Page 30 of This Mate Thing

"Boris--"

"Hush now and let me do my thing.Do you want to take a nap?I can get Ira if you want."

I shake my head."You're not listed as one of the people who are allowed to get him."

Hepurses his lips."You should list me."

"I can't list you.I don't know you."

He huffs as if I'm being unreasonable."You should list me.What if something happens to you?Who'll pick him up then?"

I do my best to ignore the cold slithering through me.So far, we've managed, but it's always been a fear of mine to not be able to get there in time to pick Ira up."I...eh..."

"Exactly.Drink your tea and relax.I've got you.You don't have to worry about a thing."

I wish he were right, but the mountain of worries is too big, looming too high, and I know the avalanche has begun its journey downward.Soon, I'll be buried.

Boris squeezes my shoulder."Tea.Now."

I drink some tea.It warms my chest as I swallow.

Soon, the chop-chop-chop of the knife fills the kitchen.Boris puts everything he's chopped into a bowl of water, then he raids my pantry until he finds yeast.I watch in fascination as he measures ingredients and mixes them.Shortly after, there is a dough resting underneath a towel.

"Are you a chef?Baker?"

"Not formally trained, but I've worked in kitchens most of my adult life."

"But not now."

"Nah, I didn't feel like working when I first moved here."

I stare.Is he rich?He doesn't look rich.Or what does rich look like?I'm sure not all rich people walk around in Armani suits all day."You didn't feel like working?"

He grins at me, and it's so carefree it makes my heart ache.

"Nope, didn't feel like it."

"What about money?"

He waves a hand."I have enough to cover the basics, nothing outlandish, and buying the house wiped out my savings, but I get by."

Buying a house wiped out his savings, but not enough for him to have to get a job?"Are you looking for work in the local restaurants?"

He grimaces."I haven't yet.I was thinking about it maybe being time the other day, but I think I'm gonna take care of you and Ira instead."

I splutter but can't come up with anything to say.

He raises one shoulder before dropping it again."I have the monthly payment from the pack.I get by."

"The pack?"My mind jumps to the people in the cafe and to the photos of the wolves.I try not to tense, but I fail.

"My family, I mean.We all get a monthly allowance or whatever you should call it."

"Your family is rich."That has to be it.They have millions in the bank and give everyone a monthly payment, most likely keeping it at a low percentage, so the wealth keeps growing.Compound interest.

"Yeah, not the having-palaces-with-gold-plating kind of rich, but enough to get by."He smiles at me."I'll take care of you."

"Boris, I can't let you take care of me.I'm a grown man, older than you, and I refuse to be indebted to you."I will never put myself in a situation where someone has power over me ever again.I have Ira, and I swore to Irene to keep him safe.