Page 14 of A Hutch for Hoover

My dads warned me this would happen, that the moment they came into one another’s presence, the world went away, leaving just them. No priorities besides their other half. These were two very responsible pack members, and I found it really hard to believe that they could have put aside everything else for even a moment.

But as I drove to pick up my mate, I had some concerns. My dads had moved in with one another the night they met. My omega dad’s pack had come to visit for a gathering, a picnic and run I believed, and they’d never parted again. The other pack went home one member short, and that was how it was supposed to be. Wasn’t it? Hoover’s place was not all that comfortable, and I hoped he wouldn’t be the kind to think the alpha had to provide most of the support—and the place to live. Not that I was too proud to live in his building. I’d shared worse with roommates while in culinary school and while working and saving before I arrived in this state and opened my shop.

In particular, the advantage to my place was the accessible shifting spaces. He’d been over enough times to see everyone going about their business in their fur or skin, yet he’d never responded to my hints about shifting together. He always had a reason not to want to do it at the moment, and with everything else so good between us, I didn’t want to push.

Many omegas were content to allow their alphas to make all the decisions—or if not content, they let it happen. I wasgrateful Hoover didn’t feel that way because it would have been a problem for us. I’d been on my own for a long time, and I wasn’t sure how well it would go to have an alpha questioning my every move or trying to make all my decisions for me.

My Hoover respected me as an individual and did not try to push me around in any way. He was a masterful lover and could make me laugh at the oddest times with just a look or a word. Tonight, we were going to go to dinner at a barbecue place in a canyon that several of my customers had mentioned over time. They said it was isolated enough to shift nearby as well, and I was hoping my alpha would be willing to give it a try.

He’d said he didn’t shift at night, but he’d also had other reasons why we hadn’t shifted together, so I was hoping. My wolf really wanted to meet his rabbit and was getting a little pushy about the whole thing. But even if he didn’t want to, just seeing him standing outside his building on the sidewalk waiting for me had me excited. He wore my favorite pair of jeans, the ones that fit him just right and a polo shirt along with running shoes, his hair a little tousled by the early evening breeze.

Things were a little cooler now than when we first met, especially once the sun set, so it should be nice to sit outside and eat.

Hoover hopped into the car and leaned in for a kiss. “Have a good day, omega mine?”

“Yes, but better now that you’re with me.” I pulled away from the curb and into traffic. “I’ve been starving myself all day for this dinner. I hope it’s as good as I’ve heard. I’d hate to steer you wrong.”

“Worst-case scenario, I get to sit outside under the stars and sip a beer with you. Can’t see a downside. But I bet it will be good. How far away is it?”

“Not too bad. Half hour or a little more, I think. Find anything good at the thrift store today?”

He turned toward me, his grin white in the dimness of the car. “As a matter of fact, we received a box of china as a donation, but it was all broken.”

“What a shame.”

“Mm-hmm. Yeah.” He chuckled. “I’ve been wanting to work on some mosaics, and I think this is perfect. It’s that old blue-and-white pattern, willow something?”

“That will be nice.” We drove on through the night in easy silence. With Hoover’s hearing difficulties, I’d begun to be more judicious with my speech and to appreciate the times when we didn’t talk as well. It was a different pace of conversation, and although his hearing was not as good as many people’s, his listening was excellent.

“Is that it?” Hoover pointed to a glow in the distance.

“I think so. Watch for the sign for the off-ramp if you would. They say it’s hard to see in the dark.”

And it was, but my alpha spotted it in time for us to get off. The restaurant was about a quarter of a mile from the highway, nestled against a hill, and once we pulled into the parking lot, I was amazed to see how many cars were there. In the middle of nowhere. That spoke well for the food for sure. That and the smell.

“Is that the barbecue?” Hoover rolled down the window and stuck his nose out, sniffing. “I am going to eat my weight in ribs. And chicken. And brisket. Do you think they have brisket?”

“Not sure, but we’ll know in a minute. I laughed when one of my customers told me not to come out here without a reservation, but I’m glad I did it anyway. Wow, is it busy.”

We stepped inside to find it bustling, country music playing, and people with huge platters of food in front of them. I’d never been gladder to have skipped lunch and sorrier I didn’t have a dog to take bones home to.

“What do you think of dogs?” I asked my mate as we were being led outside to our table on the patio.

“I’m a rabbit, so at least part of me gets a little nervous around big ones. Why?”

“Well, I like them, but if you don’t, it doesn’t matter.”

“Mate.” Hoover scooted his chair closer and put his arm over my shoulders. “We can have a dog if you like. Just not anything huge. Or aggressive.”

“Gotcha. My building has a lot of small animal shifters as well, so I am sure they wouldn’t appreciate a cane corso or something. Although, I think one of my neighbors might be one…anyway, not a big deal. Just something we might do in the future if we want to then.”

We paused our conversation to place our orders, the mixed barbecue plate for both of us because we couldn’t decide on one item. They did have brisket, and it was the best thing on the plate. Along with the beans, which were frankly amazing. All of it was good, and after we finished, we took a long stroll through the desert under the stars, in our skins, no shifting, but it was still the best part of my day.

“The moon is rising,” Hoover said, taking my hand. “It’s almost full, and so golden, but it will block out the starlight.”

“Worth it, I think.” We paused to sit on a rock and watch the moon climb into the sky. “What a perfect evening.”

“So far.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “But I have some ideas for later that might make it even better.

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