Page 8 of Dragon’s Midlife Secret Baby (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #1)
The three of them continued on through the mall, stopping to check out a sale or two, to grab a snack for Corbin, or for Chelsea to wave to someone she knew.
Every now and then, her eyes searched his face, and he wasn’t sure if she was checking to see if he recognized anything or if he was worn out.
At East India Square, they stopped to walk with Corbin out onto the bricks forming pathways in the fountain.
“I know it’s silly,” Chelsea said, “but could I take a picture of you two together here? The sunlight is perfect on the water.”
He would’ve done anything she asked. “Sure. Look at Mommy and say cheese!”
“Chee!” Corbin called out.
When they were done and put him back in the stroller for the walk back toward the car, Beck noticed Chelsea zooming in on the photo she’d just taken with her phone. “Did it turn out okay?”
“Yes. Perfect, actually. It’s just, well, I always thought I saw so much of you in Corbin. It’s nice to get to make that comparison in real life now.”
As they walked, Beck was no longer paying the least bit of attention to the shops around him. It wasn’t because he’d seen them on the way through but because he wanted only to focus on Chelsea. “There’s quite a bit of you in him, too.”
His head was starting to ache as they exited the mall and headed down the sidewalk toward the lot where they’d left Chelsea’s car.
He didn’t want to work on this in small, easy increments.
Beck desperately wanted to have one thing happen that would make the whole world make sense again.
He understood how life worked in general; he hadn’t gone completely feral.
Money and cars and cell phones weren’t nearly as important to him as whatever he and Chelsea had between them, nor as all the time he’d missed out on.
A low black sports car rumbled by them. As soon as it passed, it came to a screeching halt, and the reverse lights blinked on as it raced backward. The brakes squealed once again as the car expertly whipped over to the curb right next to them.
Instinctively, Beck moved himself between the car and his newfound family. His dragon coiled like a snake inside him. He knew he couldn’t reveal his other form out there in public, not without great risk. If the risk this car posed was greater, though, it was a sacrifice he’d make.
The tinted window rolled down. “Beck?”
Beck tipped his head back and down to see inside the low car. The driver looked to be a bit younger than him, a man with light brown hair and bright blue eyes. “Yeah?”
“Where the hell have you been, man?” Ewan asked, grinning widely. “We haven’t heard from you in ages! You should’ve let us know you were back in town!”
Something was changing inside Beck. He couldn’t say that this guy was exactly familiar. Beck’s mind had no name for him, nor any other memories. Still, there was something about him that at least let Beck know he didn’t need to worry about anyone being in danger. “Who are you?”
“C’mon, man. Are you kidding me? It’s Ewan.” He gestured around him. “The car is different, but I don’t think I’ve changed that much.”
“Ewan,” Beck repeated, experimenting with the name on his tongue.
“Yeah. You can’t tell me you don’t remember me.”
Chelsea’s finger touched Beck’s arm. “He must know something about you.” Her voice was quiet but urgent.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, Ewan shifted gears.
“Hang on a second.” Getting out of the way of traffic, Ewan whipped his car into the nearby parking lot and jogged back over.
“Did I do something? You’re acting like you don’t know me at all.
I know it’s been a minute, but I don’t think you’d forget about someone you’ve spent the last couple hundred years with. ”
“No, you wouldn’t think so.” Beck’s dragon was reacting even more now, although his mind refused to understand. “Some things have happened.”
“I’ll say.” Ewan bent down to take a peek at Corbin in the stroller. “Looks like a perfect mix of the two of you. Sorry. You must be Chelsea. I’m Ewan.”
She shook the hand he extended. “So I’ve heard.”
“How do you know her name?” Beck demanded.
“You told me all about her,” Ewan explained. “You were all excited about this redhead, and you said you were going to see if she’d want to go on a long vacation with you for a while. Then you just sort of fell off the face of the planet.”
“In a way, I did. There’s a lot to explain.
” This man knew him, even if Beck couldn’t exactly return the sentiment.
The one thing he understood was that his dragon felt safe with him.
As soon as Ewan revealed himself, the beast had calmed down.
It didn’t bother Beck in the least that his mate and child were standing right here with him.
“Sounds like it. Why don’t you guys come on back to the clanhouse with me? Everyone will be nuts to see you again, Beck, and they’ll finally get to meet the mysterious Chelsea we’ve all heard about.” Ewan motioned at his car.
“Give me just a second.” Beck pulled Chelsea aside, just out of Ewan’s earshot. “I think I have to go. I don’t quite understand, but if he’s one of my people…”
“Of course you do,” she confirmed quickly. “Beck, this could be just the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. I’m happy to come with you.”
“Are you sure?” He felt like he’d asked so much of her lately, even though he’d never really asked directly for much at all.
“Yes. I want to be there for you.” She brushed his arm with her fingertips. “Besides, I don’t want to miss out if you have some big revelation.”
“Okay, then.” He took one last glance at Ewan as he consulted his dragon. It knew about Chelsea and Corbin, and it seemed to know about Ewan as well. If he could be around other dragons, then there was no telling what might come back. “Let’s go.”