this happening to anyone else, I didn't particularly want to have the conversation. But ever since last night and my idea to have a fake relationship with Tyson, my wolf had perked up. Now that we had talked to Tyson and he’d agreed, my wolf was really excited.
Even now, he clawed at the edge. Wanting to romp and play and be let free. But first I had a family dinner to get through. At least tonight I could tell them that I didn't need to be hooked up with anyone. I didn't need any fixed setups. I had a date for all of the holiday festivities. Maybe even longer than that, if things worked out. Maybe dating Tyson wouldn’t have to be fake…
It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that he and I would be compatible, but it had never occurred to me before. The idea didn't seem so crazy as I mulled it over in my mind.
I sat down at the dining room table where the rest of the family was already seated. My oldest brother Archer held his newborn little porpoise shifter Kristoff in his arms, and his mate Sanford sat next to him. Both of them doting on their little darling. I had to admit my nephew was cute.
My middle brother Ben sat with his mate, Sarah. She was due to give birth any day now. And then there were my parents, eyeing me like I had something to prove, or perhaps I was just seeing things.
“Hello everyone,” I said.
“Curt, how was your day?” my dad asked.
“Good, nothing too exciting to report,” I replied.
“There are some very nice young omegas in the pack that we'd like to invite over for the winter solstice celebration,” my mom said casually.
I grinned. Perfect segue. “Actually, Mom. Tyson is home from studying with the Ashcliff pack,” I said.
“That's great,” she said.
“Well, he and I have been seeing each other for some for some time now, and I'd like him to be my date for our solstice dinner.” There. I’d said it. No going back now.
Her eyes went wide, and she glanced at my father.
“Why haven't you told us about this son?” my dad asked.
“Yeah, Curt,” Ben said. “Seems odd and awfully convenient for you to all of a sudden have a boyfriend.”
I growled, my wolf coming alive. How dare these people question my relationship with Tyson. But, timeout. It wasn't real, so of course, they would question it. I needed to play it up more.
“With him gone to Ashcliff for a while, we thought it was a good idea to keep things quiet in case absence didn't make the heart grow fonder,” I said. Yeah. That sounded totally reasonable. I was smart.
“How come you haven't visited him?” Archer asked, real confusion on his face. He wasn’t being a butthead like Ben was. Archer didn’t really have that sort of malice in him.
“What's up with the third-degree guys? He and I are seeing each other. That's that. He'll be my date. Now, can we just stop talking about it? It’s not a big deal,” I said. Had I not thought this through? Could they see right through me? That seemed more likely. Either way, the stage had been set. Throughout the next few weeks when they saw the two of us together they would see that this was real. But it was fake… But they didn't know it was fake. Damn, this was going to get confusing.
“We'll be having a new moon dinner and going on a pack run with his family tomorrow,” I said. “So, don't expect me for dinner.”
My mom grinned. “That's so sweet, honey. Goodness, I just spoke with Tyson’s parents the other day and they didn't say a word.”
I shrugged. “Like I said, we've kept it quiet.” And nonexistent.
“Well,” my dad said, “I think it’s great, and I’m happy to see you finally getting serious. Tyson has always had such a crush on you.”
“What?” That wasn’t true. We were friends, had been for years, but there was no crush. Sure, Tyson was an attractive omega, and we had been teased a time or two by people who thought we ought to be together, but I didn’t want to lose the friendship I had with him.
“Oh, he used to follow you around. And when he started getting into all the cooking, he made sure to learn my recipe for that tomato soup you like. I dare say he makes it better than I do now.” My mom laughed.