A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,38

me anything but children. I’ve always known that my dream of being swept off my feet was unrealistic. But maybe it’s more than that. If I keep waiting for a man to save me, I’m never going to save myself.

I scroll through my contacts for Victor. He’s the lawyer who handled my fathers’ wills. He answers on the second ring.

“Hello, Lu?”

“Hi. I was just sent a contract by a potential employer. Would you mind looking through it for me?”

There’s a rustle of papers in the background. “Sure thing. Send it on over.”

24

Sam

Just before I’m supposed to Skype with Lu, I get a text message saying he’s on the phone with his lawyer. Whatever that means.

The reality is that I failed him this afternoon. In an effort to be a good father and a good mate, all while keeping everyone’s respective secrets, I’ve failed at everything. Something has to give. Which I guess is why I end up at Ed’s bowling alley.

Ed waves at me from the entrance enthusiastically. “Sam! I thought I’d be seeing you again soon.”

Someone who’s wearing a pin that says, Ask me about buying my balls shouldn’t be that wise. It’s obnoxious.

I take off my shoes and set them on the counter. Ed hands over some bowling shoes in my size.

The bowling alley is mostly penguin shifters on Friday nights. There are two families playing in the lanes on the far left. The first family is all smaller and thin, with bright blue hair. But the next family is different. A taller alpha woman with dark brown hair holds hands with a smaller blue-haired omega woman. They have four children with them—half with blue hair, half with brown. They’re all laughing and talking with one another. Here in this bowling alley, no one seems surprised.

“Don’t stare,” Ed says softly and walks around the counter.

We settle into a lane on the opposite end. I pick out a different ball than I used last time. This one is heavier. Hopefully lobbing it down the lane will get some of my frustration out.

Ed sits in front of the lane’s computer, punching a few buttons to get the game started. “Did you have more fun with your omega?”

“What? No. Well, technically yes, but it’s more complicated now.”

He gestures to the empty lane. I guess that’s how this works. I bowl poorly, and Ed gives me bad advice. This is a great way to figure out what to do about Lu.

“Don’t forget to let go of the ball in time,” Ed says.

I do my best, but as I try to release the ball, my thumb gets stuck, and I still end up throwing it in the gutter.

“A calm bowler is a good bowler. Let go of your stress and just let it flow.”

I sit down next to him and rest my elbows on my knees. “Allen didn’t want to be buried with his bonding necklace. He specifically requested that I keep my pebble. So… it’s been in my sock drawer for the last four years.”

“Ah. And you showed it to your new omega.”

I nod.

“Well, how did it go? Did he feel a connection to it?”

I nod again.

He claps me on the back. “Congratulations. That’s excellent news.”

“Is it, though? I’m a single dad, Ed. How are my friends and family going to react to this news? Jesse’s gender reveal party is less than two months away. Is anyone going to come if I’m open about my relationship with Lu?”

The incident with Jesse this morning made me realize just how vulnerable my children are. Someone made an offhanded comment about Jesse’s shoe size on Facebook, and Jesse got in a fight with them over it. That’s nothing compared to the comments people will make if Lu and I tell people that we’re together.

“Are you saying that you’ve kept your bond with Lu a secret?” Ed asks.

“Well, yeah.”

“Even your children don’t know?

“No. They can’t keep a secret. If I tell them, everyone else will find out.”

Ed points to my ball, which has now rolled back. I stand and grab it, only grasping with the edge of my thumb this time, and throw it down the lane with all the force in my body. It doesn’t end up in the gutter, but it only clips two pins on the side, leaving the rest upright.

I return to Ed’s side to wait for my ball.

“You chucked that ball hard. Feel better?” he asks.

“A little.”

“Good. Because what I’m about to say is going to make you feel like shit.