Page 58 of Coco and the Misfits (The Candyverse #4)

COCO

I nviting my parents to meet my pack is nerve-wracking. Thankfully, Dad is away on a business trip but Mom says she can make it.

Sorry if I can only handle one parent at a time. My stomach has been eating itself from the inside out since I decided to invite them over. And I still haven’t told her about the kidnapping.

Mom enters the apartment, dressed more formally than I’ve ever seen her in a power suit and high heels, her dark hair done up and red on her lips. She smiles and waves at me, then halts.

“Hey, Mom…”

“Oh my God, look at them!” Mom totters on her high heels, hands pressed to her mouth. “Aren’t they gorgeous?”

“What? Oh…” I glance back at my three mates. They’re standing there in their jeans and T-shirts, hands stuffed in their pockets. I mean, she’s right but…

“Where did you get these hunks?”

I shake my head, mortified. “Mom!”

“Is a woman not allowed to admire her sons-in-law? Hi, boys.”

Atticus comes forward first, smiling, hands open. “A pleasure.”

Mom freezes for a moment, but recovers well and smiles back. “Hi, yourself. Are you the top alpha?”

“Guilty as charged.”

He’s older than her, but she doesn’t comment on it. Of course, Atticus tends to dazzle people. He’s gorgeous, polite, polished. Mom giggles like a schoolgirl when he lifts her hand to his lips.

His lips never touch her hand, though. With a smile at me, he steps back and reaches for me. I take his hand and he draws me to his side. “Go on,” he nudges me.

“May I introduce Zach and Ryder, our mates?” I take a deep breath. “This is my pack, Mom.”

They come forward to greet her. Zach hugs her and kisses her cheeks, and she visibly melts. Then Ryder takes her hand, all seriousness, and she nods at him.

A moment of awkwardness follows while she turns in a circle, looking our place over.

“This is a very nice apartment. Will you be living here now?”

“It’s my honor and pleasure to host our pack,” Atticus says in his grave voice. “The truth is, it had always felt too cold and empty until now.”

“Aw, isn’t he cute?” Mom gushes. “So diplomatic.”

“That’s not diplomacy; it’s the truth,” Atticus says and I lean into him. “Your daughter changed my life. And these two guys made it complete. Though…” He smiles down at me. “We’re thinking about buying a little cottage out of town. For the weekends. And vacation.”

I blink back tears. He has been listening to everything I say, noting what would make me even happier. I want to burrow into his side, climb into him, feeling cherished, safe, desired.

Ryder and Zach come to slide their arms around us and it feels too intimate a moment to be sharing with others, even if it’s my mom.

Then I remember that it’s okay, it’s normal to touch your mates. It’s normal to be who you are and have a pack even though you were told all your life it would never happen.

On cue, Mom asks in a theatrical whisper, “You didn’t get a heat, did you?”

Heat scalds my face. “No, Mom.”

“So you’re a beta, after all.”

“I’m not.” I lift my chin and my men’s arms tighten around me. “I’m an omega. Heat or no heat.”

“She is our omega,” Ryder confirms, grinning. “Our candy girl.”

Mom is staring at me. Slowly, a smile spreads over her face. “Look at the bites on your neck,” she whispers. “You convinced them.”

“No, you don’t get it. I didn’t have to. They see me as I am. Like me as I am. I have no secrets.”

“She’s perfect,” Atticus says and my eyes burn even as I smile at him.

I want my mom to get it, to understand, but even if she doesn’t, I’ll be fine because I’ve found my people.

“We promise we will look after her, Ryder says. “Those assholes are in prison, but it doesn’t matter. We won’t let her out of our sight.”

“Oh. Um.” I wince. “Mom?—”

“Which assholes? Prison? ” She turns to me. “Coco, what is this about?”

“Shit. Look, Mom?—”

“What happened? I knew something had happened when you wouldn’t answer my calls and barely talked to me.” She starts to pace. “Why wouldn’t you open up to me? I’m your mother, I love you?—”

“Love you, too, Mom.” Stepping clear of my mates, I wait for her to stop pacing. “Sometimes you need to deal with a situation on your own.”

“But—”

“Find your own way. Clear your head and decide on your priorities. You know? You love me but you don’t always know what’s best for me, and I’m an adult, Mom. You can’t protect me. You can accept me and my decisions, and be my friend.”

“Oh, baby…” Her face crumbles.

I open my arms for her and she hugs me, trembling against me. “It’s okay, Mom.”

“I shouldn’t have tried to influence your life. I’m sorry. I only wanted what’s best for you.”

“I know.” Closing my eyes, I hold her, feeling everything. Her love for me, her regrets, her resolve to do better.

In the end, it was all up to me. Finding my strength and the determination to follow my heart, allowing myself to exist as I am. Allowing myself to believe everything would work out if I told my truth and found souls reflecting my needs and desires.

Letting go of doubt and fear to embrace what we could be as a pack. As a family.

The doorbell rings and it takes me a long moment to place the sound. Pulling back, I frown, trying to remember if we’re expecting anyone else.

“I’ll get this,” Zach says and saunters to the door. He checks, then throws it wide open. “Look who’s here.”

I peek around Mom and my mouth drops open.

“Oh, is this a bad time?” Sawyer’s gaze scuttles between my pack and my mom. “Should we leave?”

“No, but who is…?” I gesture wildly. “What’s with the crowd behind you?”

He grins. “Everyone. Your friends. Too many people to count.”

“But…”

“We brought drinks. And snacks.” Gigi waves a bag of chips. “And chocolate ice cream.”

Well, in that case, how could I say no?

They spill into the apartment. They’d never have fit into mine, but Atticus’ place is made for parties. Sawyer was right, everyone is here, even Bee, looking radiant with her pack. I see June, Ruby, and Sophie. There are even some tattoo artists from Ink and Shadow, and people from the gym.

Bottles are getting opened and snacks downloaded onto the tables and counters.

Mom is already having a glass of white wine and laughing with Sawyer’s delta, Brinlee. My guys are bringing out more wine and soft drinks to add to the party buffet. Someone has put on some music, an upbeat song, and suddenly it does feel like a party, and not just a random gathering.

Gigi and Bee are dancing together, giggling. June joins them.

I lean back against the kitchen counter, smiling, watching my friends having a blast.

“Sorry we just barged in.” Sawyer comes to stand beside me, a beer in his hand. “We didn’t know your mom would be here.”

“It’s fine. She looks happy.”

He hums in reply. Takes a sip from his beer. “Was it her first time meeting the pack?”

“Yeah.”

“I assume it went all right?”

I shrug. “I think she’s still coming to terms with my decisions, but she liked the boys.”

He snorts. “Who wouldn’t? Your boys are hot.”

“Sawyer. You have a pack!”

“Hey, I’m just saying. Hot.”

I smirk. “I know, right? Hey, what did you tell people today was? I don’t recall any anniversary.”

“It’s a new one.” He winks at me. “Friendship Annual Celebration, or FAC. Tell everyone. I just made it up.”

“Sawyer!” I giggle.

He laughs. “Isn’t it great, though? We need more celebrations of good times and good friends.”

“We sure do.” Ryder is heading my way, but also Atticus and Zach, cutting paths through the small crowd.

Three alphas coming to me. My alphas. We need to celebrate love and happy endings every day.

Tell everyone.

Tell everyone you know.