Best Friends (New Species #15)(61)

“The feeling is mutual.”

He lifted his head and their gazes met. “There’s one thing I’ve always longed to say to you.”

“Okay. What is it?”

“And I want you to say it back to me.”

She waited patiently.

“You’re mine,” he rasped.

That made her grin. “You’re mine, too.”

“Thank you for giving me a chance, Mel. You have no idea what you mean to me.”

“I think I do. Do you think we made a baby?”

“I don’t know, but I’m hopeful.”

“Me too.”

He suddenly grew serious. “I’m sorry your parents weren’t happy about me being the one you’re marrying.”

“Don’t ever apologize for that again.” She reached up and stroked his hair. “It’s them, and it has nothing to do with you. My mama has never been happy with anything I’ve ever done, Snow. I tried real hard when I was a kid to be what she wanted, but I learned it wasn’t going to happen. It’s not you. It’s her. And my papa goes along with anything she says when it comes to me. He won’t go against her wishes because he doesn’t want the headache of having her mad at him.”

“Who is this male they approve of?”

“He’s a drunk who looks about fifty years older than me. He’s totally gross, but he’s got a great fishing pond my mama wants access to…bad enough to give me to him.”

Snow’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked horrified.

“Yeah. See why I’m pleading with you not feel hurt by them not coming to our wedding? Trust me when I say it’s best this way. I left an entire state to get away from her. I love my folks but distance from them is a definite must-have in my life. Why do you think I don’t have a cell phone? I got one a few years ago while I was still living at home. She’d call me at work half a dozen times a day just to complain about stupid stuff. She drove me so crazy that I ended up throwing it on the floor and stomping on it until it was in pieces. Then I had to lie and say it got run over in the parking lot after I’d dropped it. I refused to buy another one because I knew it would meet the same fate.

“I talk to her every couple weeks at the diner. Joel makes me do it in the kitchen, out of sight of the customers, because he says I look like I’m about to commit murder for the entire five minutes I spend on the phone with her. He also doesn’t want customers to hear the things that come out of my mouth when I try to shock her enough to end the call. I feel too guilty if I hang up on her.”

He turned his head slightly into her hand and nuzzled it. “I wish you had better parents.”

“Me too. I want you to know, though, that my folks not coming to our wedding isn’t because of you. It’s really about them.”

He smiled. “Mary is your family. She’ll be there.”

“Yes. Now we just need to work on her being terrified of New Species.”

“Eventually she’ll grow to trust my kind.”

“I hope so.”

A ringing sounded.

Snow slowly withdrew from her body and lifted off her. “This better be important.”

Mel watched him get out of bed and walk to his discarded pants on the floor as the ringing persisted. “See why I hate cell phones?”

He chuckled, plucking the phone from his pocket. “You promised Mary we’d get you one. I’m doing that tomorrow, and you will take it. Species always keep their word.”

She groaned and sat up as he answered.

“Snow speaking.” He paused, listening. Then he turned to Mel and grinned. “Thank you. I’ll go to the door.” He ended the call and put his cell on the dresser.

“What’s up?”

“Brass ordered us dinner, and it is waiting. He thought we’d like to stay secluded tonight. See? Not all calls are bad.” He pulled on his pants. “Don’t move. We’ll eat in bed.”

“That’s so sweet of him.”

“He wants you to feel welcome at Reservation.” Snow left the bedroom.

Mel rearranged the pillows and scooted to the side. Minutes later, Snow pushed in a cart, and along with it came the wonderful scent of food. “Yum.”

He grinned, bringing it right to the end of the bed. “Steak, lobster, shrimp, crab cakes, and stuffed baked potatoes with cheese, butter, chives, and bacon. They also included a salad. We have our choice of milk, a few types of sodas, and they made us something called virgin strawberry daiquiris.”

“Leave it all on the cart. It can work as a table.” She crawled down the bed.

Snow stripped off his pants again and adjusted the cart before taking a seat.

She stared at the piled plates. “I’m never going to be able to eat all that.”

He chuckled. “I think they wanted to make sure they gave us choices, since they haven’t learned what you like yet.”

“I still can’t believe you have real chefs who cook for you.”

“Us.” He waited for her to sit next to him then pulled the cart closer. “Would you like to try one of these?” He lifted a large, frosty, dark pink drink. “No alcohol, Flirt said. He delivered it.”

“Sure.” She accepted it and held it aloft. “To us.”