Page 23 of Silver
“What’s your house number?” he asked after he was behind the wheel.
“Oh, it’s 131 Oakview Court.” Silver nodded, then started the truck. “I can give you directions if you need them.”
“I might. I’m not sure I’ve ever been on Oakview. I know when Clay was looking at houses, he was shown one over there, but it wasn’t on Oakview. He ended up over here on Pine Ridge.”
I nodded, then realized that wasn’t far. “That’s just the next road over.”
“Yep. Mica lives on Pine Ridge as well. They live four houses apart. I tried to find something over there, but this was as close as I could get.”
That was…wow. I guess he and his brothers were incredibly close. “I don’t think I could live that close to Sam. Not anymore. I mean, I lived with her growing up, and then she moved back in for a few years after our parents died, but not now.” I thought about Sam’s visit yesterday and shivered. Nope. I loved my sister dearly. I absolutely could not live that close to her.
“Is it going to be an issue for you that I’m so close with my brothers?”
I didn’t even have to think about my reply. “No, absolutely not. Sam and I used to be closer. I understood once she was mated and she wanted to spend time with Justin instead of me. But once she became pregnant…” I thought about that and shivered again. “No. Something inside her changed once she became pregnant. Maybe she’ll go back to being her old self again once she’s a mom, but I have a feeling she’s going to be even more extra once she has the baby.”
“Have you talked to her mate?”
I looked at Silver with wide eyes. “You’d have to know Justin to understand that saying anything even remotely negative about my sister is a big no-no. I’ve seen him roll his eyes at her antics, but then he’ll just give in and give her what she wants. He’s gotten upset at others when they mention her behavior.He’s honestly no help.” I pointed to the left. “This way, and then take the first road to the right. That’s Oakview.”
“Got it.” Silver continued on, and once we were on my street, he slowed even more. “So what you’re saying is that Justin just enables your sister’s behavior.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I guess. I love her. I really do. But she’s taking pregnancy to a whole other level. She’s not enjoyable to be around.” I pointed to my little yellow cottage. “It’s the yellow one right there.” The amount of relief I felt at not seeing Sam’s vehicle anywhere around was obviously noticeable because Silver mentioned it.
“Are you all right? You just seemed to relax a great deal. Am I stressing you out? We don’t have to do more than just get some clothing for you if that’s all you are up for.”
I shook my head while looking at Silver. “It’s not you. I was just remembering that Sam said she was going to stop by first thing and get all of the deets from last night. I was relieved that I didn’t see her car anywhere around.”
Silver chuckled. “Well, if she shows up, I can growl at her if you want.”
That made me laugh. The thought of Silver growling at my sister was funny. I was certain he’d do it, and Sam would probably go running to Justin about him being mean to her. My laughter stopped when those thoughts hit. “Maybe don’t. Justin is on the local police force, and I don’t want him to do anything to you.”
Silver parked in the driveway, and I realized that his truck took up the entire thing: front to back, left to right. These cottages really weren’t designed for anyone above average size. “Has your brother-in-law ever done something like that before?”
“No.”
“Do you honestly think he’d do something like that?”
I sighed. “No. He will do questionable things for her, but I don’t think he’s ever done anything where he’s used his position with the force.”
“Then why would you think that now?”
I shrugged. “It’s been a whole lot the last day. Sam’s going to flip that we claimed one another before she got to meet you.”
Silver rolled his eyes. “Was that going to change the outcome? If she had met me and didn’t like me, were you going to just tell me to kick rocks?”
I snorted. “No.”
“Exactly. Now, wait there. I’ll come around and help you out. I’m hungry, and I know you’re hungry because I’ve heard your stomach growl a few times.”
Silver slid from the truck before I could say anything in response. He wasn’t wrong though. I was hungry. And when he was suddenly opening my door for me, then reaching for my waist, I couldn’t help but remember all of the hard lines of his body last night as I slid down it. I really was lucky when it came to who I’d been gifted as my mate.
Chapter Eleven
Silver
Charlie and I were going to have to have a serious discussion later about the mate bond. It seemed as if he didn’t know about it or understand it at all. I had been able to read his thoughts since we’d woken up this morning, and I’d simply been waiting for him to realize I already knew what he was thinking. Yet he seemed as if he didn’t have a clue. Was it possible he’d not learned of it from his parents before their deaths?
I would figure out a way to discuss that and more with my adorable little mate later. At the moment, I was trying not to knock my thigh into any of the furniture in his cozy cottage. It was cute, and from what I knew of Charlie already, it suited him perfectly. I was actually more than ready to give him free rein when it came to redecorating my place. Well, now our place. I wanted him in what used to be my space. His things as well.
