should’ve stopped and swept the scene for details the last time Phil attacked and were still kicking ourselves for leaving it behind for him to find. The SIM had been deactivated, the device reported stolen, but still the lapse was unforgivable.

“We will,” Asher replied. “When we get back to HQ.”

“So I better let you go.” Gail rushed forward and hugged him, and I caught the moment Asher’s eyes went wide. His handsrose belatedly, unsure of what to do before reminding himself to hug her back. I glanced at Imogen, wondering if she saw it, the way he finally sank into his foster mother’s embrace, right before she pulled away. “Give us a hug, you big lug,” she told Kyle and then giggled as he squeezed her tight and then spun her around before depositing her on her feet.

My mum thought this was a great idea, moving forward to hug me.

“You did well, darling,” she said in a low voice before pulling back slightly to turn to my mate. “And, Imogen, you know you can always call us. Just because you didn’t have any questions today doesn’t mean you won’t later.”

“Like what’s a baculum?”

Kevin asked that in all innocence, only Steven’s wicked laugh made clear what they were doing.

“Baculum?” Imogen looked up at me. My throat felt like it was rapidly closing over, but it gave me the incentive to wrap all of this up.

“That’s a conversation for the car. Mum, dads, Nan, dickheads, Kyle’s family, thank you for everything, but we need to go now,” I said.

“Finally…” Asher hissed under his breath.

“We love all of you and will have you over at our place soon,” Kyle added.

“Next week?” Gail asked hopefully.

We didn’t commit to anything, turning and finally walking down the driveway and back to our car.

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