Page 40 of Watch Me

“Patty, Pam,” Fin greeted them both with a nod. We saw Patty all the time, as she was part of the pack, but she also knew all of the town gossip since she cleaned the hotels and many houses around Blue Lake.

“Good to see you, Clark,” Patty replied with Fin’s first name, a twinkle in her eye telling me we’d be the topic of conversation as soon as we left. Or maybe we already were before we walked in.

“You two are adorable,” Pam added and I was a little surprised. She wasn’t as old as Merle King, but she wasn’t as young as Patty or Fin either. I should have guessed she’d be accepting, since she adored Cam and had practically adopted them.

“Thank you,” I replied with a grin, grabbing Fin’s hand and giving it a squeeze.

It had taken him a little getting used to. This casual intimacy. Besides being repressed for decades, he truly was oblivious about relationships. We had our fights like any couple, mainly when stressed and not thinking, but our wolves could usually sense how the other was feeling. Knowing when your partner was unhappy or annoyed helped when you were still learning how to communicate.

Like when I’d said at a pack gathering that I basically lived with Fin, and could take shifts with him indefinitely. Rel and King had only chuckled at Fin’s shocked expression and the conversation had moved on. Instead of brushing it off or teasing him about it, I could feel his confusion and anxiety. Instead of joining the others for a run, I’d pulled him aside to talk.

“Do you not want me to live with you?” I had asked. “Because I haven’t slept at Rel’s in over a month, and most of my clothes are at your place.”

“I know,” Fin had nodded to himself and sat on the front steps of the pack house. “I guess I just assumed I had to ask you to move in.”

After trying to wait him out, I grew impatient. “So ask me.”

Fin let out a startled laugh and cuffed the back of my head in one of his big hands. “You’re a brat, but you’re not wrong. And the thought of you not sleeping in my bed makes me want to tear something or someone apart. Will you move in with me permanently?”

“So the anxiety I felt from your wolf wasn’t regret?” I asked, my own nerves creeping into my voice.

“No, baby,” Fin reassured me, moving his hands to cup my face. He laid a sweet kiss on my lips that had me leaning in. “I never want you to be away from me. It’s why I’m turning part of my shop into a space for you.”

“You sure it’s not so you can keep an eye on me while I tattoo naked people?” I teased with a smirk.

“That too, brat,” Fin had pushed me back and stood up, extending his hand for me.

Taking his help, I stood and pulled him into my arms, “I love you.”

“Love you more.”

We kissed until the front door banged open and we heard a sigh. Channing was standing there in a loose sun dress and her arms crossed. “Are you too done being sappy? Fowler said I can only run with others and I’ve been waiting behind this door forever.”

“Teenagers,” Fin said with a chuckle, but I could tell he loved it. Channing was safe and sassing us again after her ordeal. We all put up with anything she doled out.

“I’m twenty next month,” she pointed out, pushing past us while dropping her dress on the porch railing. Before we could reply, she’d shifted and run off, making us strip and chase after.

The memory had me wondering if Fin wanted to adopt more kids. I’d always been happy to be around kids in short bursts, but wasn’t sure I wanted my own.

Cam handed us our drinks, interrupting my wondering thoughts. “See you for the fitting next weekend, Ricky?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I was going to be one of Cam’s wedding party attendants while Fin was standing up for Rowen at their upcoming wedding. Then they really would be in-laws. I found myself excited to be included like family, since my blood relatives were gone or far away.

We left the café with farewells for everyone and I saw the women leaning their heads closer as soon as we were outside. “So, how’s the drink?” I asked, reaching out for my turn.

“Tastes like a snickerdoodle cookie,” Fin answered, swapping drinks with me.

Taking a sip I hummed, “It’s good, but too sugary for every day.”

“Agreed,” Fin nodded, holding onto the espresso. Who was the brat, now?

“Do you want more kids?” I asked and Fin stopped in his tracks on the sidewalk.

Looking down at me, I could sense a mix of surprise and curiosity from him. He’d often wondered at the beginning of our relationship how it would work with us at such different stages in our lives, but it had rarely even come up. We were both shifters in the same pack who’d recently mated, we weren’t that different.

“Why? Do you want kids of your own?”

Shrugging, I clasped his hand in mine and faced him fully. “I never really considered it. Between being a beta and how I was raised, I figured I’d just be the fun uncle some day.”