Matthew
I texted my coworkers at Casa, Fee, and Lyon to let them know I’m fine. I never take personal time, so they were all concerned for me. None of them know why I went to Dragon Isle or how long I’ll be gone. I had hoped to get this entire mess cleared up in just a few days, but judging by the nanny’s initial reaction at seeing me, I think it’s safe to say that will not be happening.
Jessica is fucking gorgeous. She’s got bright blue eyes and long, luscious hair. Her nose is dotted with freckles and she’s curvy in all the right ways. Something deep inside of me awakens when I see her, and the word mate floats through my head.
And it makes complete sense.
When each of my coworkers fell for their beloved partners, they thought the idea of mates was crazy and stupid. They all fought it, argued against it. Fate isn’t real, they all thought, but I’m not like them. Maybe it’s because I’m younger than them. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching all of them fall in love. Maybe it’s just because I’m a dragon. I don’t know, but Jessica is definitely my mate. If there’s such a thing as true fate, this is it. She’s the one, and it makes total sense to me.
Why wouldn’t the woman who holds the key to my child be the one I’m supposed to be with?
Why wouldn’t the very woman I’ve come here to see be the one I’m supposed to spend eternity with?
I haven’t had an interest in dating, well, ever. Michelle and I had the most passionate relationship I’d ever had, but I never felt that thing with her. She broke my heart, but I recovered more quickly than I should have. I bounced back much faster than I expected to. Perhaps it’s because at the end of the day, she’s not my other half.
Jessica is.
Isn’t life funny that way?
She’s in the house crying and I don’t know why. She’s worried, scared. I can sense her emotions even through the thick door, but I already know knocking is going to be pointless. She knew who I was when she saw me, but she wasn’t happy to see me. That makes sense since Jessica isn’t the one who wrote to me. It was Michelle’s lawyer, Tyrone. He contacted me to let me know that I had a child, one who I was entitled to build a relationship with if I wanted to.
The letter said I could call.
There’s no way a phone call would have been enough.
I need to see Brooke for myself.
I need to touch her, to hold her.
She’s a part of me, and I hate knowing that I’ve been living all of this time without having a relationship with her. I hate knowing I’ve missed out on so much of her life simply because I didn’t know.
It’s not very fair.
I’m not living without her for one more day.
Instead of knocking on the door, I leave my duffel bag where it is and make my way around to the back door. I glance around for a minute until I see a row of flowerpots next to the house. I pick up the third from the left. Sure enough, Michelle never changed. I pull out the key and quietly unlock the back door, and then I pocket the key. I might want it later.
Jessica’s sobs are louder now that I’m inside. She’s mumbling to herself, too, but I can’t quite make out all of the words.
Why me?
I can’t…happening.
….Unfair….Not okay…
My heart clenches as I realize what a hard time this poor girl has been having. She’s not only had to deal with the loss of a close friend and employer, but with helping Brooke process the entire ordeal, as well.
Brooke.
I wonder how my baby girl is doing with the loss of her mother. The letter said she was diagnosed with a disease only a month ago. Two weeks later, she passed away. It was fast, and the doctor said it was a rare disease that dragons almost never contract. When they do, it’s an instant death sentence, though.
And now Jessica is hurting.
I don’t like hearing her cry. It makes me sad. Knowing she’s suffering alone makes me feel even worse. I move quietly through the kitchen and toward the front of the house. When I leave the kitchen and enter the living room, I can see her sitting by the front door. Her back is to the door, and she’s got her arms wrapped around her legs. They’re pulled up to her chest and it looks like she’s trying to make herself seem as small as possible.
I don’t speak, and she doesn’t look up. Quietly, I move until I’m right beside her, and then I slide to the floor and wrap my arms around her. Jessica doesn’t freak out. She doesn’t jump. She doesn’t yell.
“Why are you in my house, Matthew?” She asks, sniffling quietly. She doesn’t bother pretending she’s not crying. She doesn’t hide who she is, and I’m drawn to this raw honesty Jessica is presenting to me.
“You know why I’m here, Jessica.”
“You can’t have her. You can’t take her away from me.”
“Is that what you think?” I lift her chin with my hand, forcing her to look at me. “You’re afraid I’ve come to take Brooke away from you? Is that it?”
She nods, and my heart cracks.
This is my mate.
Jessica might not realize it. She might not believe in mates or maybe she just doesn’t want to accept that her mate could be someone like me. She is, though. We’re meant to be together and by the time this entire thing is over, I’m going to marry her. I’m going to love her. I’m going to take care of her.
She’s not going to have to worry about anything because no matter what happens, I will be her protector. She and Brooke will be my top priorities. I may have let them all down in the past, but that time is over.
The only place to go now is forward.
“I’m not here to hurt you, Jessica,” I tell her. She relaxes in my arms. I pull Jessica closer to me and I begin to rub her back gently. “Everything is going to be okay,” I tell her. It’s more than a promise.
It’s a vow.