Robin, page 3
He didn’t have to stay. He was in town because Spencer wouldn’t know to look for him here and because it was where his support system was. He wouldn’t have to stay forever, though, and maybe the best thing would be to move away soon. He hadn’t seen Billy much yet, and he hadn’t seen Billy with his mate. He wasn’t sure he wanted to, and if he stayed, he’d have to deal with that eventually. What had happened between them might have been for the best, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
He got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. He could tell someone had cooked from the smell, and he wasn’t surprised to find Nestor already in the kitchen when he got there. He smiled at the man, and Nestor smiled back, even though he was focused on his phone.
“There’s bacon in the oven,” Nestor said.
Robin got his breakfast together, then went to sit at the table. Nestor was still there, sipping coffee, but he put his phone down to focus on Robin. “I don’t think you’ve told me what you do for a living,” he said.
Robin chuckled. “At the moment, nothing. I’m freeloading.”
Nestor laughed. “I guess so am I.”
“Don’t you work?”
“Yeah, but Jude and Flynn don’t want me to pay rent or anything.”
“That’s because they love you and want you to feel like this is your home.”
“But it’s not yours. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but I can see you’re not entirely comfortable here.”
Robin sighed. The problem with having only two close friends was that he had no one to talk to when something involved both of them. He liked Nestor, but the age difference between them was something he wasn’t able to ignore. Still, it didn’t mean he couldn’t talk to him.
“I think it’s both because of the situation between Billy and me and because of the reason I’m in town. There’s also you and Flynn, and I don’t feel as comfortable with you two as I do with Jude. Maybe if Jude lived alone, I’d be okay.”
Nestor took a sip of his coffee as he slowly nodded. “I get it. I lived with my parents all my life, and it’s still odd for me to live with Flynn and Jude. I also know that eventually Jordan and I will find a place together. Jordan lives in town, and he’s been hinting at me moving in with him.”
Robin knew enough to be aware of the fact that Jordan and Nestor hadn’t been together long. He was still stunned at the thought that Nestor, only nineteen years old, had met his mate. They weren’t bonded yet, which made sense, but it made Robin feel he was losing in life. Nestor had a family, a job, and a mate. He even had a home if he decided to leave the one he lived in at the moment.
What did Robin have? None of that.
“Good morning,” Jude said as he and Flynn walked into the kitchen, Duke right behind them.
Nestor turned his attention to them, leaving Robin to think over what they’d just talked about. Robin wanted to get his life back together, but he wasn’t sure where to start.
He missed part of the conversation happening around him, and when he looked up, it was to find both Jude and Nestor staring at him. Jude had gotten coffee, too, while Flynn was giving the dog his breakfast.
“I’m sorry?” Robin asked.
“I was saying that maybe I have an idea for a job, or rather, a job location,” Nestor said.
“You don’t even know what I used to do for a living.”
“I asked Jude. You’re an accountant, and I know someone who’s looking for a person to help with their finances.”
Robin straightened in his chair. “Well, I can probably help, but I doubt working for one person will be enough for me to make a living.”
Nestor grinned. “How about working for many people? Maybe a pride?”
There was a pride in town. Robin was aware of that, even though neither Billy nor Jude was part of it. Jordan was, though. That was how Robin knew about it. “The Green Hill pride?”
Nestor nodded. “Jordan and I have been talking. The alpha’s looking for someone to help with the financial aspect of leading the pride. He’s done everything on his own until now, but it hasn’t been easy, considering the mess the previous alpha made. If you want, I can call Jordan right now and see when we can go.”
Even though he was terrified, Robin nodded. He wasn’t afraid because of the shifters who lived with the pride. He was afraid because it was something new, something he hadn’t thought he’d need.
But then he hadn’t thought he’d find himself alone, without a fiancé, an apartment, or a job.
“You can call him,” he confirmed. He’d woken up to two new emails from Spencer this morning, and he was afraid Spencer might find him. At least if he worked for the pride, he’d be in pride territory for most of the day. There, Spencer wouldn’t find him.
Or at least he hoped not.
He held his breath as Nestor called his mate. The first part of the conversation was private, and Nestor was smiling softly. Robin couldn’t remember if he used to smile that way when he talked to Billy. He wasn’t sure he wanted to remember.
“Hey, remember when you mentioned that Gal was looking for someone to help with the finances at the pride?” Nestor eventually asked.
Once again, Robin couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation. Jude could, though, and he nodded as Nestor talked.
“Great. When do you think we can come?” Nestor asked.
It sounded good, and it gave Robin hope.
“I’ll tell him,” Nestor said. “You’ll let Gal know?”
Nestor looked at Robin and gave him a thumbs up. It looked like Robin had secured a job interview with the local pride.
* * * *
Miko was stretched out on his bed next to Farley when his phone vibrated. It couldn’t be Farley, since he was here, but it might be Nestor or another one of their friends. That was what would make the most sense, yet Miko snatched the phone hoping it would be Robin.
It didn’t make sense. How would Robin get his phone number? Why would Robin want to get his phone number and call him when they hadn’t even talked yet? Robin couldn’t know that he was Miko’s mate, but the hope was there, especially when Miko didn’t recognize the number calling him.
“You should probably answer that,” Farley said, looking up from his own phone. He was sitting against the headboard, his long legs stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles.
“I don’t know who it is. What if it’s Robin?”
Farley blinked. “How could it be Robin?”
Miko glared at him, even though he’d been thinking the same thing seconds before. Then, he answered. “Yes?”
There was a moment of silence before a man asked, “Is this Miko?”
“Yeah. Who is this?”
“My name is Jerain.”
That was all the man said, even after Miko waited for him to continue. He frowned, wondering who the fuck this guy was. “And?” he asked.
“You don’t recognize my name?”
“Should I?”
“Considering I’m your grandfather, I expected you to.”
Miko gaped. He tried to remember what he knew about his paternal grandparents—his mother’s parents had passed away a while ago—but it wasn’t much. His father never wanted to talk about them, and once he’d explained why, Miko had understood and stopped asking questions.
Miko’s paternal grandparents were rich and influential in their tribe. They were also extremely traditional, so they’d arranged a wedding for Miko’s father. He’d agreed to go through with it until he met his mate, Miko’s mother. Then he’d told his parents the wedding was off and that he was bonding with his mate, and they hadn’t been happy. They’d told him they wouldn’t allow him to do that, that he needed to go through with the wedding, and that was when he’d told them to fuck off.
Miko had been so proud when his father shared that with him.
If his father hadn’t done that, Miko wouldn’t be here now. But he had done it, and he and Miko’s mother had moved to Green Hill. They’d bonded, had Miko, and lived happily ever after since then.
Why was Miko’s grandfather calling him now?
“How did you get my number?” Miko asked.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m calling because your grandmother and I want to meet you now that you’re an adult and can agree to it.”
“I could have agreed to it even before. You waited until I turned nineteen.”
“We weren’t sure your father would agree.”
Because they wouldn’t have. They hadn’t wanted Miko’s father to bond with his mother, even though she was his mate. “He would have allowed me to make my own decisions,” Miko said.
He had no idea what was happening or what he wanted. His life was messy enough, and he didn’t need to add whatever this was to it. He was still dealing with finding his mate, for fuck’s sake. What was he supposed to do with his grandparents?
“Your grandmother and I want to form a bond with you now that you’re an adult,” Jerain explained. “You’re our grandson, after all. It wasn’t right of your father not to allow us in your life.”
“He had his reasons.” Miko didn’t want to fight with this guy. He had to talk to his parents and find out what his father knew about this, but he couldn’t do it until he hung up.
Farley pushed away from the headboard and moved in front of Miko, trying to get his attention. Miko waved him off, but Farley didn’t stop. He could tell something was happening and wanted to know what it was. The problem was that Miko couldn’t tell him because he didn’t know what was happening, either.
“I’m sure he did and that he told you everything about it,” Jerain said, sounding bitter. “Just like I’m sure you were told lies about your grandmother and I.”
Miko didn’t like that this guy was insinuating that his parents would lie to him. He was sure they had, but never over something important. That was what mattered because in the end, everyone lied. He knew he’d lied to his parents.
“So, what do you want?” he asked.
“To meet you. We could get to know each other and hopefully build a relationship.”
“And that’s it? There’s nothing else behind it?”
“I won’t deny we’re hoping to bring you back into the family. You should never have been born out of it, and all of this is your birthright. It wasn’t right for your father to keep you away, and we’re hoping to fix that situation.”
Miko still didn’t like how this guy was talking about his father, but he was wary of saying so. He didn’t know his grandfather, and he didn’t know how the man would react if he told him that. Maybe it would be better to act clueless and go talk to his parents. They’d know what to do.
“I’m not making promises,” he said.
“Surely you have to see how important it is for you to have your family back.”
“But I already have a family.”
“You have your parents.”
“Not just them. My friends are my family.”
“They’re not blood-related, and that’s what’s important. Why don’t you meet with us?”
“I’ll let you know when and if I can. This is your phone number?”
“It is, but I’d like to plan a meeting now.”
Miko didn’t like how pushy his grandfather was. He looked at Farley for help, but Farley had no idea what was happening.
Miko lowered his phone and pressed a hand to it so his grandfather wouldn’t hear the conversation. “This guy is telling me he’s my grandfather and that he wants to build a relationship with me.”
Farley’s eyes widened. “You have a grandfather?”
Farley and Miko had been best friends since they were children. He’d told Farley his grandparents on his mother’s side had passed away, but Miko couldn’t remember if he was aware of what happened between Miko’s father and his parents. Miko might have told him in passing, but he doubted he’d gone into details, especially since he himself didn’t have details.
“Apparently.”
Farley rolled his eyes. “You’re going to have to tell me about this later, but for now, how do you know the guy on the phone is your grandfather? Is it only because he said so?”
“Yeah.”
“Then don’t agree to meet him before you know for sure whether or not it’s the truth.”
That made Miko smile. “You think he’s a serial killer trying to lure me into his cave?”
“No, but he might be involved with the labs.”
That was enough to make Miko’s stomach churn. He and Farley, just like everyone else in town, knew about the labs and the fact that they had never fully disappeared, no matter how hard people had tried. They still regularly kidnapped shifters, Nix, humans, and whoever they could get their hands on. Miko was safe in Green Hill, but Farley was right. He didn’t know who this guy was and whether he was telling the truth, and he couldn’t risk it.
He nodded and raised his phone again. The man claiming to be Miko’s grandfather was still talking and hadn’t noticed Miko wasn’t listening to him.
“—but of course, we can talk about all of that later. For now, we’d just like to meet you face to face,” he said.
“I told you I’d let you know if I was up for that,” Miko told him.
“Surely you won’t deny your grandparents. We’ve been waiting to meet you since you were born.”
“Well, if you were so eager to meet me, you should have made peace with my father. Look, I’m not trying to be rude, and I’m not saying I won’t ever meet you. I’m just saying I want a moment to think things through. I’ll let you know, all right?”
Miko could tell his grandfather wouldn’t let go until he said he’d meet them, so he quickly hung up. Then he stared at Farley, trying to find words to describe the situation.
The only words he could think of were fucked up.
* * * *
Robin bounced his knee as he sat in the back of Jude’s car and stared ahead, wondering if Billy really had to be here for this. If he was about to be humiliated and told he wasn’t good enough for this job, he’d rather do it without anyone watching him, especially Billy.
Robin had no idea what to expect from the job interview he was about to go through. Nestor had tried to reassure him, but that hadn’t helped as much as Robin wished. It would be his first time working with a pride, and while he’d been around shifters for most of the past ten years, it wasn’t the same. Jude and Billy had never belonged to a pride, pack, or any other shifter group. That meant Robin wasn’t quite sure how to behave with the pride, and he hoped not to make a fool of himself.
Somehow, he suspected that was what would happen.
“You don’t need to be nervous,” Billy said, looking at Robin from the rearview mirror.
Robin chuckled darkly. “Wouldn’t you be? I had to leave my job because my boss was harassing me. I worked there for more than five years, yet no one seemed to care what happened to me.”
“I’m sorry. I feel like it was my fault.”
Robin sighed. As angry as he was with Billy, he didn’t want his ex to feel guilty about any of this. “You weren’t the one who harassed me. Spencer did, and he’s the only one who should feel guilty.” Although he probably didn’t. That wasn’t the kind of person Spencer was. No, he was the kind of person who thought he should get whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and he hadn’t been shy about it.
“But you said he left you alone until he found out I’d broken up with you.”
Robin wanted to ask if that was what they were calling it, but he didn’t. “You still didn’t make the decision to have him harass me. Let it go. You have plenty of things to feel guilty about, but this isn’t one of those.”
Robin could see Billy’s cheeks flush in the mirror, and he looked out the window.
They needed to talk. They had once, over the phone, and that might have been enough if Robin had stayed away. Now, though, they lived in the same town, and considering the people they knew, their paths would keep crossing. Robin didn’t want things to be awkward between them, but he had no idea how to make that happen. He just knew that he didn’t want the tension that filled the car to be a constant companion each time he saw Billy.
But they wouldn’t talk now. Robin had other things to focus on, like making a good impression. Getting this job was important to him, and if he was lucky, he’d be able to leave Jude’s guestroom soon. He only needed a job and an apartment.
Piece of cake.
Jude slowed down, and Robin looked ahead. They’d stopped in front of a gate, and Jude leaned out of the car to ring the buzzer. They waited for a moment. Then a crackle told them someone was answering.
“Yes?” the man asked.
“We’re here to see Simon.”
Robin was glad Jude took the lead, because he didn’t know anyone. Jude did, though, and hopefully, it would be one more reason for the alpha to give Robin the job. He didn’t want to be hired just because of who he knew, but he wouldn’t say no if knowing people helped him get the job.
The gate opened, and Jude drove through. He parked next to several cars in front of a house, and Robin looked up at it as he exited the car.
It looked like a normal house. Granted, it was much bigger than Robin had expected, but considering an entire pride lived here, it made sense.
The door opened, and the man standing there looked vaguely familiar to Robin. Robin followed Jude and Billy to the door, and when they both greeted the man, Robin realized they knew him. They were friendly, and Jude didn’t hesitate to introduce Robin.
“Simon, this is Robin. He’s one of mine and Billy’s best friends.”
Simon nodded and offered Robin his hand. “I know who you are,” he said.
Robin realized he’d seen him before at the bookstore the day he’d arrived. He’d been sitting with Nestor, Jordan, and other people, including the pretty Nix that Robin had a hard time getting out of his mind. It was tempting to ask who the Nix was, but he was here for a job, not to get a phone number. Besides, the Nix was too young for Robin.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.
“Why don’t you follow me inside? I’ll show you to Gal’s office. Jude, Billy, you know where the living room is. Or if you want something to drink or a snack, feel free to go to the kitchen.”
