Page 33 of Chasing The Alpha's Son
“I look like a kid wearing his dad’s work clothes.”
“It looks oversized, like it’s meant to be that way. Here.” With a huff she pops up and starts fussing with the shirt, tucking in one side, rolling up the sleeves and unbuttoning it almost halfway down my torso.
“There, you look trendy.”
“I doubt it,” I grumble. “But it’ll have to do. Thank Todd or Simon, or whichever.”
Katie is nibbling on the inside of her cheek—I can tell because it’s making her mouth twist in weird formations.
“What did you want to talk about?” I ask, moving to the armchair to pull on my shoes, as Katie plops back down on the edge of the comforter.
She lets out a big breath. “It’s about Todd and Simon.”
“Oh, have you finally picked one?”
“That’s just it: I thought by spending time with them both I’d figure out who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with—like it would be obvious. But the longer we’re in this strange sort of threesome the more I think I… I like it that way. Like that’s what feels obvious…to me.”
“That’s cool.” I shrug and raise my eyebrows supportively.
“But is it?” She flings herself backward onto the mattress. “No one has two mates forever. It just isn’t done. It’s not normal. At some point I’m going to have to choose.”
I finish tying my shoes and move to Katie’s side. The mattress is soft and we tilt toward each other as it slopes in the center.
“I know my mate situation isn’t exactly the best,” I say, pausing for a snarky response and then continuing when none comes. “I know it’s not exactly traditional or, you know, about to end in a happily ever after or whatever, but there’s nothing I’ve learned about myself that I’d want to change. I kind of like that I’m not the same as everyone. And sure, the path forward is unclear and it might be difficult but I believe in the end it will all be worth it. That’s why I’m here.”
Thatiswhy I’m here, right?
“So my point is”—Katie leans her head on my shoulder and I rest mine on top of hers—“maybe you don’t need to be what you’re supposed to be. Maybe you just need to do what feels right. Which in your case is dating two men-children at the same time.”
“Hey! Don’t be a bonehead!”
She shoves me playfully, but we naturally come back together, our shoulders pressing against each other.
“Theyarebeing super annoying at the moment.”
My silence is deafening.
“Okay, don’t disagree with me.”
“I’m sorry! They’re probably just acting up because they still think it’s a competition.”
“Ugh, I need to tell them, don’t I?”
“Soz.”
“You know what? I was wrong about Jasper clouding your judgment. I think somehow all this is making you kind of wise.”
“Seriously?” I raise an eyebrow. “I’ve come all this way and nothing has changed.”
“We only just got here, give it time. Besides, who could resist the festive coziness and the mistletoe hanging from every doorway. In a couple of days he’ll be snow melting in your hands.”
I can only hope.
Katie and I are late for dinner, arriving as the food is being served. It didn’t help that we got completely lost in a hall decorated with way too much taxidermy. Todd and Simon wave us over from where they’ve saved us two seats.
“You don’t mind if I sit between them, do you?” she asks as we make our way over. “Otherwise they might shame the entire pack.”
“Sure, no problem.”
