Page 46 of My Monster, My Choice

“He’s already left. Mumbled that you and he had plans. Probably trying to avoid this conversation with me too.”

“Why are you asking me and not yourmaman?” I scowl, trying to thwart her.

“Because she avoids me when you’re around. When you’re not around she avoids conversation about you. I used to think it hurt her to hear about you when she missed you so. But why does she avoid me now that you’re back?”

“Perhaps her time is taken up with me.”

“That’s my point,” she says softly. “That’s how it should be. Yet your relationship isn’t progressing. She’s not excited about mating. Not excited about marriage. She’s complacent in leaving things as they are. Casually dating?”

“Why do you believe there should be rules upon a relationship?”

“I don’t. But I sense something is off, Elex. Don’t bullshit me. My mother avoids this conversation, Relion avoids this conversation, and you do too. I want to know what’s going on because, dammit, this is my mom.”

“Your mother and I are fine, Tera. I love her just the way she is.”

The sadness in her face alarms me. It sends gut-wrenching terror like I’ve never faced into my midsection. “I’ve never heard her say that about you.”

I suck in a breath. “Then perhaps that is your answer. She does not feel the same about me as I do her.” My voice is soft because it is how I am beginning to feel. I knew Christina was mine from the moment I saw her. But a year later? I’m beginning to wonder if she feels the same. I have no doubt that I pleasure her. That she craves my lovemaking. But if she doesn’t admit her feelings to her own daughter, perhaps they really aren’t there.

Tera shakes her head. “That’s not it, Elex. I don’t have any doubts that she loves you. None whatsoever. There’s something else that holds her back.”

“Maybe she is just against marriage because she was in your family unit and was left alone.”

“Has she ever told you how she feels about children?”

I think back. It wasn’t an issue once. Until I asked her point-blank after much teasing from the others about how time was ticking. But I can’t share with Tera about the fight between me and Christina. “She once said she does not want any. That she raised hers and is done.”

“I’d be fine with that,” Tera says, “if it were true. But as a child, I remember her crying. She wanted more children. What has changed?”

I shrug. “I would think that Kenny is a handful? But she has more help here than she ever did as a single parent.”

“Again, I’m fine with her not wanting children. But do you see how she’s torn sometimes with Telilah? She’s sad and overjoyed at the same time? It’s not just because Telilah’s her grandbaby. She’s the same way with Jayna.”

I narrow my eyes, remembering instances with my mate and the otherkish. “You are right. But why would she state she does not wantkishrenif she does?” For a brief moment, the thought crosses my mind that perhaps she does not wantmine—little hybrids with tentacles. But no, that cannot be the case either. She was irate about Earthlings protesting that their species legs would become tentacles over time. She has no aversion to Telilah or Jayna.

“She’s still of childbearing years, so it’s not an age factor,” Tera says. “I will get to the bottom of it before our family dinner tonight.”

“Whatever it is, be gentle with her,” I warn. “I do not want any tears to fall from her beautiful eyes.”

Tera breaks into a huge smile. “I promise, Pappy Elex.”

I scowl at her impudence and then bend down to kiss Telilah, balanced on Tera’s lap. The sweetkishreaches for me and I’m sure she thinks I’m heading to see Relion and can come along for the ride.

“Nice try, little button,” Tera says to her. “But you and I are going to seegrammamanlater.”

Immediately I remember how lovely Christina looked splayed against the crumpled sheets, the silk tucked around her breasts, her shapely leg jutting out. I love that it is my last memory of her.

“So I can get to the bottom of what’s going on,” Tera continues, winking at me.

I nod. If anyone can figure out what is in Christina’s head, it is Tera.

“What time do you think you will get there? I left her resting.” I do not want to share that her mother is exhausted from lovemaking.

Her smile is wicked. “Not too soon, then. Dinner’s at six. I’ll head over there, maybe three or four, and help her cook.”

“Relion and I will be done by five. If not, we will wait to give you and Christina time to enjoy each other’s company.”

“Tell Ree to dress up. We don’t get many opportunities.”

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