Page 11 of Bearly Mated

He squeezed me lightly. “Just give me a chance, would you? You should know me well enough to know I won’t let your life look like my mom’s.”

“I haven’t known you for eight years, Hudson.”

“Like hell you haven’t. We talked, every few months. We?—”

“We only talked when I called you,” I said.

He fell quiet.

“You didn’t text me first, or call me first. You didn’t start conversations, send pictures, or anything else. When my dad died, you weren’t here.”

“No one told me.”

“Because you didn’t ask, Hud. You didn’t care.”

“I cared,” he growled. “It was just better if I maintained the distance.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a bear. Because we’re shitty with commitment. Because?—”

I turned around, though his hands remained on my hips. “You never had a problem with commitment as a kid. Or as a teenager.”

He blinked.

I’d known that was true through all of my teenage years. Everyone had warned me again and again that he would grow flaky. That he would resent scheduled activities and obligations. That he would start to withdraw.

I’d given him space to do so. I would’ve been understanding if he did.

But he didn’t.

“You answered every time I texted or called,” I said.

“You’re my best friend. Of course I answered you.”

“Your mom is your dad’smate. Did he answer every time she texted or called?” I asked.

His forehead creased.

We both knew he hadn’t.

And she had avoided messaging or calling him as much as possible, their entire lives.

Being flaky was a choice.

Refusing to commit was a choice.

Bear shifters were full of shit.

Instead of answering my question, his hands tightened on my waist before he lifted me off my feet. I made a surprised noise, and he carried me all the way to the couch before he sat down and set me on his lap, with his chest only inches from mine.

“Hudson,” I began, but he cut me off.

“No more arguing, Callie. I’ve heard your feelings about the matter. I know you don’t like my people’s culture, and I’ve known that my whole life. But you signed up for this, so you’re going to listen to my feelings about it.”

I blinked.

It was hot when he took charge like that. He’d rarely done it when we were teenagers, but it had always been sexy.

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