Page 40 of Miles's Pact
"Bettino is a shifter, isn’t he?" I asked to get my mind off my lack of contribution to our relationship, and Miles hummed.
"He's a shapeshifter, actually. For a long time, he ran the store in the form of an old woman named Betty. But then he met his mate, and I guess he found the confidence to be himself after that."
I blinked, surprised by the parallel between our lives, and wondered if Bettino might be interested in being friends. I thought we'd be able to relate to each other in a way others—including my mates—couldn't.
"That's great. Is his mate a shifter too?"
"Anson's human, but he knows about supes now, of course."
"I can't imagine having a human mate. I probably would've spent my whole life in my duck form if my mates were human. We never would've found each other. I'm glad it's you and Mateo."
Miles beamed at me, making his dark eyes crinkle as the sunlight sparkled off his blond hair, and I couldn't look away. He was beautiful, and he wasmine. How had I gotten so lucky?
"I'm glad you're my mate too," he said, giving my hand a squeeze, and I smiled, unable to help myself as I leaned over and pressed a very quick, very chaste kiss on his cheek.
Miles's eyes went wide, and a faint pink blush colored his cheeks before he shook his head and a soft smile bloomed on his lips.
He turned his gaze to the street, and I did the same as my heart fluttered in my chest, the warmth of his smooth skin lingering on my lips.
"I thought we could do some shopping next. You still need essentials, and more clothes. We ordered a few for you the other day, but maybe you'd like to buy some for yourself?"
I pursed my lips, unsure about having him spend even more money on me. But what was the alternative? Wearing these clothes—the ones they'd bought me the day we visited my mom—every day? Wearing Miles and Mateo's ill-fitting clothes? Going back to my duck form? Asking my mom for money?
None of those options sounded appealing, and I couldn't tell Miles I didn't want him spending money on me, not when he looked so eager about the prospect.
Maybe I could pay him back once I figured out the job thing. There had to be something I could do to make some money, right?
"That sounds good. I don't need anything fancy, though."
Miles nodded, though I wasn't sure if he was agreeing with me or humoring me. Still, I let him lead the way, pushing all worries about money to a corner of my brain so I could enjoy this date Miles had planned for us.
So far, it'd been the best day I'd had in a long time, and I knew it was only going to get better from here.
