“Mom, don’t worry; I had all those same worries and more.”
“Okay, I trust you, honey. Are we going to get to meet him?”
“I would love that. We miss you.”
“We miss you too,”
“How is it over there?”
“Good, good. It’s like nothing happened, like we didn’t leave. It makes me feel weird, honestly. People dance around the subject like they are afraid to talk about it or ask us about you or where we were or any of it. It doesn’t feel the same.”
“I’m sorry,” I felt guilty even though I knew it wasn’t my fault. I wanted my parents to be comfortable at their home pack.
“It’s fine, it’s fine; what choice do we have?”
“Move to Crescent Moon,” I suggested, half joking.
“Your mate is from Crescent Moon? Well, of course, that would make sense.” She paused for a moment, “I’m not sure city life is for us, at that Alpha, that Prince, he is terrifying. I don’t think that I could live with him as The Alpha; I don’t think we would fit in there.” “Mom,” I smiled, “They have a packhouse and cottages in the forest, too; you don’t have to live in the city. How about you come here and meet him, and then you decide? No pressure, it’s just an option.”
“Of course, I’ll talk to your dad about it.” She didn’t sound convinced, but I didn’t expect her to want to pack up and move to a new pack where everything she knew was at Blue Ridge.
I wasn’t sure if I should bring up that The Alpha was my mate, I figured I could ease her into it.
“Okay, I’ll set something up with him.”
“Willa?”
“Yes, Mom?”
“Are you happy?”
I paused. A smile tugged at my face.
“Yes, happier than I think I have ever been,” My hand went to my fresh mark.
(Willa)
Caspien and I talked about how things would go moving forward. We would move in eventually, but I still wanted to ease Emmett into it even though he already felt so comfortable here. Caspien insisted that Emmett and I have a say in adding our own touches and
redecorating.
He had a team, a literal team waiting for me in the dining room the following morning, a contractor, two designers, and what I assumed were assistants.
“Change anything, add another floor, an indoor pool, paint it hot pink for all I care,” He walked away, taking a call.
Emmett was down at Holden’s apartment with Loreli and Cali, so I had the team’s full, unwanted attention on me.
They looked at me expectantly as if I was about to whip out some vision boards from my back pocket and give them a full-a.ss presentation.
“Um,” I stared at them, and to my chagrin, none of them stepped in, “I don’t know what I want; honesty, I don’t really know my style.”
“Perfect,” One of the designers slid a few books to me, “Have a look here, and how about you flag some things that you like? Some fabrics, rooms, furniture, and we can put something together.” She looked at the male designer, and they both smiled at each other widely.
“This is our dream project,” The man said, “Especially with someone that we can start from scratch with; it rarely happens.”
“Well, then, I’m glad to help,” I gave them a genuine smile, and the contractor asked me a few things about the layout, but I didn’t want to change anything; I didn’t see a need to go around knocking down walls or anything.
“We will be in touch,” They got up and went to take room measurements while I flipped through the books. I honestly didn’t know how they would transform this space. I couldn’t see it at all. I couldn’t see past the stark modern fixtures and furniture and the neutral pallet.
Caspien came back and took a seat next to me.
“I’m bringing my mismatched mugs; I hope you know that,” I raised an eyebrow, and he stared at me.
“Maybe,”
“Maybe?”
“|
I thought relationships are about compromise, so instead of saying no, I said maybe.”
“You haven’t even seen then,” I crossed my arms.
“Are you inviting me over?” He asked. He almost smiled, almost.
“No, but I mean yes,” I shrugged.
He’s been in the front hallway before, he’s come up to pick me up for our dates, but many times I met him downstairs, too excited to wait. On the weekends, he was usually finishing meetings when I was done with work, so we took a car to him. “Would you be more comfortable with me meeting your parents there?”
“I don’t think it matters, actually, but it might be nice. I want to show them the city and let them enjoy it a bit more than what they saw the week they were here.”
Caspien’s eyes lit up, “We’re simple people,” I stopped him, “Before you even think about a sunrise jet ride to the Moon, reel it in.”
“Fine,” His lips made a thin line, but I could tell he was still thinking about something.
“Fine,” I shook my head, “I have to get back to fabrics, ah, this one will match the wallpaper perfectly.” I pointed to one with black and white clowns.
“I’m terrified to see your choice in wallpaper,” He smiled.
“You said I could do anything I wanted,”
“I trust you,”
“You paused and winced,”
“I think I trust you,” He amended.
I nodded once, “I accept that.” I would have to figure out a way to sneak some of this awful fabric in somewhere.
“The sooner you choose, the sooner you can move in,” He looked at me.
“I know, I know,” I wanted this, but I wasn’t completely ready to give up my own place just yet.
The days seemed to pass quickly, now that I had weekends to look forward to and relax having only five days of work and school seemed so short. My parents were coming that weekend, and Caspien decided to do our date night at my place this week. He brought over takeout from a few places and set up a picnic for Emmett and me in our living room. He didn’t hate it, not that I really had much choice over the furniture, but it was nice seeing him so comfortable here, even if he did look out of place with Emmett and me in our pajamas while he sat across from us with a perfectly pressed suit.
“Is Caspien staying? Are we having a sleepover?” He asked excitedly.
I looked at Caspien and shrugged.
“If you want me to,” Caspien said to Emmett but was looking at me.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.