Page 100 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

“You wait. I could hold you to that.”

“Bring it.” Diego moved closer and leaned against the lab table. “I’ve noticed you leaning more into femme clothes over the last couple of months—and I’ve peppered in a few compliments but didn’t want to make a big deal about it in case it made you feel self-conscious. But I’m telling you now, you look amazing. You look happy. If wearing skirts and frills makes you happy,do it.Your mom be damned. Live your life the way you want to live it.”

“You know how she can be. She was always worried that the whole pod would find out I was intersex, and we’d get exiled.”

“Why would the pod kick you out over that?”

“I don’t know… but then, her family was kicked out of her other pod, so maybe it’s residual fear and trauma from that experience.”

“I’d almost forgotten about that. I’m sure losing her home and extended family did have an impact on her.”

“To the extreme. Every time I didanythingshe thought might remotely bring negative attention, she’d gripe about it until I stopped. She’s already mentioned my hair was too long and she only saw me for ten minutes. I look too girlie.”

“She’s going to have a coronary when she finds out about Mael,” Diego said. He grinned wickedly. “Can I be there when you tell her? Iwantto see Joanna’s face.”

“I’m not ready to spring that on them yet. Hopefully they’re back in their house by the time Mael and his brothers return.”

Diego frowned. “You might end up having to tell them.” He pointed to Echo’s stomach. “If you’re that big already, it’s only a matter of time before you can’t hide it.”

“I know,” Echo said. “I just want to do it when I’m ready and it feels right. They came home early, and I’m unprepared. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Mael. I want him to find out he’s going to be a dad before I tell my parents.” Echo leaned in. “If it wasn’t clear, we’re not tellinganyoneyet.”

“Assumed but noted.” He leaned closer and hugged Echo against his side. “After you tell your parents about Mael, you’ll have to tell me what to do and what not to do if I ever get to tell mine.”

Echo frowned. “Havoc will get his head out of his ass eventually.”

“I doubt it,” Diego replied. “He didn’t come to say goodbye before he left for three months. I had to find out from you.”

“Does he even know where you live? Or have your number?”

“No,” Diego muttered. “But did you give Maelstrom your number and address? No. He hunted you down like a proper predator. Mine’s hot and cold. No, make that lukewarm and cold. Mostly cold.”

“Have you offered to warm him up?”

Diego’s face grew red.

“Then, maybe you need to make a second first move.”

Diego huffed, shaking his head. “I already fucked that up. Not doing that again.”

“Maybe the time apart will be good,” Echo said. “Absence making the heart grow fonder and shit. Once you two see one another again, sparks might fly and melt that ice of his.”

“I suppose we’ll see,” Diego said. “In three to five weeks.”

“Ugh,”Echo said. “Don’t remind me how long we’ve still got to go. I want Mael homenow.”

22

Five weeks later…

It was barely past sunrise when Mael zipped up Echo’s driveway and parked his motorcycle behind the house. The morning fog had rolled in on the way over, forming a thick blanket over the ground, but the late summer sun would soon burn it away. Excited to finally see his mate again, he climbed off his bike and ripped his helmet off. After three months without his omega at his side, he was itching to hold Echo close. He raced up the back stairs and used the key Echo had given him before he'd left.

Mael slowly swung the door wide as quiet as possible, hoping to surprise his mate.

The surprise ended up being his.

An older couple were in the kitchen, in their pajamas. They stared, their eyes wide and jaws slack. The woman stood near the stove cooking breakfast while the man sat at the table, holding an open, folded newspaper in one hand. His coffee cup hovered midway between the table and his lips.

“Uuuhhh,”Mael said, scanning the interior again. He was in the correct house, right? The key had worked, so of course it was. “I’m here… to see Echo?”

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