Page 20 of This Mate Thing

Chapter 10

Simon

I have no idea how to deal with Boris.He might be a crazy person I've allowed into my home.What if he's dangerous?My warning bells went off when I found him in my kitchen.I should've listened to them.

I try to pull my hand out of his grip, but he tightens his hold once again.My heart speeds up.

I'm not a physically strong person.I think I'm pretty average for a forty-something man, but I don't hit the gym.I haven't gone for a run for seven years.I used to love to run, and I went swimming regularly before Ira.The gym was never my thing, so I've never been bulky, but now I'm...nothing.There is no time to work out when you work full-time and are a single parent, and if one more entitled asshole tells me I have to look after myself, to set the alarm an hour early and go for a run before Ira wakes, or install a home gym or something, I might strangle them.

Society isn't built for single parents.

When Ira walks into the kitchen, I almost tell him to run.

Boris smiles at him andlets go of my hand, not in a hurried way as if we were doing something wrong, but he letsgo nonetheless.I don't think Ira noticed.

"What are you up to, my man?"Boris' entire focus is on Ira now.

Ira shrugs."Nothing."

"What do you normally do on Saturdays when Dad does boring laundry?"

Ira says nothing, and I swoop in to save him."A little of everything.Ira likes to draw and paint."

"Oh, awesome.Do you like photography?"

"I like the one of thewolf you have."

The air freezes in my lungs.

"Yeah?You wanna see some more?"

I'm about to object when Ira gasps."You have more?"

"No, but have you ever been to Beantopia in Rutchester?"

Ira shakes his head.

"What is it?"I don't think I've ever heard of it.

"Oh, it's a cafe.Conan owns it.Everything on the walls is for sale, and Zahrah has a few standing spots there.A few others in the pack do too.Atlas may be an utter ass, but he sure can paint, the fu--"

"The pack?"

Boris freezes."Eh...the gang, my family.The ones on the cookie order."He waves in the direction of the hallway."We should go!Come on."He knocks on the table.

"What?No."We can't up and go without a plan.

"Why not?We'll have coffee and a slice of pie and look at the art.It's like a cafe and art exhibition combined, and I'm sure at least one of Zahrah's photos will be of a wolf."

Ira takes a step closer to Boris, and I can tell he desperately wants to go.Shit.I can't afford trips to cafes, but...But if someone asked what he'd done over the weekend, it would be something he could tell his classmates about.I don't know how much they talk about what they do in their spare time, but I always feel like a failure whenever I imagine the teacher asking about their weekends.

"If you want to stay here instead and fix your laundry, Ira and I can go."

Something close to panic claws at me."No, I'll come."

Boris grins at me."Awesome!Let's go."He pushes to his feet."I'll drive."

Ira rushes toward the front door.