Lost in Translation

Chapter 28: Chinese Takeout with a Side of Secrets

———Ben———

Friday, June 7th, 2019

I felt like my heart might explode. I had never shared a bed with someone before, aside from a few school trips, and those were strictly platonic. Anthony fell asleep quickly and seemed to be sleeping soundly, but I was still wide awake. I wasn't complaining, though. I laid in bed for a while and marveled at Anthony curling up against me.

However, in my haste to get back to Anthony, I had forgotten to get my usual nighttime glass of water, and I felt like I was dying of thirst. I slid out of bed carefully so as not to wake Anthony and crept up the stairs, skipping the 3rd step that always squeaked. The kitchen was dark and quiet and the clock on the stove showed that it was just after midnight. I filled a glass with water and took a long drink.

"So, when do we get to meet your mate?" Caroline's voice came from behind me. I choked on my water and spit half of it into the sink before wheeling around.

"Wh— what?" I wheezed. Caroline rolled her eyes and put her hand on her hip. Her almost waist-length straight hair was the same shade of brown as mine, and she was dressed in pajama pants and a T-shirt.

"I mean, that's who's staying over, right?" She said. "You're covered in his scent."

I didn't miss the fact that she said "his," but I didn't respond. I just stood there. My mind was reeling. I had no idea what to say. Caroline rolled her eyes again impatiently.

"I— I mean— how did you..." I sputtered.

"You've been acting weird all summer and spending a lot more time out of the house. And like I said, you practically reek of someone I don't know, and his smell is in the house, too," Caroline said. "It's not exactly hard to put together. I'd say I was surprised no one else has noticed, but let's be honest, Mom and Dad are both way too scatterbrained to notice, Matthew and Pip are too young, and Danny's too much of a self-absorbed jerk to care."

"O— Oh," I said shakily as I set my glass down.

"So, when do we get to meet him?" Caroline asked again.

"I mean, Caroline, I— it's still really new, and it's kind of complicated, and I— I mean... I didn't even expect my mate to be a guy. I hadn't even really thought about how to tell Mom and Dad," I said nervously.

"I mean, it makes sense why you never formed a bond with Val now," Caroline said thoughtfully. "You know they won't care, right? And I don't care."

"I... I know that and appreciate it, Care," I said genuinely. "I just... not yet, I'm not ready, and I don't think An— my mate is, either." Caroline shrugged and hopped onto one of the stools by the kitchen island.

"What's he like?" Caroline asked as she pulled a muffin out of the bowl on the counter. I took another sip of my water and leaned toward her on the other side of the island.

"Well, uh... He's really smart. He speaks two languages... he's got a really dry sense of humor, and he's really funny," I said lightly. "But, um... he's a little shy, I guess. We're taking things slow."

"You're smiling like a doofus," she said through a mouthful of muffin. I laughed softly and threw a napkin at her.

"You're a doofus," I said as I stuck my tongue out. Caroline rolled her eyes a third time and stuck her tongue out back at me with a badly concealed smile.

"I'm, uh... I'm gonna head back downstairs, but can you do me a favor and, uh..."

"Keep this a secret from Mom and Dad?" Caroline suggested, and I nodded.