Page 10 of His Determined Bear

Papa came in right then and put his hand on my shoulder, “You sell yourself short. No one works harder than you do. I swear it’s a miracle we get to see you at all.”

That wasn’t true, but my parents would always see the best in us.

“How did you like the Pumpkin Pie Cake?” I asked. “Nash, Gabe, and Hunter seemed to like it, although Kian, Rhys, and Reggie were on the fence. That makes you guys the tiebreakers.”

Dad said, “It was pretty good.”

I laughed. That was parent speak for ‘it wasn’t my thing, but my kid made it, so I think it’s great.’ “So, not a fan, huh,” I checked.

“I had a little more than I should have,” Papa chimed in, laughing at Dad because he knew I was right.

“Hmm, so that’s four in favor and four against.” I groaned and shook my head. “You guys are no help.”

“People seem to love whatever you create, son. But my suggestion would be muffins,” my papa added.

“Hmm. That could work, you know. Our muffins are some of our best sellers that aren’t seasonal. They seem to really love the option to choose all the ones they like to fill the boxes. Hopefully, the fall specialty items will be a hit.”

It didn’t matter how long the cafe had been open. For some reason, I still found myself fretting whenever I launched something new. My ideas always started out in my kitchen at home. When I had the new confection how I wanted it, my family and Aaron were my taste testers before releasing it into the wild.

“Oh, did you hear Aaron’s getting married?” I asked my parents, “He asked me to bake his wedding cake too.”

“Ohh, that’s wonderful.” Papa gushed with his hand over his heart. “Oh, he deserves it so much after losing Kat. It will be wonderful to see him happy again.” My Papa looked over at my Dad, who held his hand out to him wordlessly, asking him to come to him. Papa took Dad’s hand, got up from his chair, and sat back down on his lap. Dad wrapped his arms lovingly around Papa and held him close for a minute. I knew they were thinking about what it would be like to lose your mate. My parents had been mated for forty-two years, and I refused to imagine one without the other.

I vividly remember what Aaron had gone through when Kat died. He was utterly devastated, and I honestly wasn’t sure he would make it. Just the thought of either of them going through that caused a pain in my chest. I looked away from them, giving my parents a second to themselves. All of these thoughts had me wondering if it was easier to go without your mate rather than know that you may lose them.

I thought about Gabe and Kian, Nash and Austin, and my parents. I knew what they would choose. Hell, I knew for a fact that Aaron would choose to have mated with Katherine again even if he knew how it ended.

Yeah, I definitely wanted a mate of my own and every high and low that came with it. I just had to look at the mated couples in my life to know the potential for heartbreak was more than worth it.

I sighed, lost in my own thoughts while wondering I would ever find my mate. Thankfully before I could travel down the depressing road of you’ll die alone, my papa spoke. “I’m so happy for Aaron, but Gray, you’re already so busy with everything around here. Are you sure you have the time to bake and decorate a wedding cake? Knowing you, it won’t be some simple layers stacked on top of one another.”

“Your Papa is right son, are you sure adding another thing to your already insane schedule will be good for you?” Dad asked, concern written on his face.

“It’s Aaron,” I said simply. “I’ll make time.”

Papa got up and leaned forward. With a soft touch, he cupped my chin, “You’re such a good boy, Graham. We are so proud of who you have grown up to become.”

I laughed, “I’m thirty-three Papa. I don’t think I can be called a boy anymore.”

Dad snorted, and Papa rolled his eyes, “You and your brothers will always be my baby boys even though you all went and got taller than me.”

I chuckled as I stood. “Of course we will, Papa.” I placed a kiss on his cheek before straightening. “I gotta go run a few errands. I need to pop over to the grocery store and grab some stuff for a recipe I’m playing with.”

“Of course you do,” Papa teased, “I can’t wait to try it. Any hints about what is?”

I shrugged and mimed zipping my lips.

“I don’t even know why I ask,” Papa sighed.

“I’m sure I can keep you distracted while you wait,” Dad teased, a lascivious grin on his rugged face.

I rolled my eyes at my parents. You would think after forty years, they’d tone down the sexual tension, but nope.Not those two. They seem to be in heat for each other twenty-four seven.

Gods, I wanted what they had.

“See you later, son,” Dad called on my way out.

I’d driven my car over, knowing I had to stop at the supermarket. On my way out of our estate, I spotted my brother Rhys and brothers-in-law Kian and Nash. They had two strollers between them, although Rhys appeared to be holding one of the babies. I pulled up beside them and rolled down my window.

---