Flint
“Are you sure that Leonidas agreed to this?” Gale asked me for the five-hundredth time.
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, he did. Albeit, a little reluctantly, he did agree to one more shopping trip and then we're done. No more.”
“What else could this child possibly need?” Gale asked. “You’ve had more packages delivered to the house than I could count.”
“A crib,” I said. “We still haven’t gotten a crib.”
He looked at me like I'd gone insane.
“I would think that would be purchase number one,” he said.
I shook my head. “I couldn't pick one out online. I want to see them before I decide what I want.”
“Oh, for crying out loud. How different can they be?” he said. “You know, even Broderick has adapted to shopping online, and if a two-thousand-year-old dragon can do it, I would think you wouldn't have any issue.”
I glared at him. “I like to shop online. I just also like to go to the store.” That was partially true. I did like to shop online. I hated going to the store. But being cooped up at the country estate day in and day out was getting to me.
Leo hadn't acquiesced at all in that regard. Sure, we took short trips to the beach, the grocery store, the movies a few times, but we were never gone for very long. And he was always on edge, watching every move that anyone around us made. I felt more like I was on a date with a bodyguard than a boyfriend.
“You think this oversized sweatshirt is going to fool anyone?” Gale asked, gesturing to the black hooded sweatshirt I wore over my large bump.
“Sure,” I said. “It's getting chillier out and this thing is massive.”
“Easy there, pipsqueak,” Broderick said. “I gave that to you because it was too small on me.”
I looked from Broderick’s bulky frame to my own. “Like I said, its massive.”
Broderick started stripping off his clothes. I’d grown used to all the guys getting naked around me. If I didn’t have eyes for just my mate, it’d be a pretty sweet gig.
“You aren’t coming to town with us?” I asked him.
“Nope. Going flying, then I have to get back to the city. I start a new job tomorrow.”
“Exiting,” I said.
He winked at me. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back to see the egg when he arrives. You’ve got two weeks to go right?”
“Yeah,” I rubbed my belly through the thick fabric. “Although, I wouldn’t protest if he wanted to make an early arrival.”
Just then Leo came from overhead and touched down not too far from where we were waiting around outside the car. In one fluid motion, he landed and transformed back into his human form.
“How was your flight?” I asked.
His look began with the glare, but then softened. I knew he couldn't stay mad at me for long and I used it to my advantage.
“It was nice,” he said. “Are we ready to go?”
“Yes,” I said. “But perhaps you should get dressed.”
He turned to go to the house and I tossed a bag at him. “No, it's already taken care of,” I said. “Put those on, then get in the car.”
I climbed into the passenger seat of the massive SUV we'd be taking to the city. Gale was already in to the driver's seat, much to my surprise.
“Leo's not driving?” I asked.
“Hell no,” he said. “This is mine. I drive.”
“Whatever you say.”
Gale let out of deep sigh and then looked at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Are you…” he paused, then continue. “Are you happy here?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I mean, never in my life did I dream I'd have this sort of extravagance at my disposal. But even if Leo and I lived in a grass hut, I'd still be happy. I love Leo and the bond we have between us is absolutely indescribable. I can't even remember what it was like not to have him in my life, to not to feel him in my mind. To think, just four and a half months ago I thought dragons were fantasy creatures, turns out you all are real.”
Gale nodded. “I can imagine its difficult because all your life you’d planned on growing up, getting a job, and you look forward to reaching the other milestones in life, promotions, or whatever, and then finally, retirement. I hear that humans really look forward to retirement. But we don't necessarily follow that same path,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Every couple of years, maybe even as long as a decade, you'll have to move on to a different area, a different job. You may have to leave friends behind, family too. People begin to grow suspicious when you don't get any older.”
“Oh,” I said. I'd barely thought about any of that. “My parents passed away when I was a teenager. I don't have any other family. Maybe that's why the Fates chose me for Leo. No ties to the human world that I'd have to sever. It really feels as if my life began the day I met Leo.”
“Good,” he said. “I'm glad. I'm happy for the two of you.” He smiled, though it held a hint of sadness.
“You'll find your mate, too, Gale. He's out there.”
Gale nodded. “I know. I just worry about the sirens. I'm wondering if they're targeting our mates. And--”
Leo climbed into the back of the SUV.
“All right, let's get this trip over with,” he said.
I turned around and grinned at him. “You know, we're shopping for our child. You could at least be excited about it.”
Again, his expression softened as he looked at me. “I am, Flint. You know I love preparing for our child. But that doesn't take away from the dangers that lurk out there.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake, Leo,” I said. “We're going to a store that only sells baby things. I don't think the sirens are going to be there.”
“Well, we'll watch out for any hormonal pregnant people out there. Or sleep deprived parents with brand new babies,” Gale chimed in.
I chuckled, picturing my two dragon protectors going toe-to-toe with human parents over the last sale box of diapers. “Just drive,” I said.
***
Shopping for cribs took way longer, and required way more work than I realized. Each crib I came across had different options and specifications, so I wasn't sure which one would be best. Plus, I had spent my whole life living on a budget, so I wanted to get the best deal, which meant I needed to do some searching online to make sure that we were getting a good price. Luckily, the store we were at would price match.
After two hours though., Gale and Leo were getting fed up. Leo still had some patience left, Gale did not. He stood several feet away, arms crossed with a scowl on his face that would scare Broderick.
“Flint, can you just pick one, sweetheart? They're both very highly rated. They have the best reviews. Nothing about them has ever been recalled. I think it's safe to just pick one.”
“I just want to search a few more places to see if we can get a better price.”
Leo grabbed the phone from my hand and slipped it into his back pocket. “No, we're getting it right here. Right now. We're going to pay the sale price that this store has. I promise it's fine. We don't need to save a few dollars on this purchase, I promise.”
My stomach rumbled. Junior was hungry. “Okay,” I agreed. “Let's get out of here and go grab some lunch.”
“We can hit a few more shops on the way out of town, if you want. You can pick up some cute little outfits.”
I sighed. “That sounds like fun.” If I could stay awake that long. Already, I was tired from our excursion into the world. I stared at the crib that we’d picked out for our little boy. It was a cherry wood, convertible crib that apparently could turn into a toddler bed, a day bed, and a double bed. “I think we’ll be set for a few years.” I looked at Leo. He put his arm around me.
“Yeah, I'd say so. Come on. Let's go check out, okay?”
We paid and arranged to drive the SUV to the back of the store to get loaded up.
“I'll meet you up front,” I said. “I've got to go to the bathroom.”
It was only the seventh time that I had to go since we entered the store.
“Are you kidding me?” Gale said. “Is that normal?”
I glared at him.
He held his hands up and surrender. “Nevermind. Go ahead.”
Leo looked like he might protest. “I’ll go with you—”
I interrupted him, putting my foot down. “I'll be fine,” I said. “I'm just going to be right over there.” I pointed to the public restrooms “And then I'll meet you right outside those doors right there.” I pointed to the exit of the store. “It's fine. I promise.”
“But I think—”
“No, Leo. In two weeks or so I won’t be able to go to the bathroom by myself for like the next eighteen years, just let me have this one last trip by myself, okay?”
He waited a moment, perhaps weighing his options. “All right,” he said. “But wait inside until you see us pull up, okay?”
“Okay.”
He smiled at me and gave me a kiss, then he and Gale exited the store.
I went to the restroom and relieved myself. When I came out, I heard a beautiful humming from a few aisles over. Something about it drew my ear. I started walking toward it, before I even realized what I was doing. Then I shook myself. I didn't have time for this. I had to go see Leo, to meet him outside. Then the humming started again. I ignored it. Putting it out of my mind. It was catchy. But I had places to go, things to do. I took two steps toward the exit. And that was the last thing I remembered.