Page 45 of Her Second-Hand Mate

“My friends’ finals are starting next week, so I’m prepping some food for them.”

“All of this?” he seemed incredulous.

“Yeah, they will be very busy studying and preparing, I want to make it as easy for them as possible. The nuts are for snacking, as are the muffins. The stew and lasagna will be freezer meals, easy to just pop in the oven when they’re hungry. And the granola can be breakfast, with some yogurt and canned coffee, both of which I’ll pick up from the store on my way there.”

“On your way where?”

“I’m delivering these. To Isaac, Charlotte, Lynn, and Anthony.”

“Doesn’t Anthony have anyone else to help him?” he said darkly.

I frowned at him, “He doesn’t. And his roommates are pigs. The poor pup will starve.”

That seemed to placate him a bit.

“This is very nice of you,” he said pensively. “It’s admirable, really, that this is what you choose to spend your time and money on.”

“I like making people feel good,” I said, feeling oddly defensive.

So what if I was trying to get people to love me?

“I love that about you,” my mate said, surprising me more than I thought possible. “I can drive you to campus if you want, I’m done with work for today.”

More surprises.

“Sure, just mind-link Hank then, tell him to enjoy his day at home.”

The deliveries went well, but Elliot hadn’t been lying when he told me not to talk to Dominic while he drove. I had completely forgotten about that, seeing as I was almost never in the car with my mate.

Instead of talking, I used the time to observe him as he drove. His thick, long fingers were gripping the wheel so tightly that it made me wonder whether he had any residual trauma from Cassie’s accident. I noticed he was still biting his fingernails.

He looked like he could use both a haircut and a shave, but I loved him more like this: somewhat rugged-looking, unkempt. Who would have thought? I remembered how that stubble felt against my swollen, needy -

“Penelope, please,” Dominic closed his eyes, and I looked at his face, startled. His jaw was tight, and his brows were drawn. “Can you not think about that while I’m driving?”

“Sorry, my mind wandered,” I said as I felt my face heat. I’d let go of the coat again, and I kicked myself for it.

“I’m not complaining,” he winked. Another surprise. “Just don’t do it while I’m driving.”

I just nodded, and for the rest of the way, I counted how many yellow cars we passed.

10

December 2021/January 2022

Dear Nana,

Isaac brought me your letter and the presents everyone sent us. Thank you all so much. Don’t worry, I’ll be sending thank-you cards to Eden and Father. My favorite present is the one from Evie (unbelievable, I know!). I’ve never seen a more beautiful dagger. I promise I will find a special place in the house for it.

It made me think about our sisterly relationship, and I realized some things. Maybe I haven’t been a very good older sister to her. I could have done better. If Father ever relaxes about his fear that some harm might come to her if she leaves his sight, I’d like to host her in my pack. You and Eden should accompany her, of course. Wouldn’t that be great?

Speaking of presents, Dominic loved the puzzle I got him! And he got me a weekend trip to Gloucester, a coastal city here in Massachusetts – it’s an open reservation, so we can go wheneverwe decide. I think we’ll go in the spring or early summer. Dominic said he got the idea because I enjoyed my class trips so much, and I must admit he really hit the nail on the head.

What made the holidays even better was that Heather’s PT appointment had been moved to the end of January, so we got to enjoy our time together undisturbed.

For the most part.

She did show up with homemade cookies and gifts for the two of us – an expensive-looking tie for Dominic and a generic spa set for me. Both the cookies and the spa set were promptly introduced to the inside of our trash can. The tie met its end later.

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