Page 20 of Christopher

Chris finally understood. This had to be one of Drake and Dennis’s friends. He knew there were four—five if he counted Dennis’s human friend Eddie—and they were close. The three who belonged to the pride wanted Drake to become a pride member, and Chris wasn’t sure if his presence with the pride helped that cause or complicated it. “I’m not playing with Drake,” he promised. They had a date later, and he was taking it seriously.

“What are you doing, then?”

Chris had no intention of spilling everything to a stranger. He didn’t even know the guy’s name, even though he had a vague idea who he was. “Trying to wrap my mind around losing my mother, my home, and finding my mate. I’m sorry if to you it looks like I’m taking too much time, but Ineedthat time.”

The guy had the good taste of looking sorry. “Right. Dennis mentioned that you lost your mother, but I forgot.”

“Maybe you should try to remember all the information before you judge a guy you don’t know.”

“Only if you do the same with Drake.”

Chris didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

“Drake’s in love with love. He’s been trying to find someone for as long as I’ve known him. His main goal was to find his mate, of course, but he dated, and every time, it ended the same way.”

“I don’t particularly want to think about my mate dating other people. It was bad enough that I met him while he was on a date with another guy.”

The man flopped his hand. “Those guys don’t matter. Only you do, which you’d know if you’d talked to Drake.”

“I did.”

The man rolled his eyes. “Clearly, not long enough. What I was trying to say is that those guys all tried to change Drake. They kept telling him he was too much, and he made himself smaller to fit with them. Don’t do that to him. I know you’re his mate, but if you feel you can’t let him be himself, you need to let him go.”

Chris set the strawberries on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. He was feeling defensive, because even though he’d run away from Drake, it didn’t mean he was an asshole or that he had the intention of molding Drake into a man he wasn’t. “Like you said, those men don’t matter,” he pointed out. “They weren’t his mate. I am, and I want to make him happy.”

The man stared at him for a moment before grinning and sticking his hand out. “Jacob.”

“Obviously, you already know who I am.” Chris shook his hand before quickly stepping back.

“My best friend’s mate. Welcome to the pride, Chris.”

This felt like a kind of shovel talk but without any mention of the shovel. Chris had no doubt that Jacob would kick his ass if he ever dared make Drake think that he had to change. Chris kind of wanted to find all of Drake’s ex-boyfriends and kick their asses, so he got it. From what little he’d heard about them, they’d deserve it.

“I’m, uh, going to go,” he said, gesturing at the door.

He left the kitchen, ignoring the way Jacob laughed at him as he almost ran away. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but he continued rushing and turning corners until he was sure Jacob wasn’t following him to threaten him.

Dammit.He’d left the strawberries in the kitchen.

He looked around the hallway, relaxing when he recognized it. He might have spent a lot of time in his bedroom, but he was starting to recognize the various places in the house. He was by the library, and since he was here, he decided he might as well check it out. His grandfather loved the place. Maybe he was there, and he and Chris could spend time together.

Chris pushed open the door and walked in, only to freeze. He gaped in horror at the sight in front of him. “What are you doing?”

His grandfather jumped off the couch, but when the lady he’d been kissing tried to do the same, he shook his head at her and helped her to sit back down. “Christopher,” he began.

“Nope,” Chris said, shaking his head.

Chris’s grandfather glared at him. “Did you have a reason to interrupt us?”

“Of course I did. I didn’t want to watch you kissing someone.”

“I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”

“You’re my grandfather. Anything you do is my business.”

That was the wrong thing to say. Chris’s grandfather put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes at him. “Christopher,” he repeated. “I’m an adult. I don’t need your benediction or your authorization to kiss someone.”

Chris rubbed his face. “I know. That’s not what I was saying. I just didn’t expect it, all right?” Kyle had found his mate, and now their grandfather had a girlfriend. Jennifer had Annabelle, while Chris had—he had Drake.

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