Page 15 of With the Stars

“We only get one. Peter is my only mate.”

“So you did nothing when you knew he was your mate because he was married to Mom? That’s kinda… wow. That’s…” Rex appeared lost for words. “You might never have been with Dad.”

“All that mattered was his happiness, and he was happy with all of you.”

“Mom kept us happy.” Rex whispered the words, his head dropping.

“I’m sorry.”

Rex shrugged. “I’ve ordered the pizza.” He pushed away from the counter and left the kitchen. Peter went to follow but Minho caught his arm and shook his head.

Peter pulled free and shot Minho a hard look. “He’s my son.”

“All I was going to say was give him a minute, then go to him. I didn’t mean to overstep my boundaries.”

Peter closed his eyes and turned away, running his hand through his hair. Blowing out his breath, he apologized. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded.”

“He is your son, Peter, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be part of the family too. Give it time.”

Peter nodded. He knew all about time. How time healed all wounds. How time gave people a new chance at happiness. Smiling at Minho, he held his hand out and Minho took it.

Chapter Seven

He’d had fun with Rex until he’d left to go to another friend’s house to do school work. Peter’s youngest was witty and smart and made Minho laugh, and he asked the most absurd questions. Toilet abilities had been the funniest, and the look on Peter’s face when Rex had asked still made Minho chuckle a week later as he appeared in front of Gray. He’d been fortunate to avoid the office until then. He’d wanted to spend as much time as possible with Peter.

Gray arched an eyebrow when Minho appeared, then his nostrils flared and he laughed. “Damn. Not you, too.”

Minho didn’t care if they could scent the changes in him. He had his mate after all these years and nothing and no one was going to alter that. “Yes, me too.”

“Who is he or she?”

“He is human, as you can tell.”

“Congrats!” Key grinned up at him then stuck his tongue out at Gray. “Not all us humans are assholes.”

“You lot are the exception to the rule and I’ve been good. I haven’t insulted a single human at all today.”

“The day or night is still young.” Key went back to his work. “Who is he?”

“Someone I met many years ago.”

Lifting his head, Key looked at him. “Was he young like Jerome?”

“I met him almost thirty years ago and he was happily married. I didn’t want to interfere in that, so I waited.”

“What changed?” Gray swung around on his chair. “Why now?”

“Diane passed away a couple of years ago. I wanted to give him time to grieve.”

“I think that’s sweet.”

Gray snorted and threw a pen at Key. “It’s pathetic. Waiting around for a human?”

“Ignore him. Henry refused to suck him off when he demanded it. Do they have kids?”

“Two sons. I met one recently. He’s nice.”

“We’re falling like flies here. One went and now look at us. Soon we’ll all be mated to humans.”

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