Page 37 of D'Vaire or Nothing
“Keep it up and everything you want to purchase, I will snatch from your hands and buy it myself,” Dudley said as they wound their way past the other people in their extended family, risking their money on slots or at the tables.
“Why would I object to you using your money on my stuff?” Evergreen asked. “You’d be doing me a favor by keeping something in my account until payday.”
“Because I would not allow you to have any of the things. I would keep them in my bedroom in the bags with the tags still on to spite you.”
“That is diabolical, and I don’t believe you for a second,” Evergreen replied, his gray-green eyes narrowed with pique at his best friend.
“Except Dudley is a sentinel and is incapable of lying,” Phillip pointed out.
Evergreen gasped. “You’re right. Dudley! What is wrong with you? You know what? Keep it up. I’ll tell my mom.”
“It might be worth facing her wrath and listening to her lecture on good behavior,” Dudley said, but his expression was far less convincing than his words.
“What we should do is find Evergreen’s mate so he’ll be busy kissing him. That’ll save Evergreen money and give me more chances to make out with Spicy and Sparkles without him complaining,” Keegan remarked.
“Nope,” Evergreen retorted immediately. “I’ve given some considerable thought to this, and I don’t trust Dudley. It’s not time for me to meet my mate right now.”
“I am an honorable sentinel; how could you not trust me?” Dudley asked, indignant.
“Please do not take this to mean I am not invested in this conversation, because I assure you I am, but we have arrived at the shopping area,” Phillip commented as he halted, and their little group did the same.
“Oh, this shop sells bath stuff,” Keegan enthused. “And sparkly stuff for Victor. Let’s go inside after Evergreen answers Dudley’s question.”
Evergreen lifted his chin and crossed his arms over the pretty sage-colored shirt he’d paired with a tonal damask pant. “We’ve fought too many times about what our living situation will be if I meet my mate. If Fate selects me first, I know you’ll move out. That’s the last thing I want. So, you have to find your other half before me. I’ll talk your mate into staying in our apartment or letting me move in with you guys if he has a house or some shit.”
“Spicy pointed out to Dudley that Alaric would recommend he stay with you, Evergreen, because you’re family, and he lives with many people, including us,” Keegan said.
“Which he heard but didn’t promise shit,” Evergreen replied.
“I cannot control Fate’s decisions,” Dudley stated.
“But you can control your choices,” Phillip remarked. “You could promise Evergreen that you will stay together in every reasonable situation.”
“Reasonable to who?” Evergreen asked with the stamp of his foot. “Me or him?”
“I added that caveat because I cannot account for everything in life,” Phillip answered. “It was not to give Dudley the wiggle room to declare that it was unreasonable for him to stay.”
“Easy fix to this,” Victor insisted. “Dudley, you can promise to stay with Evergreen unless you both agree it isn’t working out.”
Dudley closed his eyes for a moment and squared his shoulders as he took a deep breath. It was the sentinel way of pushing away his fear.
“Evergreen, I have only suggested it would be good for me to find my own place because I do not wish to make the start of your relationship difficult,” Dudley said. “We have watched so many couples fall in love, and it is so often the combining of their different lives that offers the most struggle. How could I live with myself if I was one of the things that made it harder for you and your mate or mates to build something together?”
“What I can’t seem to make you understand is that there are things in relationships that are unnecessary drama,” Evergreen replied. “But there are also things that must be worked through and adjusting to someone’s family and friends is part of that. You’re my family. Either they accept that or they hit the road. It’s that easy. I don’t want to be with someone who can’t find it in their heart to accept that I already have people in my life that I love.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Keegan enthused. “Think about this, Dudley. Imagine if Spicy and I met Victor and told him we don’t want to live in a busy household full of Darays without ever giving it a shot or listening to his reasons why it’s important for him to stay with his family.”
“Why would anyone not wish to live with the Darays?” Dudley asked. “They are wonderful people. Present company included.”
“Are you insinuating that you aren’t wonderful?” Victor asked.
Dudley frowned. “No, I do not think so. Am I?”
“If you think you are not wonderful enough that Evergreen’s mate or mates would not want to live with you, then you are mistaken,” Phillip stated firmly.
“Okay, this isnothow I wanted to learn that some sentinels can have low self-esteem,” Evergreen growled. “Dudley, either they want to have my fantastic sentinel best friend in their lives or they can go ask Fate for someone else. Period.”
“Evergreen has spoken,” Dudley replied. “Okay. I promise to continue to live with you until we both agree it is impossible to stay together.”
