Page 20 of Dante
I shrugged. “Twenty-something?”
“Yeah. I’m twenty-three. I’ll be twenty-four next month. Growing up, I thought I wanted to be a teacher. It was a job that I thought I could continue doing once I found my mate and we had a family. But our den’s school kind of died out because nobody was finding mates and having babies. That’s how bears work. It can be difficult for us to get pregnant.”
Banner got quiet, and I thought about what he’d said. “Do you want children? We don’t have to have them if you don’t,” I told him, remembering what had changed. “We’re supposed to be able to claim one another and not have to get pregnant right away.” Banner looked at me as if I was talking nonsense, and maybe I was. I shrugged. “That’s what I’ve heard. I have magic. I can magick some condoms that will work with my knot.”
Banner snorted. “You have all of these answers but haven’t waited for mine. It sounds as if you don’t want children.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m willing. I have seen Warwick’s twins, and they’re cute. I have never been around children beyond them. I know nothing about feeding or changing them. I can do magic to change diapers and make bottles, but the thought of something so tiny being dependent on me is a bit scary.”
Banner smiled, shook his head, then started laughing. He leaned back into the couch and sat there laughing. It wasadorable, but I thought my mate was always going to be adorable to me.
“I’m sorry,” he said, sitting up and then seeming to decide to flop back again. “Side note, this couch is super comfortable. But that’s not what I’m sorry about. That’s for laughing.”
I tried to offer a smile. I knew it probably came off as a grimace. I’d been told that more than once by the others. “Why?”
“Honestly, because the thought of you holding a baby and looking terrified of something so tiny. But I just can’t see you as having a tiny child.”
“Maybe?”
Banner shrugged. “I guess anything is possible.” He sighed. “Do you want children?”
“I never thought I’d have a mate, let alone children. And until Warwick got Cecil pregnant, we weren’t sure we could get our mates pregnant.” I sighed again. “But the goddess has decided we’re hers now, and she’s changed things in our bodies, I guess.” I don’t know. I felt the same, really. I did feel a bit different once she gave me magic again, but I had just thought that was because it was from the goddess and not her brother. “You want children,” I said. It wasn’t a question. He had mentioned just moments ago about how he had thought about finding his mate and having children.
“I used to.” Banner rubbed his thighs before he crossed his arms across his stomach. “I wouldn’t say no to having at least one. But I don’t want a dozen kids running around.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t even know if I can get pregnant.” I was suddenly concerned. “It’s not anything wrong. I’ve been checked after.” Banner looked at me. “You know. After.” I nodded. After he’d been rescued. “But bear omegas, for whatever reason, we’ve always seemed to have a problem getting pregnant. It’s a known fact. When I was little, I loved the idea of being able to have babies. But I was naïve. Then I grew up and learned the truth,and although I was still excited about it, I understood it might not happen.”
Banner’s stomach growled, and I wanted to kick myself. I was being a rude host. “You’re hungry. What would you like?”
Banner smiled. “I was actually going to ask you if you could get us some Chinese from the place down in Timber Valley? You know, with your magic or something? I figured I might be here for a bit with the storm.”
I grinned. He seemed comfortable with asking me for things, so that had to mean something, right? “I’ll happily get you food. What did you want? What do you like?”
Banner’s smile grew. He toed off his shoes, and it drew my attention to them. I realized he was wearing canvas sneakers. Thankfully, he had on socks, but his shoes weren’t made for the weather outside, nor did they look good for standing in all day.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you not have other shoes? Those don’t look like they’re good for long days at the bakery.”
Banner pulled his legs up and crossed them in front of himself. “I do. I just wore those. Probably not the best choice. I have hiking boots for the snow, but they get heavy after spending so much time standing on my feet behind the counter. But all of my tennis shoes aren’t great for the snow. But the paths are always clear.”
I couldn’t help but scowl. He was right, of course. The paths and walkways were always cleared. Master Edison had used magic, and they were magically clear and dry at all times. But he needed to have better options with his footwear.
“What would you like from Great Wall?” I asked.
“Can I get sweet-and-sour chicken, three spring rolls, fried rice, and lo mein noodles?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You can,” I told him. I reached out toward my mate, a bag of food suddenly appearing in it. Banner’s eyes widened as he took the food.
“That’s so cool,” he said. “I’m around magic all day. And honestly, there’s absolutely zero reason for me, Sean, and Tate to be at the bakery. Between Beau and Lewis, they do everything with magic. We really only just help the customers because at times it can get to be too much for just two people.” Banner looked around. “I didn’t see the dining room. Did I miss it?”
I shrugged. “There’s a table in the kitchen area. I usually just eat here.” I used magic again and had a tray with legs that he could set over his lap. “Will that work?”
Banner looked between the tray and me, then back at the tray before he shrugged. “I guess. I usually eat at my table. But my couch isn’t nearly as comfortable as yours. I can see why you would eat here.”
I shook my head. “I haven’t had this one long. I used to have a black leather one that wasn’t exactly soft. It was kind of hard.” I used magic to move the food to the table and the tray at the same time. Banner looked up at me with wide eyes as I stood. I held out my hand to help him. “Shall we have dinner at the table? I’d like to talk some more. Maybe learn more about you? Share whatever there is you want to know about me? My life hasn’t exactly been kind.”
Banner stared at me for a long moment before he finally took my hand. “I’d like that,” he said. When our hands touched, I felt a small tingle again, and I was sure Banner did as well because he looked at me with surprise in his eyes. I helped him to his feet, and when I let go of his hand, it was with a bit of reluctance on my part, but I was trying not to push for anything. I meant it when I said I simply wanted the chance to talk. I needed to apologize. I’d done that, and now I was discovering that it was incredibly nice talking to Banner.
“So lead the way,” Banner said. “I’ve not been here, so I’m not sure where you have things.”
