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Chapter 29

Mine

It had been a few days since I lost my arm, and I was feeling almost back to normal. I tired more easily, and I struggled with one arm at times, but overall, I was fine. Any normal person would be having more meltdowns because of losing their arm, but I had always been on high alert, assuming another more terrible thing was on the way. If I could have traded an arm for my parents, I would have in a heartbeat. Compared to that pain plus everything else, I could handle this. I was still waiting for another meltdown to happen though. Not because I lost the arm, but because sometimes it was frustrating to deal with.

Ellie had helped me pick out far too many things for my nest and immediately ordered them with her dad’s card, claiming that it was a forced I’m sorry from him. Plus, the sooner I used the nest without protection, the sooner he had grandkids. Apparently, that was always a dream of his.

This felt far too similar to situations I had seen in the Human world. People used their grandkids as some sort of redo for how they raised their own kids, but if we ever did have any, as long as they were happy and wanted to be around him and he understood whatever rules we laid out, I didn’t mind him being around, and I certainly didn’t mind using his money to make myself feel better.

I cringed internally. I couldn’t believe I was thinking about kids now. I didn’t want them anytime soon, and I certainly didn’t want to go into a heat soon. That would mean many choices would be ripped from me, and I wanted to take it slow with Odie and Cy before jumping into sex.

I wasn’t a virgin, but every time I had had sex—with a man or woman—it was to scratch an itch and was just sex. There wasn’t emotion behind it, so I was a little worried I’d be awful at it.

I also wouldn't lie and say I fully understood their anatomy. What if I found it weird in the moment and freaked out? I hoped my Omeganess kicked in and saved me, but if it didn’t…

That was a problem for future Mine. Present Mine was dealing with getting the furniture sorted as the delivery people dropped everything off. It was all as amazing as I had imagined, but they brought in the couch first instead of the rug as if the rug would magically make it under the massive couch.

Odie and Cy could easily lift the couch and get it fixed, but that wasn’t their job. They paid good money to have these people deliver this shit correctly, so I made them correct their mistakes before leaving.

Now we had a brand new massive sofa, wingback chairs, and rug. The living room was complete again. I realized I probably should have ordered a new coffee table to go with it all, so that was next on my list. The one they had from before would work for now. Same went for the end tables. It didn’t quite fit because they were a little too small, but I’d be on the hunt later today.

Everything else I ordered would be here shortly too, then I could get started on organizing my nest with Ellie and tossing the living room accessories around. I found a leaf-shaped blanket and some knot-style pillows for the sofa and couldn’t wait to show everyone.

I was never a big shopper, so I blamed this on the awakening as well. I had voiced my concerns about spending too much, but they assured me they had expected this and truly wanted me to make the place my own as well. Plus, they were apparently well off enough that I didn’t have to worry about it.

I collapsed on the new sofa and sighed. It was comfy for a leather sofa. The other fabrics didn't call to me, and if we ever had another incident, at least leather would be easier to clean.

“Tired from bossing people around?” Cy asked as she fell onto the other side of the couch.

“Didn’t I tell you on day one that we didn’t need a second Ellie telling us what to do?”

I shrugged against the couch, knowing she wouldn’t be able to see me.

“You did what?” Ellie scoffed as she came into the room. “I do not boss you around, and even if I did, you deserved it.”

“Sure thing, Ellie.” Cy sat up and looked around the room, taking in the new decor. “I didn’t know if it would work, but it all goes together. You did really well, Mine. Want to do my room next? I hate picking things out but want something different.”

I sat up and nodded enthusiastically.

“What? Can I help?” Ellie whined as Odie came in the door.

“Help with what?” she asked.

“Redecorating Cy’s room.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I like decorating too, and it’s not like she’s going to be spending a lot of time in there anyway.” Ellie placed her hands on her hips as if she had won that argument.

“That’s my point, Ellie. We should think about reorganizing who has what room now that we will all be together more nights anyway.” Odie had a good point, but that didn’t mean we shouldn’t have our own rooms for when we needed space.

I hopped up and grabbed my notebook before writing out, We should still have our own rooms if possible. I’m petty and will make you sleep on the couch if you piss me off.

Odie read my note aloud, and everyone nodded in agreement while snickering.

“That’s a good point. Odie is bound to piss you off plenty,” Cy said as she hung over the back of the couch.

“And you aren’t? We should keep tallies. This might be something you win, Cy.”