Page 29 of The Dragon's Emberlinked Mate
“Smart.” I wrote down that idea as well. Eventually, I’d put this all into my computer so we could map it all out. Already we had more ideas than time, but we would figure it all out. I wasn’t worried about that.
Emmen had raised the idea of having the students help as part of a work study program. I had a meeting later this week to talk with the computer science teacher about it. As much as I loved being hands-on, some parts of this were outside my skill set, such as the coding. My brother had a kick-ass handle on that, but he also had a pretty intense full-time job and a family to take care of. Oustsourcing was the most efficient plan.
“It’s really great to see you so happy, Rhythe. I’m glad you two are working it out.”
“Thanks, Pip.” I set my notebook down and focused on the sleeping child in my arms. Her siblings were all on the floor desperately trying to move and roll around. They hadn’t quite mastered it yet. When they did, we were going to get our exercise in.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about him. I just… I couldn’t wrap my head around it.” We hadn’t spoken about my hiding Emmen from him. It was pretty much the only thing I’d ever intentionally kept from him, and I’d felt guilty about it from the get-go.
“The age difference?” Pip asked.
I shook my head. “Emmen is… so magnificent. He fought in the wars for the dragons. I wrote a paper on him, did you know that? In sixth grade.” I got an A on it too.
Pip’s eyes widened. “You did?”
“Yeah. I’d forgotten about it, but then I was going through some of my old boxes of stuff that Mom gave to me, and I found it.” I covered my face with my hands. “I worshipped him, Pip. Like, he was the dragon I wanted to be when I grew up, and now I’m mated to him. That’swhoa, right?”
“It is. But maybe that was why you were drawn to him. Your dragon just knew.”
I hadn’t considered that before. Maybe there was something to that. Because looking back, I was worse than the K-pop fansand their stans. It was so embarassing. I actually thought about destroying that paper to remove any chance that my mate saw how pathetic I’d been back then, but I couldn’t bring myself to. Ripping up something about him felt wrong on so many levels.
“Maybe.”
“Are you going to show him your paper?” My twin knew me so well.
“No! That would be so embarrassing."
“I’ll give it to him.” I couldn’t tell if he was offering or threatening. Not that it mattered which. My response was the same for both.
“You better not, or I’ll tell Valen that you slept with a nightlight until you were fifteen.”
Pip scoffed. “Please. Like you didn’t also need it. Besides, that isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, so I don’t even care. Go ahead and tell him.”
Thankfully, our discussion was broken up by the cry of not one, but two babies. You know a conversation is going south when a sweet baby’s cry was something to be thankful for.
We tag-teamed getting the diapers changed. By the time that was done, we’d forgotten about the discussion. Or at least my brother did, which was good enough for me.
“I can’t believe this is going to be my life soon,” I said.
All five babies were on the floor now. A soft oversized blanket covered the area, and there were dozens of toys spread out between them. It was just Pip and me alone with them, though Valen was due home any minute.
I was lying on my belly supported by my elbows as I made silly faces to my niblings and engaged them in some simple play.
“You’re going to be a great dad, Rhythe. I’ve always thought that.”
“Being a dad is one thing I’ve always been sure I wanted to be. I may not know what sort of job I want to have someday, but I do know I want kids. Multiple clutches.”
Pip giggled. “Let me know how you feel six months from now when all four of your babies wake up at separate times in the night and you have to get up and out of bed thirty times.”
“You love every minute of it,” I said. My brother was a fantastic father, and if anyone could handle five kids, it was him.
“Yeah, I do. But I’m also tired.” He was smiling. Tiredness wasn’t a deal breaker for him. “Wanna know something kinda extra? I miss them when I put them down for bed.”
I laughed. “Is that a thing? Really? You miss them, but they are only a few feet away.”
Although now that I was thinking about it, I suspected I was going to be that parent, also.
“Oh yeah, parenting is a trip. I feel guilty if I hold one of them more than the others or if I put one in cuter clothes. It doesn’t make sense. I just roll with it.”
