Page 167 of As The Shifter World Turns

It wasn’t fair to do that to him, to be allWe’re on a break but I don’t wanna beand be pushy at the same time. But also he said take a break, not breaking up and that told me that maybe this was exactly why he had done it.

He didn’t come across as the kind of guy who was playing games and wanted to go fuck a dozen other people without the guilt of being tied to one person.

Nate had given me exactly zero red flags, and I had kept trying to hand him some just so I could protect my heart, and in return I messed with his. I needed to make it right.

Maybe you could come over and see what I did on the roof?I sent the text before I could change my mind.

When?Came back almost immediately. It wasn’t a no.

I’m home every night this week.I didn’t care if it sounded pathetic. It was the truth and I wasn’t going to play games with Nate. I liked him too much.

Tonight after work?

Perfect.I almost asked if he wanted to grill something but that felt like pushing it.

I popped in the shower trying to remind myself this wasn’t a date.

He did come straight from work and it was awkward.Do I hug him? Do I kiss him? Can I hold his hand?

So, I did none of it. “Let’s go up.” I said.

“Are you planning to push me off the roof?” he chuckled, no sense of belief that it was a legit concern.

“Naw. Then the cops would come and wantme to fill out paperwork. I hate paperwork.” I shrugged and led, loving his laughter as I headed on up to the roof.

“What is it you wanted to show me?” he asked. “I sort of expected the others to be here.”

“We mostly do that on Fridays,” I explained. “And I did do something cool up here, but that’s not why I asked you. But I do want to show it to you.”

“Why did you ask me then?”

“I don’t like being on a break and I understand why you wanted to be on one. I was projecting all the red flags of my past relationships onto you and acting as if they were yours to bear. That was shitty of me.”

He just stared at me, so I continued. “You matter to me. Like a lot. And I want to not be on a break anymore and if you do, I will respect that, but… I just wanted you to know how I felt and to show you the herb greenhouse I made.”

I walked across the roof to the tiny little greenhouse. It was all herbs for cooking and anyone in the building could use them as they wanted. Archer and Micah too, of course. It was adorable and functional and I was thinking of potentially selling them.

He came up behind me. “Tell me about your new greenhouse.”

“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to pressure you or whatever.”Please don’t use this as a reason to break up for real.

“I’m sure.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Maybe we can cook together some time. And for the record you matter to me too. Thank you for telling me how you feel. I needed to hear that. I was… I was afraid you would never look past your ex’s to see me.”

“I see you, Nate.” I turned to face him fully. “I see you.”

69

BABYMOON

Ivor

“Please thank your parents for us,” my mate said to Daire as he buckled my seatbelt. Going anywhere these days with the bump was kind of an ordeal. My belly walked into a room before I did.

“You can tell them yourself,” the grizzly shifter told us as his parents pulled up behind us.

“Great.” Ryder’s fake-ass voice might have fooled a stranger but neither Daire nor I were taken in by it. “You stay here,” Ryder instructed me and I was thankful I didn’t have to heave myself out of the car with or without his help. And if I did, I’d need to pee again and that would mean waddling inside. And then we’d never get to the beach.

“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you offering us the beach house this weekend.” Ryder’s voice drifted in the open window as he shook hands with Daire’s folks.

---