A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,43
a man, Lu. Someone I have strong feelings for. You know that I have to go to work tomorrow, but I think he and Cy would be able to come over to take care of Mary and help you out. Is it okay if I ask them to?”
He met a man? When? I thought he spent last night at Cy’s place.
Mary toddles over to Axe and holds out her book again. “Akie, read?”
He nods, and she hands him the book. It’s one of the potty-training books I bought in the hope it would get her interested.
“Does this mean you’re not going to be with Cy?” I ask.
He opens the book. “No. I plan to be with both of them.”
Oh. In less than twenty-four hours, Axe found not one mate, but two.
I guess he always has been easier to love than me.
“I’m happy you found someone, Axe. I’d love to meet him. And you know that I love Cy.”
He clears his throat. “Ben… uh, he’s a penguin shifter. So… this is a permanent kind of arrangement.”
I try really hard to smile. I do. But it’s difficult. “Okay. That’s… congratulations.” I turn away from him. I’m being a terrible brother. Here Axe is, free and in love, and I’m feeling sorry for myself.
He sits on the floor and begins to read Mary the potty book with an enthusiasm that warms my heart. He really loves her, and he’s done his best to be a good uncle to her. Has Sam put forth that kind of effort on Mary’s behalf?
Maybe it’s time to be happy about what I have, instead of focusing on what I don’t.
I slowly sit back until I’m brushing shoulders with Axe. I’m still close enough to the toilet in case of an emergency, but it feels more like sitting with my brother than waiting to throw up.
It’s amazing how some people can change your perspective on everything.
“This isn’t the height of children’s literature, is it?” he says, turning the page.
I hold back a laugh.
“Akie read!” Mary demands.
He kisses the top of her head. “Sorry. Where were we? Oh right. ‘I wash my hands with soap after I’m done. Big girls always wash their hands.’”
Axe grins at me as he closes the book. He’s right, it’s ridiculous.
“I missed you,” I say.
“I missed you too. And you, little lady.”
She grabs the book and holds it up a second time. “Again!”
He laughs and opens it to the first page.
28
Sam
At eight I get a text from Lu.
Mary is asleep and my brother is with his mates for the evening.
His mates? How many of them are there? Is Cy one of them? I thought his brother lived on the Slope.
Never mind. That doesn’t matter now.
A young male polar bear shifter with kind eyes and enormous shoulders hands me back my debit card. The last time I was in this jewelry shop, an alpha woman was the welder.
“Do I… put them in a gift bag or something?” I ask, picking up two thick metal bands.
“No wrapping is necessary. Although a foot massage wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
I forgot how passionate polar bear shifters are about foot massages. I should have remembered the morning after I spent the night at Lu’s house. I’ve failed him in so many ways.
I guess I have the rest of our lives to make it up to him.
“And if he prefers the necklace? I know you’re closing after Pebble Gifting Season. Is there any way to contact you?”
The man pulls out a small white paper from his coveralls. “I keep my shop open year round, but here’s my business card. Call me when you’re ready.”
The card says Todd Platten, with a phone number and the address of the shop.
“Any other parting words of wisdom?” I ask, suddenly nervous. I haven’t been a good mate to Lu so far. What if he takes the bands instead of a necklace? Polar bear shifters don’t normally mate for life.
Todd hands me the winding chain that I hope Lu will want to wear around his neck. “Give the people you love time to come to terms with your relationship. They may say things at first that they’ll regret later on. Holding onto your anger will cost you more than it will cost them.”
I was expecting some token advice about wooing a polar bear shifter. That advice feels oddly specific. Does he know that I’m a widower?
“My mate is a penguin shifter,” he says. “You can call that number if you need a friend too.”
Oh. His