I flipped through everything that had been compelled from me, wondering what Phineas could possibly want to hear a second—oh yeah. "I love you, Phineas Peters."
"Really, PP?" Wyatt whispered in the background, followed by the sound of Riley smacking him.
Phineas smiled. It wasn't big, but it was there, and I would take it. "I love you too," he whispered. "But next time when I tell you to stop, stop. You don't get to just push me back and say you're protecting me. We're equal, Nash. You're stronger and can hear me when I pee…"
"What?!" Wyatt whispered.
"…but I'm just as invested in this, in us. If I'm going to stay…"
I attempted to not freak out at the if.
"Then we protect each other. Okay?"
I wanted to say whatever I needed to to get him to stay, but I couldn't make a promise I didn't intend on keeping. "If it comes to something physical—"
"If it comes to that and there is no way to avoid it, you better believe I'll step back. I'm not stupid. But I won't wait idly by. I'll grab a stick or something. Trip him when he isn't looking."
If he needed to do any of that, then I'd failed to do my job, but I wouldn't bring that up now.
"Okay, I can see that pipe isn't getting fixed today, but I would actually like to attempt to use this business I own to make money, so will you kindly take your drama elsewhere?" Wyatt said, waving us out the door. "I'll get you a box for your fries."
"What do I get?" Riley asked. "I drove all the way here to touch his hand."
"I'll make you a grilled cheese," Wyatt said.
Riley looked appropriately pacified by his offering.
"Wait, you guys aren't disgusted? You don't want to rush home and tell your mate I contemplated murdering him?"
Riley waved off my worry like it was nothing. "I contemplate murdering him all the time." He smiled. "You guys were kids, with really messed-up childhoods. We're lucky you all turned out as normal as you did. I understand how that moment has stuck with you, and even why you might feel shame from it, but you've already said all I needed to hear. You thought about it, for seconds. Who wouldn't? Your whole life, you guys were raised to believe individually you were the best choice for Alpha. And you've learned from that moment, changed because of it. I can't say I won't tell Branson about today, if he hasn't already heard from the small-town gossip mill, but I'm pretty sure he'll have the same reaction as I have. It's who you are now that matters. Not who you were. That's how you will always be different from your father."
A weight lifted from my shoulders that I'd carried around for so long, I'd taken it on as a part of me.
But as good as hearing Riley say that felt, it was Phineas whose opinions mattered at the end of the day. I found his eyes, warm once more.
"Ditto," he whispered, and I kissed him again, not caring that there were two men and a baby in the room with us.
When our mouths broke apart, the pheromones clouding around us could have suffocated a man.
Wyatt opened the front door, unwittingly letting in the customers who'd gathered on the sidewalk. "That's it, you two are eighty-sixed for the day. Get out of here. Go cuddle or whatever. I'll see you at home."
"I can drive you," Riley offered. "After I get my grilled cheese."
***
The rest of the day was spent at home. We went for a walk with Riley along the river but for the most part stayed inside snuggling on the couch. Phin admitted he still had work to do, so when dinner came around, Riley found us in the dining room. I was looking up some fireman training while Phin typed happily on his computer.
"I made tacos if—"
Phin shut his laptop.
"—you're hungry," Riley finished with a smile. "I've just got to drain the meat, but Bran is being really fussy. Will one of you hold him? He'll just scream if I set him down."
I frowned. He should have told me earlier. I would've watched the little guy while he cooked. But, before I could offer, Phin gave him a timid, "Sure."
He stood and stretched out his arms in a way that made it clear he hadn't held many babies.
"He's getting stronger every day, but you still want to keep your hand behind his head. Little guy likes to do random impersonations of an 80's rocker."
Phin did as he was told, cradling the child in his arms. He was clearly nervous, or maybe unsure was the better word. But he kept a firm frame around Bran, who looked up at him like he was meeting a new friend. "Hey there, buddy. I'm Phineas." He paused like he was waiting for a response.
I opened my mouth to tell him Bran couldn't talk yet—all the while hesitating because I was pretty sure Phineas knew that already.
"Oh, your name is Bran? Nice to meet you," Phineas continued as though the baby had answered. "What do you like to do, Bran?"
Again, Phin paused a moment before acting as though he'd answered. "Lay around and drink bottles! I like to lay around too. I'm over the bottle part."
I snorted. My Phin enjoyed sucking on other things now, but even I wouldn't say such an inappropriate thing in front of the baby.
Riley returned minutes later, saying he was ready to take Bran back.
"Could I hold him a while longer? Maybe while you eat," Phin asked.
Riley looked like he wanted to kiss him. We all tried to do our part with Bran, but at the end of the day, Riley was the one who cared for him the most. "Oh yes, that's fine. You aren't very hungry?"
"Nah," Phin said without looking up from Bran. "We're having a good talk."
My mate was so incredibly perfect. I wished, for a split second, that something like what happened to Riley and Branson would happen to us but quickly banished that thought. Having Bran Jr. was awesome, but I hadn't forgotten the fear and uncertainty of pregnancy. Things had turned out well for Riley. That only meant they might not the next time this sort of thing happened.
And I certainly didn't want either of us to be called blessed. Riley could keep that designation.
Branson and Aver came home at the same time, both covered in mud from their day's work. They showered and eventually made their way back to the kitchen where Riley was eating, I was making Phin and myself plates, and Phin was discussing the intricacies of interdimensional travel. He claimed Bran had some interesting things to say on the matter.
Branson kissed his mate before standing with his hands awkwardly at his sides and staring at Phin. He wanted to hold his baby. I could see it in his face, but he wasn't comfortable enough to just grab him from Phin. And Phineas either was doing an outstanding job ignoring him or still hadn't noticed the nearly seven-foot wolf hovering impatiently over his shoulder.
"Why don't you pass Bran over and we can eat?" I suggested, deciding to throw Branson a bone since his mate had been the only reason my Phin was even here with me.
"Heard about your excitement," Branson said to me after he'd kissed every inch of his son's face. "And something about you wanting to kill me?"
The confusion was clearly feigned. He'd talked to Riley, I knew it.
Aver came into the kitchen then. "Me too. I told you I was sorry for using your conditioner," he joked.