Page 20 of Wrong Number, Right Lion

“No, but… he has a cousin.” Why did I say that? Because I was nervous. If my brother were closer, I’d have gotten in the car to have this conversation there.

“I’m not following.”

“Never mind.” I grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to me. “But no, he doesn’t know about shifters. He doesn’t know I’m his mate. And he’s 100% human.”

“Well, that’s all fixable.” He didn’t seem fazed by any of this.

“You can fix him from being human?”

“No, all your worries are fixable. If he’s your mate, he’s the only one on this planet for you, and you’re the only one on this planet for him. So it’s a given. It’s gonna work out.”

I wasn’t sure I believed that, but I wanted to. “I mean… when he learns about shifters, it’ll be an adjustment. But let’s face it, your lion is pretty darn cute.”

“When I can control him.”

“Really? You’re gonna let one incident as a teen define your life and your relationship with your lion?”

It was one incident back then, but that didn’t mean it was the only time I’d struggled then. And now…

“Yeah, about that.” I rubbed my face. “So… the worst of the things I had to talk to you about? My lion partially shifted again. Just my hands.”

“And why did he do this?” Not a hint of judgment. Best brother ever.

“Because I wasn’t claiming our mate.”

Bryant let out an exasperated sigh. “Why do you complicate your life? Seriously. What you need to do is tell him who you are, show him who you are, and live happily ever after.” Because of course it was as easy as that… or rather the opposite of that. “Maybe you’ll have a couple of cubs. Maybe not. But yeah—live happily ever after. That’s your job.”

Talk about jumping the gun.

“That’s hardly my job. I teach math.”

“I know. It’s so boring. And let’s be honest, it’s embarrassing. People are like, ‘Hey, what does your brother do? Is he in welding too?’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, he counts all day.’”

“You know I don’t count all day.”

He started to cackle. Of course he was teasing.

“Yeah, and you know I’m not embarrassed by you. It’s pretty cool, man. My brother’s a professor.”

“Did you just decide to be a dick today and then have a change of mind?”

He chucked. “Can we get back to the first part of the conversation? Where you haven’t called in a while?”

“Mostly because of a storm.” I told him the entire story, and he offered to come and help if we needed him.

“I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet him. And I just know everything’s gonna work out.”

If only I could be as assured as my brother.

11

ARLO

“Going somewhere?”

Kalen had just arrived, his tool belt on his sexy hips making me consider calling in sick. He eyed my dark slacks and pink shirt with a tie slung loosely around my neck and a jacket flung over one shoulder.

“It’s an office day.” I did a 360 with my arms outstretched and added a butt wiggle, hoping he’d comment. “Do I pass?”

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