Chapter Twenty-One

Dinner was placed in front of them, street tacos with extra jalapenos and lime for Annie. Candy smiled as she watched her mate close her eyes and inhale the aroma. She looked down at the burrito, her mouth watering at the sight of the green spicy sauce.



“I promise you’ll enjoy this.” Candy said as she unrolled the burrito and dumped in the spicy salsa.



“It smells so good.” Candy muttered as she tucked into her meal.



They ate in a silence, it wasn’t an awkward silence as Candy had worried they would have. She’d been on dates before and hung out with the guys.



This was different, it was nice. She still hoped to hang out with her friends and bandmates. It would be nice to be able to hang around Eli and get to know him as a friend now that she had no interest in him.



Glancing over, she caught Annie looking at her again. “Is something wrong? Do you not like it?”



She could see the tears welling up in her mate’s eyes and she wondered if she had something wrong.



“No, it’s just. Before when I went on dates. It was always where Beau wanted to go, it was always about him. You make me feel special.” Dabbing her eyes with the napkin she spoke again. “Thank you.”



“Don’t thank me, you’re my mate. I want to spend the rest of our lives making you feel special.” Candy said.



“Sorry for being all emotional.”



“Please don’t, you don’t need to apologize with me. If you want to kiss me, that I’d like.” Candy said with a grin as she leaned closer to Annie.



“Are you asking me for a kiss?”



“Yes.” Candy nodded her head and Annie closed the distance between them, her lips pressing softly against her mate’s.



The kiss didn’t build up as the others had as Annie’s stomach rumbled loudly, making Candy giggle.



“I think the babies are hungry.”



“Sounds like it,” Annie said with a blush.



Candy reached over and touched her stomach. Smiling at the fluttering kicks she felt. “Have you thought about names yet?”



“Not really.” Annie replied as she picked up one of the tacos. She hadn’t let herself get that attached to them for fear of what Beau would do.



“Maybe we can go by a book store and pick some baby name books.” Candy glanced over at Annie as she picked up her soda, taking a sip.



Annie finished chewing before she looked at Candy. She didn’t know how she was supposed to do this. The whole mothering thing. Her own mother hadn’t been warm. Most of her affection growing up had come from Abby.



If she’d gotten a skinned knee, Abby was the one to clean it up and put the bandaid on for her. She was the one who would hug her close and tell her that everything was going to be okay.



When they were sixteen, she’d been the one to hold her hand as their parents had taken them for their first blood offering with the clan of vampires that were associated with the pack.



“You okay?” Candy asked, sensing the change in Annie’s mood.



“Yeah, just thinking about being a mom.” Annie said, lifting up her water to take a drink. “I’m afraid I won’t make a very good one.”



“You will and I’ll be there. We can figure it out together.” Candy said as she raised her hand to signal the waitress over. “Do you want dessert or anything else?”



“No, I think I’m just about done.” Annie said, picking up her last taco, the corn tortilla ripping in her hands.



“What can I get for you?” The waitress asked as she came over with a pitcher in her hand. She leaned over, refilling Annie’s water.



“I’d like our check, please.”



“I’ll have that right out for you.” She said with a smile before moving onto the next table.



“So I was thinking that we could go get you some essentials. Maybe some clothes?” Candy asked, the idea of watching Annie try on clothing sounded like a fun time to her. She wondered if she’d be able to sneak into the dressing room to repay her for the orgasm that Annie had given her in the car.



“I don’t, I don’t have any way to pay for those things.” Annie said as she pushed her plate away, worrying the inside of her cheek with her teeth.



“You are pack now, Drake gave me his card. Even if he hadn’t you’re my mate, Annie. I want to buy these things for you.”



“It just feels strange, letting you take care of me like this.” Annie glanced over, “Good strange, but still strange.”



“I understand, it’ll take some time for you to get used to. Just be ready, I plan to spoil you and the babies.” Candy said with a smile as she leaned over, kissing Annie on the cheek as she wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.



“You don’t have to do that.” Annie whispered.



“I want to do it.”



“I’m just saying, if you don’t it’s okay. Beau didn’t really pay attention to me until Abby left. Before, I was his secret.” She looked down as Candy brought her other hand to weave their fingers together.



“Is it too much, if it is. I can try to-” Candy paused, trying to think of the right words. “Dial it back a bit, I don’t know how well I’ll do that. But I can try.”



“No, I just, I’m used to being the secret. So it’s strange to be, I guess the best way to put it is the center of your attention.” Sighing, “It’s like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.”



Candy sucked in a breath as her heart beat faster in her chest, Annie was her first and main priority. She cared about Stolas too. She didn’t know how she was going to tell Annie about that, but she knew that she was going to have to by the end of the night.



Author's Note: I hope you guys had an awesome weekend, are you ready to start the Monday through Friday updates for this story? I know I am, thank you guys for reading, commenting, and rating XOXO