Page 37 of This Mate Thing

I growl."It was not perfect."

"Yes, it was.Didn't you see how much he wanted you to stay?And I got you his phone number."

She did, but I'm sure I could've found it on my own.

She huffs at me."It's perfect, Boris.He's worried about you, he wanted you to stay.You gave him food, so he'll think about you when he eats tonight, and I bet my tits he'll be gazing at your phone number once he's put Ira to bed, asking himself if he should contact you or not."

"No one wants your tits.Why would you offer your tits?"

"Guys say 'I bet my balls' all the time.I don't have any balls to bet."

I shake my head.Why oh why does my best friend have to be insane?I need support right now, not getting caught in a discussion about balls and tits.

"What if he needs me?"

She snorts.

"Zahrahhh."My whine is impressive.

"It's the whole point!He'll realize he needs you.He'll realize how much better his life is with you in it.It's why we're doing this...and to get some nice photos.I wasn't lying to Ira.I need something different to put up in Beantopia."

I take a deep breath."Different how?"

She grimaces, her focus on the traffic."I'm not sure, but I haven't sold anything there in a while."

"Maybe it's because of what Conan said, fewer customers, and they're holding onto their money."

She nods and adjusts her position."I'm sure it's part of it, but I feel my photos are the same old same old.I need some of you, though.People love the close-ups of wolves.I need to revamp my Etsy shop a little too, I think."

I hum in agreement.I should show Ira her Etsy shop.There are several photos of wolves there.

"We'll see what we catch.I was thinking we park at Maia's and track from there.We put up a tent inside the nature preserve for our clothes and my cameras and sleep in fur."

I nod.

An eternity later, we park next to Mom's chicken coop.She's already waiting on the top of the stairs, having heard us coming.

I exit the car."Mom."I open my arms for her, and she hurries into my embrace.

"What's wrong, honey?"She squeezes me hard.

"Zahrah is forcing me away from my mate."

"Pffft."Zahrah slams her door shut."It'll be good for both of them."

Mom doesn't look like she agrees, and I hug her again.At least my mother understands me.

"Is it okay if we park here for a few days, Maia?"Zahrah knows it is, so her asking is to change the topic.I don't know if I want to or not.Mom goes along with it, though.

"Of course.What are you up to?"

"Heading into the nature preserve to take some photos.I was thinking three days, get some dawns and sunsets, and I need some photos of Boris."She looks at Maia."Why don't you come to see us at some point, and I can get some of the two of you.I was thinking by the lake.Wolves drinking by frost-covered reed."

Mom nods."I can swing by."

"Great, thank you."She turns to me."Come on, Boris.Let's get a move on."

I don't want to.I want to go home, or not home.I want to go to Simon.