“Any contact yet?”

Finley had gone home after the Pho restaurant debacle and called Cash. His big brother was happy to hear about his mate and happy that he wasn’t pushing her. He told him to not let her forget about him, and reminded him that Zara would be feeling the pull, all he had to do was nurture it.

That’s what started the flowers and gifts. The flowers seemed nice; the chocolates were because he had no idea. Which then had him calling Cash again and getting Cassie.

“Why do you Rochon men have such a hard time thinking with your brains. Worse, you have two floating around in there and you still get distracted by your cocks.”

Cassie did not fuck around.

“Cass, I need help, not abuse.”

“Wrong, you need abuse and then help. When I meet this girl she’ll be thrilled to hear how I kicked you around to make you wake up. Trust me; we all talk about you guys behind your backs.”

“Super. So the candy was a bad idea?”

“If you were sending it to me? No. Anything about this girl tell you she has a thing for sugar?”

“Not really. She sneaks meat, she told me.”

“Okay, we are gonna just let that one lie, because I could go so many places with it. What does she like? Think about what would make her smile.”

“She loves science fiction. Especially movies and TV shows. She’s almost always wearing a dress or shirt with a ship or character on it.”

“Ding, ding, ding. Wow, it’s like pulling teeth with you guys. Figure out what feels like her and send it off. Not clothing though, at least things you expect her to wear in public. That’s for later. But don’t overwhelm her either. Your brother and his car trick still has his mate shaking her head. Not every girl needs the fancy. Effie still brings up her car and that was like three cars ago for her.”

“Got it, no cars. But there has to be something else I can do for her. I’m dying to take care of her and I want her happy. Even if she’s not with me.”

“Send her something she likes. And then follow up. But for fuck’s sake don’t hover. You guys are always hovering. You’re very big and it takes a while to get used to having a hulking body leaning over you all the time. No, honey, I wasn’t talking about you. Stop listening to my conversations. Rude!” Cassie yelled out, presumably to her mate.

“No, he doesn’t need you to talk to him, I have it handled, thank you very much,” she continued to yell.

“Cass?” He had to try her name a few times as she continued to berate his brother for interrupting.

“Huh?”

“I’m gonna go, be nice to my brother and kiss the monsters for me.”

“Will do. Don’t be a dick. That’s the best advice I can give you.”

Finley hung up the phone. “Right, don’t be a dick.” He was walking a fine line between pushing his mate and giving her space. He knew her schedule and he really wanted to see her, but she had to want to see him too.

It was agonizing, but his bear seemed to be behind him on his master plan.

It wasn’t until late Monday afternoon that he got a text back from her.

Thanks for the gifts, they were perfect.

He wanted to write back, ask her how her weekend was, and ask if she thought about him. If she wanted to see him. Instead, he tucked his phone into his pocket and got back to his studies.

Right before bed, his phone buzzed and he checked it assuming it was family.

It was Zara.

Goodnight.

Not the long conversation he wanted to have with her. But it was still something.

The next morning he got ready for class and his phone rang. This time he answered it without looking since he was busy packing his bag.

“Hey.”

“Uh, hi?”

It was her. She had called him. Three days without hearing her voice and his bear was happier than a pig in shit.

“Hey, baby.” He probably shouldn’t have used such an endearment, but it just popped out.

“Sorry I haven’t called,” she started.

“No, don’t worry about it. I know you needed time. I wish I could have ignored you during that time, but it just wasn’t in me. At least if I was getting delivery confirmation I knew that you were alive.”

She gave a little laugh. “I guess. Or my parents were just hiding my body.”

“Doubtful, it sounds like they love you a lot.”

“Well, they must because they know about you now.”

“They do?”

“I had to explain the flowers and gifts,” she said a little mockingly.

“Oh, shit. Sorry. I really didn’t think about that. I’m sorry if it wasn’t good.”

“Eh, it’s not like I’m a child that can’t make my own decisions. It kind of felt good telling them that I was seeing you without them knowing. Reminds them that I’m my own woman even though I live at home.”

“That’s good then. I miss you, baby.”

There was a pause then she said softly. “I miss you too. I’m not sleeping well. I keep dreaming about you and your... other you. I’m cold, my stomach feels like it’s empty all the time. I just don’t feel the same as I do when I’m with you.”

Finley wanted to do a happy dance. Not because she was miserable; but that she knew that if she wanted to feel better she could just see him, spend time with him.

“I’m the same. We miss you. It’s nice to be able to say that now.”

“I’m still a little confused. But by my own rules, I’ve seen something with my own two eyes and now it has to become part of my reality. I needed some time for that.”

“I understand, I really do.” He decided to go for broke. “I’d really like to see you.”

“I want to see you too. Can I meet you back at your dorm after your class?”

“Sure,” he jumped at the opportunity. He gave her the building name and his room number. He told her he looked forward to seeing her.

When he hung up, he saw that he had a few minutes before class to turn his mess of a room into something he wouldn’t be embarrassed to show his mate.

Luckily, he had clean bedding in the closet from the last time he went home. His dirty clothes were stuffed into a hamper and the rest into the bottom of the closet. What she didn’t know and all. Anything trash related was dumped into empty pizza boxes and he had to make a huge pile to take out to the dumpster. A long spray of air freshener and cracking the window was the best he could do in the short amount of time.

He got a lot of ribbing and mocking as he dragged a veritable trash heap out of his room.

Hopefully his mate wouldn’t be expecting too much. It also meant that his bear who was giving him what for was right. He needed to change his ways permanently when it came to home maintenance.