CHAPTER 38: So embarassing...

Randol
As soon as we pull up to the main house, I see my dad on the porch with his arms crossed and a huge smile on his face. Shit. Celeste is not going to be happy about this.
"Randol. Please tell me I am hallucinating and your dad is not standing on the porch with a shit - eating grin on his face."
"So you want me to lie to you?"
"Damn it."
"Don't worry, I'm sure he won't embarrass us too much."
"Awesome." We park the car and get out. I take Celeste's hand and we walk up the stairs.
"Celeste, I am so happy! Welcome to the family."
"Thanks for not embarrassing her, Dad."
"Sorry but I can't help it. I didn't tell anyone else, though, so I'm the only one who knows."
"No, Mr. Woods. You're not. Apparently at least half the pack has already sent Randol messages of congratulations."
"Wow, really? All the way in New York? That is one powerful mate you've got there, son."
"I know. I almost passed out."
"I am absolutely not discussing this any further. Thank you for not telling my father, Mr. Woods. I have to find a way to break it to him gently."
"Um, do you have to tell him?"
"Well, I am shifter - style married now, so yes. I have to tell him."
"Can't you at least wait until we aren't trapped in this house with him?"
"I'm sorry, you just broadcast it across the country and you are giving me shit for wanting to properly tell one person?"
"No, I am not. Sorry. I didn't even consider that."
"All right then. I'll let you know when I tell him. I'm going to go get a shower before dinner. I'll see you then."
"You want me to walk you up?"
"No, that's okay. It seems like you girls have loads to chat about."
She shoots me a wink before heading inside.
"Well, isn't she amusing."
"Did you really have to wait on the porch for us, Dad?"
"I didn't want to take the chance of Ricco hearing me congratulate you two."
"You know she is going to make me pay for having to face you as soon as we got back."
"Better you than me."
"Thanks a lot."
"Seriously, though, are you okay? The feeling hit me so hard that I stumbled."
"I'm fine now. It was a lot to handle. She is so much more powerful than I realized."
"She will make a great pack princess."
"That she will."
"Not to ruin your happy mood, son, but you know I was just waiting for you to find your mate before stepping down."
"I know and I'm ready, but give me some time, Dad. I'm going to go stay with Celeste until she can get out to New York, well, if she'll let me. Then we will have a wedding to plan."
"Why do you need a wedding?"
"It's important to her, Dad. I also promised Mr. Torelli I would make sure he could walk her down the aisle."
"Well, you don't want to break that promise, I assure you."
"No, I do not. Anyway, before we take over for you I really think she should at least meet the pack, not to mention Mom."
"Oh no. I haven't been keeping your mother updated. She has no idea what is going on out here. She is going to rip both our throats out."
"You should probably do that right now. At least if you tell her while you're here it will give her time to calm down before you get home."
"God, Randol. It's like you've never even met your mother."
"You're right. We're dead. Well, before I die I'm going to have dinner with my princess. First I need a shower, though."
"Yes, you do. The other shifters will smell you coming a mile away." I hate that snarky look he gets.
"Point taken, Dad. I'll be in my room if you need me."
"Oh, and, Randol?"
"Yes?"
"You have six months."
"I'll take what I can get, I guess."
I leave my dad on the porch to make a very difficult phone call. I feel like a ninja the way I'm trying to sneak to my room right now. Dad had a point, though. The shifters would be able to smell Celeste all over me. Here's the thing, I don't mind people knowing I slept with her and I actually love her smell. All the shifters in this house would. It is intoxicating. The reason I'm in stealth mode right now is because that smell is mine. No one else should ever be able to smell it ever again. So yes, this is purely out of jealousy. I have never been the jealous type before, but she has brought it out in me.
After I get out of the shower and get dressed, I head down for dinner. Celeste is already there talking to her dad. I guess I should go over. Sigh. I hope he doesn't know already. "Hey, Princess. Mr. Torelli."
"Evening, Randol. I hear you are almost completely healed. That's pretty impressive."
"Yep, by the time we have to go visit Donnelly, the soreness should even be gone."
"Good, I need you on your A game out there. No telling what tricks Donnelly has up his sleeves."
"I will protect her with my life, sir."
"I know you will. Now if you'll excuse me, you two, Anthony's arm is going to fall off from waving me over so hard."
"See you later, Daddy."
"Bye, sweetheart."
"Well, hello to you, gorgeous."
"Why, Celeste, are you flirting with me?"
"I can stop if you want me to."
"Absolutely not. You could amp it up a little if you want."
"Hahah. Maybe later. Let's eat. I'm starving." We get our food and sit down to eat. Is it just me, or does this meal somehow taste better now. I know it sounds cliché, but everything seems different now that I've claimed Celeste. She has changed my whole world in just a couple of days.
"So, Celeste, what are we going to do when we leave the retreat?"
"I told you I wanted to move to New York, Randol. Are you getting cold feet already?"
"God, no, I just mean, you can't fly straight to New York from here. You need some time to prepare, right?"
"Yeah. I need to put in notice at work. Look for a new job. I have to sell my apartment and pack my stuff. It will probably take me at least a month. Why?"
"Would you mind if I come out to stay with you for a couple of weeks until you move to New York?" Her smile is so bright. I love it.
"I was hoping you would want to. I am going to ask Daddy if I can head back a few days early, actually. Maybe you can go with me."
"I'd love to, but why are you going back early?"
"I am going to fly straight from here to New York. I want to look for a place to live there before I put my apartment on the market. I thought you could be my guide."
"What?"
"You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm sure a realtor can show me around instead."
"Celeste, are you really not going to live with me when you get out there?"
"Randol, did you ever ask me to live with you when I get out there?"
"Okay, point taken. Celeste, will you move in with me?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"How many women have you slept with in that apartment?"
"Um, well, wait, is this really important?"
"Let's see. When you come to my house, you might want to avoid the dining room table, the couch, the front door, my bed, the shower, and the bathroom sink. I've had sex with other men on all of them." I guess she noticed the angry look on my face because she smiled and said, "Now you tell me if it's really important."
"Yes, it's really important and the answer is eight."
"Then no, I am really not going to live with you. Oh, and by the way, I have never had sex in my apartment. I moved in there after my last boyfriend and I broke up. I haven't had sex since."
"You lived with him?"
"Yep. I moved into his place, and we lived together for an entireyear."
"You'll move into his house but not mine?"
"He was a virgin when we met, so I knew he had never slept with anyone else in that apartment."
"I hate this."
"You hate what?"
"I want to be able to hold you at night, and come home to you after a long day."
"I have no desire to be another notch in the belt of your apartment."
"What if I sell it and we get a brand - new place? Together?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I love you, Celeste. I want to be with you as much as possible, even in our sleep."
"I love you too. Let's do it."
"I'll contact a realtor tomorrow to have them start looking. What do you want in a place?"
"Well, I want at least three bedrooms, an office, a really nice kitchen so I can watch a sexy chef I know cook me dinner, and a beautiful view."
"That's it?"
"That's a pretty big ask in Chicago. Honestly as long as you're there I don't care which place we pick."
"God, I love you." Her giggle is like music to my ears. "On another subject, I want to try to shift after dinner. You want to come with me?"
"Sure. I'm starting to miss Kai."
"Ugh! I retract my invitation."
"Hahah, no, you don't. Don't be jealous, I love you both equally."
"That's the problem. Not only do I have to worry about you being stolen away from me by other men, I have to worry about you running off with Kai."
"If it makes you feel any better, after today I think you have a leg up on him."
"It does actually. My ego thanks you."