A Mother Before A Mate
Chapter 19

*DING*

Lexi's cell phone goes off. She grabs it and snuggles up to me to check it. It's Grace. She shows me the text.

Grace: Hey, Love! So what's up with you and your mate? Have you decided when you're leaving yet?

"What do you think? Tuesday after breakfast maybe?" She asks.

"Yeah," I agree. She texts Grace back.

Grace: Tuesday? That's so soon. Can you guys come over for dinner tomorrow? I want to have a going-away party for you.

Lexi: You're too sweet, but that's really not necessary.

Grace: Don't argue with your pregnant best friend. I need this. Okay?

"Are you fine with this?" Lex asks.

"Of course!"

Lexi: Okay, but I'll only be a few hours away. We'll facetime, and visit!

Grace: I know. It's just going to be different, and you know it. I don't like change.

Lexi: I know, but I can't be away from him.

Grace: I know. I'm just pregnant and emotional, which makes it worse. I'm glad you found him.

Lexi: Me too!

Lexi puts her phone on the table and cuddles back into me. "So what are we doing for our date?"

"It's a surprise," I tease, and she groans.

We spend the next hour on the couch kissing, and talking, and laughing. Since we stayed on the couch, where Lev could pop up at any minute, things didn't get too heated. I love her so much. I love the way she carries herself with such confidence, and the way she smiles, and laughs, and the way she shows me affection, and the way she looks at me like I mean as much to her as she means to me.

She is kind and caring and I can't get enough of her. I love her. I know that with certainty.

When Molly wakes up, I hang out with them on the couch for a little longer. Molly was in a cuddly mood, and she even cuddled up to me too. She's getting more comfortable with me.

"Ok, I have something I have to do before our date. I'll be here before 5 to pick my pretty ladies up, okay?"

I give Lexi a little kiss, and I kiss Molly on the forehead, and when I start to walk away I hear "MMM," I look back and Molly is looking at me with puckered lips.

She's so cute. I go back to her and give her my cheek, and she kisses it. "You're so sweet, Molly!" I admit, and I kiss her cheek before I make my way out of the living room again.

"What do we wear?" She asks me.

"Nothing fancy."

I leave Lexi's and I get into my truck. I want to head into town. I want to get a big bouquet for Lexi, and a stuffed animal or something for Molly. I plug the flower shop into my GPS and head downtown. Lexi's Point of View

Jack is taking us both on a date tonight, and I think it's the sweetest thing. I want to thoroughly thank him when we get home, too. I don't want to wait a few days until we make it to Black Moon. So I have a plan, and call Grace for help. RING RING*

Me: Hey Grace, Can I ask a favour of you and Jett in the strictest of confidence?

Grace: Duh! Always!

Me: Okay, so Jack and I haven't been able to ... do it, because Lev is always here and if he's not, Molly's awake. Anyways, Jack's taking Molly and I on a surprise date tonight. I don't want to wait a few days until we get to Black Moon, so if I text you when I'm on my way home, will you call Lev over, and keep him entertained? Please? And tell Jett not to tell Lev.

Grace: I'll talk to Jett now, and see what we can come up with. I'll call you back.

[5 minutes later] Me: Hey!

Grace: Hey! Okay, so text us when you're almost home, Jett will call Lev over and they will discuss in great detail his first travelling mission, and maybe the second and third? Depends on how long you guys last! Hahaha

Me: Oh my gosh. Don't laugh. I feel ridiculous that I can't wait two days.

Grace: We laugh, but we totally get it!

Me: We?

Grace: Oh yeah, Jett died laughing. Sorry.

Me: Ugh. Maybe they can go out for a beer at a pub or something, so that way it can be... less noticeable that

he's stalling?

Grace: Yeah, that's what Jett said. They'd talk about his first mission at the pub. That'll buy you a few hours. I laugh and joke, but honestly... you remember how bad Jett and I were at the beginning. I understand. The mate bond is intense. Me: Yeah, it is. Thank you soooo much! You're the best. Love you!

Grace: I love you too. I want details tomorrow, though!

Me: Haha deal! Talk to you later!

Grace: Bye babe! Have fun.

Now that that is dealt with, I am going to have a bubble bath, and soak and make sure everything is perfectly shaved and manicured to perfection for tonight. I closed the gate at the top of the stairs, so Molly can play upstairs safely while I take a bath. When I get out, I lotion my body up and blow-dry my hair.

Jack said nothing fancy, and it can get a little chilly in the evenings in the spring, so I decided to go with some black skinny jeans, with a white tank top tucked in, and a light pink loose blazer. I chose light pink lace panties and bra that will go well with the white tank top. Then I pair it with some watermelon pink heels.

Molly and I paint our fingernails a watermelon pink to match my shoes. I wear my hair down, and for makeup, I do a sleek cat-eye look, use a cute pink lip stain and finish it off with blush, and Mascara. I look myself over, and I look date night ready.

My watch says 4:05 pm, he'll be here soon enough, so I take Molly into her room and replace something cute for her to wear. I get her dressed in some jeggings, a white long sleeve with a light pink furry vest. She looks so cute. Finish it off with some suede brown boots for her, and I put her hair into a french braid, that comes from one side of her head to the other, so the braid hangs on one side, and she feels like Elsa.

She loves Elsa. She actually has a lot of hair, and it's long for her age. She keeps pointing to her lips, "Lips too," she keeps saying. I grab some lightly tinted pink lip chap and put it on her. She loves makeup. I tidy up the mess upstairs she made while I was getting ready. Then Molly and I hang out in the living room reading books while we wait for Jack.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

I feel a surge of excitement when I hear the door. I missed him, and I'm excited for tonight. I open the door and see my handsome mate smiling. He looks and smells amazing. "You look beautiful, baby," he says, as he moves in and gives me a kiss. "You look pretty good, yourself, mister," I coo. He's freshly shaved, and he's wearing dark grey chinos, with a white t-shirt, and a black jacket. He looks so damn good, and he smells delicious too.

He hands me a big bouquet of light pink and dark pink roses. There have to be at least 4 dozen roses. It's huge.

"Wow, these are so beautiful! Thank you!"

I lean in and give him another kiss, he grabs my a*s and pulls me close. I love his hands on me, and I cant wait for tonight. When we break apart, he asks "Where's my other date?"

He's holding a pink daisy and a big stuffed purple bunny rabbit in his other hand, and I'm over the moon. I point to the living room, and he makes his way in.

"Hi, Molly, you look so beautiful," he says to her, as he bends down to her level.

"Hi!... BUNNY!" she squeals. Molly hugs the big bunny so tightly.

"Mine? My bunny?" She asks him.

"Yes, it's for you!" Molly is so excited, and I'm just beaming with pride and love. I love this man. I do. It might be too soon to say it out loud, but I do.

"What do we say, Molly?" I ask.

She drops her bunny and hugs Jack. "Tank you!" I can see he gives her a good squeeze.

"You're welcome, sweetheart." He gives her a kiss on the head, and she gets back to loving her bunny.

"That was so thoughtful, thank you." I put my flowers down, and wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him - good. I let him know exactly how grateful I was for the way he is treating us in that kiss.

"Damn, baby!" he whispers when we break apart.

Dinner was amazing at the rainforest café. I had never heard of it before, but Molly had the best time, and the food was great too. I'm touched that he looked for somewhere special for Molly. He really thought about us, and it just makes me feel really special, loved and above all else, lucky that he's my mate. We're on our way home from dinner now. We have about 10 minutes left until we reach home. Molly is passed out in the back seat. I grab my phone and text Grace. Me: ETA 10 minutes.

Grace: [thumps up emoji]