Page 18 of The Lunatics

I cast one last glance at Michael as I left. By the looks of it, he was more than ready to start the day. He wore a freshly pressed suit in charcoal gray, dark tie already in place, hair combed artfully back and still a little damp from his own shower. I liked his haircut, shorter on the sides and long on top. It suited him, made him seem slightly less stuffy and a smidge more modern. He turned the page of the paper with a casual flick of his fingers. He looked untouchably cool and supremely put together. In my head, he was anything but. The rapid-fire cycling of his emotions was dizzying. Fear, worry, determination, back to fear, resignation, and beneath it all, a low, simmering anxiety.

What the hell was going on in his mind? And why were none of his emotions showing on his face or in his scent?

Mom turned and made a shooing motion in my direction, and I realized I was loitering. I raised my hands in surrender and went to shower. Time enough to figure out my mate’s weirdness later.

Aside from how much Michael unbalanced me, I was in a more positive mental state than last night. I wouldn’t say I was at peace with everything that had happened, but I was working my way closer toward accepting it. Stressing out wouldn’t change the fact that I now had a mate. Raging against the unfairness of it all wouldn’t undo the magic of the bond. The best way to move forward was with as clear a head as I could manage.

Once I was done showering, I headed to my bedroom, where I tugged on a pair of running shorts and a tank top. No use putting on anything nice. As soon as breakfast was over, I needed to pack up and load my stuff into the truck.

“Any coffee left?” I asked when I reemerged downstairs.

“Plenty,” Michael said.

I padded past him on bare feet, forcing my breathing to staynice and even so I didn’t suck in more lungfuls of his scent like a total creep.

Dad paused to drop a kiss on top of my head as he moved from the island to the stove. “How you feeling this morning?”

“Better.”

His eyes crinkled. “Michael already filled us in on your immediate plans. It’s too bad you can’t stick around a little longer so we can get to know our future son-in-law.”

I shot him a death glare.

Behind me, Michael choked on his coffee.

“He’s teasing you,” Mom told him.

I beelined toward the coffeemaker. “Dad, please. I am begging you. This is awkward enough as it is.”

I could hear the smile in his voice when he answered. “So now isn’t the time to suggest names for grandchildren?”

I whipped around. “Dad!”

His answering laugh was unrepentant.

Shaking my head, I poured myself some coffee and took a seat beside Michael. “I am so sorry.”

He appeared unruffled, and I felt his surprise giving way to a sort of steady… readiness. Why? What was he resigned about? Ugh. As if this situation wasn’t confusing enough, now I needed to learn how to read the variances of his emotions while simultaneously keeping myself from obsessing over each one.

“At least someone is able to see the humor in our situation,” he said.

“Thank you,” Dad answered.

Mom leaned across the counter and gave my mate a placating smile. “Sweetie, I know you’re new here, but encouraging him will only make it worse for you in the end.”

Michael shook his head, expression stoic, but a hint of amusement rose in the back of my mind. I took a slow, deep breath inthrough my nose. There, barely detectable beneath the smell of a shifter, was a small scent of humor. Why not crack a smile? Why not show my mom that he found her funny? Why did he guard his every emotion like this?

Ughhh. I was totally going to lose the battle against obsessing.

“Have you spoken to Nathaniel?” I asked him.

“I have. He dropped the Range Rover off about an hour ago.” So that explained the fresh suit. “Sarah’s pack is from Vermont. As he has fewer responsibilities in the company than I do, he elected to take several days off to visit and become acquainted with her family.”

Must be nice for him.

Mom turned to me. “Have you spoken to Gia?”

“No.” I craned my head around. “I left my phone in here somewhere. It’s probably dead.”