Page 21 of In Plain Sight

“Are you going to bond with him?” she asked.

Suddenly it wasn’t just my face on fire. The heat started to spread down my neck, highlighting my bond mark like a flashing neon sign.

I didn’t say a word, but both Lily and Clara nodded, grinning as Lizzy processed what they were telling her.

“You already bonded with him?” she shrieked.

I shrugged, trying to play it off like it really wasn’t that big a deal. “He’s my true mate.”

“It wasn’t really clear to me when exactly that happened, though. I mean, you met him and you brought him back to your apartment. You were basically MIA for most of four days. How long did you wait?” Lily asked.

“They were already bonded when Gage and I met him for the first time. I’m pretty sure that was the day they met. I don’t think they waited at all,” Clara said.

Sydney bit her lip like she really wanted to say something but was fighting to keep it to herself.

“Fine! You really want to know?” I asked. They all nodded yes. “We didn’t wait. Not one second. I stumbled across him in the woods a few miles from the barn. We knew instantly we were true mates, so we sealed the bond. Why fight it? I’ve seen what happens when you do, from you and you,” I said, pointing to Lily and Lizzy. “And, I heard what happened with you,” I told Clara. “I was not going through all that nonsense.”

They burst out laughing.

“So, you just what, said, ‘Hi, I’m Ruby, your mate,’ and then jumped him right there and bonded with him?” Lily asked.

“That’s about how it happened,” I mumbled under my breath, crossing my arms over my chest.

They all got quiet.

“Holy shit, that really happened?” Sydney asked.

“Did you even know his name?” Lizzy asked, clearly in shock.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course I got his name first.”

For some reason that made us all laugh this time.

“Wow, that’s crazy, Ruby,” Clara said. “I mean, I didn’t know Gage for long when we sealed our bond, but at least I knew enough to understand what I was getting myself into.”

I shrugged. “I don’t think it would have changed things any, and probably for the best so we just dove right in.”

“Because now it’s been a few days, the sex has been amazing, but his little quirks are showing and driving you nuts, right?” Lily said.

“How long has it been?” Lizzy asked.

“Like four days or something like that,” Lily informed her. “And they’ve barely come up for air before today.”

“Oh yeah, he’s driving you nuts,” Lizzy said.

“Is it that obvious?” I blurted out. “I mean, seriously, he leaves his clothes on the floor next to the hamper. Next to it! It takes two extra seconds to lift the lid and actually put them inside. And he squeezes the toothpaste from the middle so it’s all lumpy.”

Clara giggled. “It’s really not that you’re obvious, it’s just that we’ve been there and it’s normal. Living with someone is hard, period.”

“It downright sucks at times,” Lizzy said.

“What? But you and Cole are so happy together.”

My sister rolled her eyes. “I love Cole more than anything, but come on, the man is a health nut. Apparently you don’t get that body without a lot of work and strict dieting. He keeps hiding my Pop-Tarts, telling me they aren’t real food. He infuriates me!”

Lily snorted. “And does he fart in bed all the time? Because your brother sure does.”

“Oh gross,” Syd said. “I guess I dodged that bullet.”

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