Remi sipped his coffee and looked off into space for a few minutes. “Well, I guess that explains Bailey’s behavior.”
“What did she say?” Avaleigh asked.
“I don’t know. That she’s not angry. She just doesn’t like being made a fool of, and that she shouldn’t have to compete for attention.”
“She’s right. And rather mature about it, I must say.”
“I just don’t remember it that way, though.”
“What, the way you acted with Cristie there?”
“Yeah. I thought it was no big deal.”
“Honestly, you thought seeing Cristie was no big deal. You don’t remember searching for her everywhere and staring at her?”
“I mean, I was anxious to catch sight of her, but that was only because I haven’t seen her in so long.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“You could be wrong, Mom.”
“I could be. I’m not a shifter. I can’t pick up on the things most everyone else does. But I don’t think I am.”
“Why not?”
“Delilah, Maverik, everybody that is keyed to pick up on those things, picked up on it.”
Remi put his head in his hands and sighed.
“You know, Maverik has always said that just because fate gives you a particular mate, doesn’t mean you have to mate them. You know all about mine and your father’s story. And Maverik’s for that matter.”
“I know, I just… I don’t know.”
“Do you want to mate Bailey? She’s a lovely girl and she’d make a wonderful wife, but how would you feel every time you saw Cristie?”
“I don’t know, Mom. I’m so confused.”
“There’s more to consider, Remi.”
Remi raised his head from his hands and looked at his mother. “Like what?”
“Bailey can’t give birth to your children. But let me also remind you that the best children are those you chose.”
Remi smiled at his mother and reached out squeezing her hand. “I know, Mom. If I do decide to stay with Bailey, if she’ll have me, I have to talk to her about that. She has no idea I’m any different from any other guy.”
“She does have the right to make that decision for herself,” Avaleigh said.
“Yes, I know.”
“And then what do you do if the pull to Cristie is so strong you can’t ignore it anymore, and you’ve mated Bailey. And then how fair is it to Cristie? Doesn’t she deserve her mate? She’s so sweet and kind. Though, I have to admit there’s more than a bit of Alpha in her. I really admire her. She’s got a hell of a backbone.”
Remi leaned over and hugged his mother. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.”
He got up and picked up his extra coffee and his untouched scone and pushed his chair back in.
“You going to talk to Cristie?”
