Page 28

FLYNN

M y life had changed so much. While I’d always loved my job, now I couldn’t wait to go to work. There was something magical about seeing the forest through Gunnar’s eyes, and he was so excited to be there it wore off on me.

“Have you met Flynn’s parents?” Sandy asked Gunnar who turned to look at me.

“Was I supposed to meet them?” Gunnar asked.

“Only if you want to,” I said. “They’re a lot.”

“What do you mean?” Gunnar asked and Bo leaned back and crossed his arms with a very amused expression.

“My mom has been hoping for me to find a boyfriend for years. She’s practically planned out my wedding.” Gunnar’s expression never changed.

“I want to meet your family,” he said. And before he could say more, they brought our food out and thankfully, for a while everyone was busy eating.

“We can go by on the way home if you really want to,” I said.

“Let’s do it,” Gunnar said, using some of the language he’d learned from the guys at work. He learned everything so fast, including slang and swear words. “Will they care that your mate is a troll?”

Bo stifled a laugh while Sandy just smiled in amusement and waited for me to answer.

“My mother is a psychic, and my father works in the forest as a conservationist. Believe me when I say there is nothing that would surprise either of them.”

Sandy patted my arm, and Gunnar ate a chicken wing. “You two are perfect for each other,” she said and smiled at Gunnar.

“I know.”

“You’re sure you want to meet them?” I asked. One look at his smiling happy face and I knew, he was sure; he was actually excited.

“What’s your mom’s name?”

“Stella, and my dad is Dean Davies. They’re both a little eccentric but they’re very sweet.” I knew it sounded like I was warning him, and I guess I was, but he could decide for himself soon enough.

“I can’t wait to meet Stella and Dean Davies,” he said.

We drove down the street I’d grown up on and parked in front of the last house on the right. I sat for a moment and took a deep breath while Gunnar vibrated with excitement. I finally opened my door, and Gunnar was in front of the truck way faster than I would have expected from a creature of his size. But he surprised me all the time. “Come here,” I said and held out my hand. He took it and we walked up to the house together.

As soon as we were at the door it flew open. “I knew you’d be coming by,” Mom said and looked between the two of us. “You’ve found your mate.”

“Yes, Mom, this is Gunnar.”

“You are Stella Davies,” Gunnar said and smiled at her the same way she was smiling at him.

“Is Dad around?”

“Hey, kid, I was just telling your mother you hadn’t stopped by in a while. Well, what are you waiting for? Come in,” Dad said and ushered us all inside. “I’m Dean.”

“I’m Gunnar, Dean Davies. I love your son, he’s my mate.”

Dad grinned and looked at me. “Your mom said you’d meet a special person who would be your mate. That you’d meet him at work, and he’d love trees.”

“I love trees,” Gunnar said.

“Me too,” Dad said, and both of them laughed.

“We were worried you didn’t think we’d approve of Gunnar so we’re glad to see you finally brought him around,” Mom said and set a tray of cookies on the coffee table. “Help yourself, Gunnar.”

“Actually, I was afraid you’d scare him off,” I mumbled.

“I heard that, and I completely understand,” Mom said. “You two needed time to get to know each other before you shared your relationship with the world.”

“No, I really was afraid you’d scare him off,” I said and all three of them laughed.

“I like your parents,” Gunnar said.

“See, he likes us,” Dad said and winked at me.

“Now, Gunnar, I want to hear all about how you ended up here and what it’s like where you’re from,” Mom said and for the next two hours Gunnar answered every question they had—and there were many—and the three of them got to know each other. I hated to admit but I was happy they all got along and more than happy that Mom and Dad knew we were mated, and neither of them cared.

“Tell me please,” Gunnar said, “what is a psychic?” he directed at my mother, and I forced myself not to roll my eyes.

“I can see what possibilities there are. Sometimes I can see what will happen, but other times I get an impression of what could be,” Mom explained.

“You are a mystic,” Gunnar said his eyes filled with wonder. “You must have known Flynn would find his mate.”

“I had a vision last year about his other half walking into this world and changing his world forever,” she said in the calm but somehow creepy voice she used when she spoke of her visions.

“You were right,” Gunnar whispered.

“She was,” I said and smiled at her. Being raised with a psychic I didn’t always get excited when she’d speak of her predictions. But I clearly remembered her calling to tell me what she’d seen. As usual I’d brushed it off and went to work. “That’s one of my favorite predictions.”

“I know,” she said with a smile, and went back to feeding Gunnar cookies and talking to him about everything they could think of.