Bo didn’t answer right away, but I didn’t push him to. He probably needed a minute to think. “I like the floorplan,” he finally said. “It needs a lot of work, but it would be manageable, and the final outcome would be pretty damn near perfect.”
“Then let’s choose this one.”
“You don’t want to see the others?”
I made a noncommittal noise. “I don’t really care where we live, to be honest. You saw my last place.”
“It was a shithole.”
“I liked it, though. I think you’re pickier than I am. You’re a grizzly.”
“Grizzlies aren’t picky.”
I flashed him an amused look over my shoulder. “About their dens? You totally are. I’ve met a lot of other kinds of shifters, and none of us care where we live as much as you guys.”
Bo grumbled, but didn’t argue.
“If you like it, I’ll help make some decisions about the renovations you do. I can pick the shower tiles or something.”
“Alright. I’ll keep thinking about it,” Bo said.
We washed up and dried off fairly quickly, and joined Artie and Emily in the kitchen. Artie glared at Bo a few times, but the grizzly was completely unfazed by my brother’s anger.
They’d been friends long enough for him to be sure Artie would move on.
We spent the day chatting and unpacking, and called it a night early. When Artie and Emily left, Bo and I collapsed on the couch together. He turned on a movie, and we relaxed together.
It was nicer than I ever would’ve expected.
Not just watching a movie while snuggling, but having a mate. Knowing that we could chill on the couch together every night for the rest of our lives if we wanted to.
I’d never imagined having a permanent, built-in friend, but that was kind of what mating was. Wasn’t it?
And it was starting to sound really damn good to me.
Artie and Emilyshowed up early the next morning. They were leaving around lunch time, so they brought breakfast with them.
We finished unpacking everything right around the time they were planning on leaving, so they hugged us and headed out.
Hugging Artie was awkward, but I tried to ignore the discomfort.
As he headed out with Emily, he said over his shoulder, “Madison, can we talk before I leave?”
Somehow, he sounded even more uncomfortable than I felt.
I opened my mouth to turn him down, but Bo met my gaze and nodded emphatically.
I shook my head.
He nodded again.
I mouthed, “You owe me,” and said aloud, “Sure.”
Bo gave me a thumbs-up.
I flipped him off behind my back, ignoring his snort when I followed my brother out.
Emily sat down in their SUV.
