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Caelon

N ormally, I love budget meetings and hearing how beautifully the numbers are flowing.

But this budget meeting, I’m frantic and racked with nerves.

Not because the numbers aren’t good, but because for once, I’m the one proposing a business idea.

A business that will be a surprise for my mate.

Someone who doesn’t even know she’s my mate yet.

Layer after layer of reason to be worried. Is she even going to like this? Would she name it this? How would she want it designed? Sleek and clean? Boho and earthy? Chaotic and cluttered? Am I going to select the photos that she would? What if she hates it?

My fingers rub both of my temples trying to stop the migraine I can feel brewing with all the thoughts racing through my mind.

My business proposal sits perfectly printed and detailed in a folder for each leader.

It’s not really needed, but I wanted to make sure each person felt included.

Everyone will be there, except Warrick who’s still in Ireland after everything that happened with Aspen.

I believe Silas said he’s going to attend via Facetime from their meeting room there.

Checking my watch, I know I have exactly four and half minutes to walk into our meeting room.

Three minutes to walk there, one minute to settle into my seat, and thirty seconds to wait for everyone else to file in.

Grabbing my proposal, ledger, my favorite pen, and my tea, I head off to the meeting room.

Exactly four and half minutes later, exactly as I calculated, everyone else files into the room. Silas has dark bags hanging under his eyes, and if that look of lost nights of sleep is what children equals, I’m not sure I want to participate. His extra large coffee is steaming as he takes a gulp.

Gail sips her herbal tea and smiles at him fondly. As if everything is how it should be for him. “Those pups running you ragged, hmm?”

He takes another gulp of his coffee before audibly sighing in relief. “You could say that again. Between them throwing pillows back and forth, to crawling everywhere, I’m ready for a six week nap. I never knew it would be this hard.”

She only hums, taking another sip of her tea.

Xavior sits stoic next to me, drinking his black coffee that is dark enough to be oil at this point. Gross. I don’t even like coffee to begin with, but add in the zero flavor of it, and I’d rather just drink water at that point.

“I’m sure some of the elders would be more than willing to take them for a bit so you and Nova can rest,” Xavior adds.

Silas only shoos it away. “Nova wants to be part of every second of their lives, something she said her parents weren’t able to do.

It’ll be fine. Anyways, we aren’t here to chat about my baby wrangling, instead let's talk about all the fun activities of budgets.” His mock enthusiasm dripped from every word.

We spend the next hour going over line by line the budget for the next quarter. Silas approving each portion of it, including Gail’s request for more herbs for the Pawspital. Something she thanked him for several times.

“If there’s nothing else, I think we are safe to call the meeting?” Silas slaps his hands down on the table top softly, scooting back as if to stand up.

Gail clears her throat. “I think Caelon has something else he would like to propose for the next quarter, don’t you Cal?” She looks over to me, giving me an encouraging nod.

Warrick shifts side to side on the phone screen, trying to see what everyone is looking at as I stand up to give each of them their copy of the business proposal.

“What is it,” Warrick’s voice cracks over the phone’s speakers.

“This,” I say as I hold one up for him to see the front cover, “is the proposal for a gallery in the old store next to Citrine and Rose. My mate just happens to be Selene.”

His eyes widened in shock.

“Before any of you get excited, she doesn’t know yet. Obviously, since she hasn’t come of age yet, it’s completely one-sided. It’s only getting stronger the closer we get to her birthday.”

The room is quiet except for Gail who is beaming, as if she’s known all along. I squint my eyes at her. How would she have known? She only winks at me.

Xavior leans forward placing his forearms on the tabletop. “How much longer do you have?”

“Seventeen days.”

He curtly nods his head. “And how long does your business proposal allot for you to complete the project?”

“If we approve it today, I can have it done by July 31st which is the proposed ribbon cutting.”

Silas clears his throat. “Is this going to be your grand gesture Caelon?”

I nod my head.

Warrick shouts through the phone, “I vote yessss! Get her, boy! You got this!”

Aspen sleepily whispers, “Warrick quit acting like a barbarian.”

He ducks his head, before we hear a door click open and shut as he steps into the hallway.

“Whoops! Forgot she was taking a nap. My bad. Anyway! I vote yes to your proposal Cal.”

Silas shakes his head as he smiles. “What about you, Xavior?”

“I’m all for it.”

“Gail?”

“Well, it was my idea to begin with, so yes of course.”

Silas claps his hands together. “There you have it Cal, we approve your proposal.”

Each of them stand up and clap me on the shoulder as they walk out of the meeting room. Leaving only Gail and I in the office as even Warrick left with Silas, since it was his phone and all.

Gail smiles at me. “What name did you pick?”

“The Howlery.”

She nods. “It’s fitting and perfect.” She pushes her chair back to stand.

“Gail,” I whisper.

“If you think about it really hard, Caelon, deep down you know the answer to that question.”

My eyes bulge as I look up at her.

“How did you know what I was going to ask?”

“I’m not ready to tell you guys. But, what I will say is, you’ve always known and if you consider it for a moment, there’s only one explanation that answers all those questions. Wouldn’t you agree?” Her eyes flash their milky white before she winks.

Walking out of the office, leaving me in complete shock. I was right.