Page 14 of True for You

“You really weren’t,” Caleb says with a bit of a wince. “Let me start off by saying I’m sorry. We were young and you know how young love is sometimes. It burns so fast and so bright, but then goes out just as quick. I was immature, Parker. I didn’t know how to properly break up with you so I dug into your insecurity so it would be easier.”

“What?”

Caleb places one hand on his belly, the other running through his hair. “I was a dick,” he tells me seriously. “And I amsosorry that I hurt you. If I could go back in time I wouldn’t have said any of that shit. You deservedthe truth.”

My head is spinning from all of this new information. Caleb didn’t think I was too clingy. I wasn’t refusing him his space. Fuck. This is so much.

“Whatisthe truth?” I ask slowly, needing to know. Everything is coming to a head, threatening to snap all at once and instead of backing away from it, I look forward to it. I look forward to being metaphorically free of this chapter.

Caleb’s face turns even redder as his eyes dart away. “I had met someone,” he says softly. “The timing couldn’t have been worse and I should have justtalkedto you about it, but like I said before, I was stupid.” Caleb pauses, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. “I’d met my true mate, Parker.”

“Oh,” I breathe out, so many things clicking into place all at once. “Oh. Wow. Okay.”

“Yeah. Again, I’m really sorry.”

“No, no,” I murmur, not wanting whatever happened in the past to stay lodged between us. This feels like closure. This feels like something I can finally close the book to. It’sfreeing. “I completely understand. I would have gotten it, Caleb, you didn’t have to hide it from me but the past is in the past. All we can do is be better now.”

“You’re right,” he says, a smile back on his face. He nods at the shirt I’m holding. “Are you mated?”

“Not yet,” I tell him, my chest already feeling lighter than earlier today. We stand right there in the paternity section chatting about our lives, catching up on everything. Caleb’s mate is a firefighter and they’re expecting their first child next month. I tell him about Christopher and the fumble of a first meeting we had. We chuckle, remembering the stupid things we used to pull when we were younger.

As we chat, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt when I see I have a message from Christopher asking me why I haven’t texted him all day. I respond right away, telling him I’m shopping and promise to call him once I’m out in my car. Even that worry, of being a bother, is put to rest. Christopherwantsme, and that includes random texts checking in. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt quite this light before.

“He makes you smile,” Caleb says softly, a little smile on his face. “I’m really fucking happy for you, Parker.”

“Thanks,” I say back, picking up my things and getting ready to head over to the check out. “I’m really happy too, and I’m really glad to hear about how you’ve been doing.”

We depart with a quick hug and promises of catching up some time over coffee. As I check out, I can’t help but feel at peace, more so than I have in a really long time. Something about closing that chapter fully has left me feeling even more secure in my relationship with Christopher. His text, playfully demanding my attention makes me realize I don’t have to change who I am to keep Christopher. He likes me just as I am and his edges seem to fit mine just right. I can be touchy feely, I can be ‘clingy’, I can just be me and so far, he seems to like everything beingmeentails.

Chapter Eight

Christopher

“Are you guys nervous?”

“No,” Derek blurts out right away. I look over with a raised brow and his face flushes. He’s such an adorable alpha to tease just for the way he always reacts. Well, maybe not themostadorable alpha sinceParkerexists. No, I’m not a sap. Not at all. Nope.

Harrison snorts, wrapping his arm around Derek’s waist. “It’s fine that you’re nervous, babe.”

“I’m not,” Derek says with an exaggerated pout. I like watching them together. I honestly love watching most mates together. I like seeing them banter back and forth, like seeing the love they have for each other. It always makes me happy, but now it’s different. Now I can appreciate it in a way I never could before. Instead of being on the outside filled with wistfulness, now I think about Parker and how that’ll be us someday. Sure, we only just met but I already have very real feelings for the alpha. How could I not when he was gifted to me by the universe?

“Whatever you say,” I say with a grin. “The big bad alpha doesn’t get nervous about anything. Especially not a silly ultrasound where we’ll see your baby. Nope, of course not.”

“Fine,” Derek hisses out with a long groan. “I’m a little nervous.”

“How’d that feel?” Harrison asks with a giggle.

“Honestly? Like gravel.”

We all chuckle. I adjust where I’m laid on the table, waiting for the ultrasound technician to come into the room. My bladder issofucking full and I feel about ready to burst. Why did a full bladder have to help them see the baby? Why couldn’t it be something easy like being super warm? Or wearing fluffy socks?

“When we’re done can we swing through a drive thru? I’m in the mood for some orange soda.”

“Sure,” Harrison says, a soft smile on his face. “Anything for you.”

“Anything you say? Alright so first I want a--”

“Okay notanything,” Derek cuts me off, his eyes narrowing playfully.

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