Page 29 of Breaking the Surface
Peter pouted and stretched.Braden was an early riser, something Peter had only been because of Lou and because he’d had to go to work.He wasn’t working right now, though, and he was getting more rest than he’d ever gotten before.It was surprising how relaxed his body was becoming, knowing he didn’t have to wake up early and rush to work, only to rush home to Lou once he was done.
Peter groaned and buried his face in his pillow.He really wished he could stop thinking about Lou.He supposed that he would, eventually.It would be easier if he knew that Lou wasn’t interested in him anymore.It would definitely be easier if he didn’t expect the man to barge in through a window or something.
The door creaked open, causing Peter to sit up in bed.He sucked in a breath, knowing it couldn’t be Lou, but for a moment, his heart still raced.What if Lou had found a way inside the house?Peter knew that Lou was coming for him.He had a new phone with a new number now, so he’d never read the texts Lou had sent to his old one, but he didn’t need to.He’d been with Lou for a while.He knew how the man thought and what he did when he felt disrespected.
But of course, it wasn’t Lou.The first thing Peter saw was Braden’s back, and he realized why Braden walked into the room backward as soon as the man turned.He was carrying a tray that held two plates, a steaming mug, and a single rose.
“You’re awake,” Braden said with an easy smile as he strode toward Peter.He put the tray onto the nightstand and sat on the edge of the mattress, leaning over to kiss Peter.
Peter was still staring at the tray.“You made this for me?”he asked.
“Well, you have to eat breakfast, right?”Braden gently teased.
“The last time I checked, I don’t eat roses,” Peter teased back, even though his eyes burned.He’d done enough crying in front of Braden.He’d especially done enough crying over Lou.He needed to stop, dammit.
Braden’s cheeks flushed a light pink.“I know.I just wanted to make you smile.”
“You do.”Even when he hadn’t been sure he could ever have anything with Braden, just thinking about his mate had made him smile.He’d known that Braden wasn’t like Lou.He’d known they’d find a way, or at least, he’d hoped they would.
And they had.
Braden smiled sweetly and leaned forward.“Good.”
He pressed their lips together, something Lou would never have done because he’d always wanted Peter to brush his teeth before going anywhere near him.Well, he’d made exceptions for morning sex, but Peter had never been allowed to kiss him then.
That was the last thing Peter wanted to think about, though.
“You remember that I have a meeting this morning?”Braden asked as he leaned back.
Peter frowned.“I didn’t until now, and I wish you hadn’t reminded me.”
Braden chuckled.“I promise it won’t be long, and you’re seeing Vincent, anyway.”
“I know.I just don’t like it.”
“Well, we’re going to have to start living normally soon.I know it’s not going to be easy, and we don’t have to rush into anything, but you deserve to have a normal life again.”
“Nothing feels normal right now.”
“It doesn’t have to.It will soon, and eventually, you’ll even forget that Lou was part of your life.”
Peter wrinkled his nose.“I really hope you’re right about that.I’m angry because I can’t seem to stop thinking about him.Every time something happens, I wonder what Lou would’ve done, how he would have reacted.I hate living like that.”
Braden leaned over to kiss Peter’s cheek.“I know from experience that it’s going to take some time.Itwillhappen, though, and when it does, you’ll be the happiest you’ve ever been.I’ll make sure you feel that way for the rest of your life.”
Peter almost couldn’t believe the words coming out of Braden’s mouth.He knew this kind of love was out there.He could see it every time he spent time with Vincent and Ronan, or with Toby and Camden.It made him wonder if people could find this kind of love with someone who wasn’t their mate.He’d never have to find out, thankfully, but he felt a little sad at the thought that most humans would never have this.Hell, a lot of shifters wouldn’t, either.Peter was one of the lucky ones.He’d found his mate, and his mate was amazing.It would’ve been so easy for him never to meet Braden, though.
He still wasn’t quite sure why Braden had been at the house the day Vincent had moved in.He hadn’t been a pack member then, and he hadn’t known Vincent or Ronan.From what Peter knew, Braden had been visiting Remi and had been roped into helping.Of course, Peter hadn’t noticed him that day, focused as he had been on Lou and the reaction he would have when Peter went home, but he’d been there.Things had already started changing then, even though Peter hadn’t known about it.
Everything had aligned, and the result was this—Peter and Braden sitting on the bed they shared, in their bedroom, in a home that was theirs.If anyone had told Peter he could have this a few weeks ago, he would’ve thought they were drunk.
He wrapped his arms around Braden’s neck and lay back down on the bed, taking his mate with him.Braden followed with an amused smile, but Peter could feel how careful he was.When he ended up on top of Peter, he made sure that Peter didn’t feel caged in.He didn’t want Peter to panic, but Peter wasn’t feeling like he might.Yes, moving like this did make him think about Lou for a few seconds, but it was also easier than he’d expected to refocus on Braden.
“Are you sure we can’t stay here the entire day?”he asked.
“I’m sure.Knowing Vincent, he’ll barge into the bedroom and start talking to you while you’re in bed.Remi might do the same, actually.I’m sure they want to talk about yesterday’s party and us.”
Peter closed his eyes.“I know that everyone was worried about me and that they want me to be okay, but I wish they didn’t have a reason to feel that way.I really don’t like it.It makes me feel like I’m fragile.”
