Page 6

6

TODD

I ’ve never seen Ansel look sheepish or shy. I didn’t think he was capable of that. But he doesn’t say anything to me the entire elevator ride down to the main floor, or on the way to his car.

As he opens his car door, I stop him. “Ansel, I don’t mind.”

“But he’s the guy who disapproved of your bond. I’m so sorry?—”

I shake my head. “He’s not like that anymore. He’s been very supportive lately.”

“Daniel’s good to me. Really good.” He leans against the car, shoving his hands into his pockets. “He shows up when he says he’s going to show up, and he does sweet things like send a delivery of blueberries to me while I’m at work because he knows how much I like them. He takes care of me. And… I want that. I know I’m a grown ass man, but it’s nice to have someone looking out for me, you know?”

I lean against the car next to him. “Yeah.”

He tilts his head and gives me a sarcastic smile. “You think I’m an idiot, don’t you? Hoping to get with a penguin shifter?”

“What are you talking about? Why would that make you an idiot?”

Ansel turns his head away from me. “Because I want what you have.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want forever with Daniel. You know, the whole pebble necklace and bonding for life thing. But… I don’t think he wants it with me, you know?”

He goes to open his car door again, but I hold out my hand. “Why do you think he doesn’t want that with you?”

Ansel shrugs. “I’m just some young omega polar bear shifter. I’m easy on the eyes, but I’m not like you, Todd. I’m not a keeper. Daniel isn’t going to want to settle down with a guy like me.”

This time I let him open the car door. I have no idea what Daniel’s intentions are. But I do know one thing.

“You’re wrong, Ansel. You are a keeper. And if you want forever with someone someday, you should go for it.”

Ansel doesn’t respond. He simply climbs inside the car, shuts the door, and starts the engine. Clearly, the conversation is over.

I knock on the window. Ansel rolls it down and glares at me. “What?”

How do I explain all of the history I have with Daniel? That I’m the one who removed his bonding necklace all those years ago? That every time he was nasty to me, I knew it was because he didn’t want his son to go through the same pain he did? That the second Daniel realized his son was pregnant with my child, he was never unkind to me again. Daniel may be jaded and bitter, but he’s also kind and he loves his son. He’s a good man.

“If you want to keep him, then get him a pebble.”

Ansel rolls his window back up and drives away.