Page 69 of Dream Mates
“I’ve got you. Promise.” I kissed the top of her head.
“Did I do something wrong?” Her voice broke. “That’s why we’re going to dinner alone totalk.” Her blue-grey eyes went misty.
Fuck.
“You did nothing wrong. I wanted to spend some Evan-free time with you. Check in, see how you’re doing, because this has been a lot for all of us,” I said honestly.
“Okay.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “You’re not mad at me for being with Spencer?”
“No. Be with anyone in the pack. It’s fine. I’m just being, what do you call it, asad panda, because I wasn’t there when you came home and I feel like I failed you.” It was a raw and honest admission.
Grace tipped her head up and kissed my nose. “You could never fail me, Boo-Bear.”
My heart bloomed as she pelted me with love through the bond.
“I’d probably be mad if you’d abandoned Evan to wait for me, especially now that I really understand what it’s like.” She snuggled into me.
Yeah, I needed to hear both those statements.
“I’m so sorry that I worried you,” she added. “All I could think about was getting back to you. And… and they almost sent me somewhere else.” She started to cry. “My professor tried to kill me.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. She now rememberedwhyshe’d come here. And it wasn’t pretty.
“You’re safe now. You’re here with me, Evan, Spencer, and everyone. We’re all so happy that you’re back with us.” I planted a kiss on her head.
“Okay.” She sniffed. “I… I should have gone hiking with you. I didn’t–”
“Stop, please?” My voice broke, so did my heart. “You still have a broken foot and shouldn’t be hiking on it. Please, watch weird science documentaries and play chess with Spencer.”
Which was all they did, well that and he made her chicken soup.
“Okay.” She sniffed again, her makeup now a little smeared. “I’m sorry. I feel so weird inside, and everything’s all jumbled and…”
I wiped away the makeup smear with my thumb, then held her as tight as I could with one arm, as we made our way across the lake. “I love you, Grace. I love you so much, and I’m glad you’re home, andI’m here.And I’m so sorry if I made you anxious. I just wanted to spend some time with only you. Evan’s been a little greedy.”
A smile played on her lips. “He really has been. Has anyone thought to tell himno?”
I chuckled. “Not really.”
He was our omega. We tried to never tell himno.
“You don’t have to let him, at least when it comes to me.” Her look went coy, then she bit her lower lip. “I mean I love Evan, but I like time with just you, too.”
“I’m so glad. Maybe we can make a regular date night? We could go out or stay in, but you know, just us?” I steered us toward the restaurant as that edge of the lake came into view.
She beamed. “I’d like that. When I start at your work can we drive and eat lunch together?”
“That sounds perfect. What about if I take you away for a little getaway, just me and you?”
“Oh, I’d love that,” she breathed.
All felt right again.
I shifted so I could use both hands to bring us into the restaurant’s dock.
“Oh, this is so pretty. It has its own dock? Fancy.” Grace grinned. “We’re by town. After we eat, will you go for a walk and hold my hand? Maybe we can get ice cream? That shop had such fun flavors.”
How could I have doubted her? This was my Grace, who for all the fancy trips and jewelry, really just wanted ice cream.
