“You told Jordie that loving Zinn is your past and loving Assa and Wes is your present, but what about your future?”
Valentin’s toe caught, shaking the swing. “Obviously, Assa and Wes are my future.”
“Ah.”
Valentin wasn’t sure what to make of that response. “We’re committed.”
Calder smiled. “Yes, I know. I was at the ceremony.”
“Then why ask?”
“You just sound very confident about things that haven’t happened yet.”
Valentin stared at him. “Confident about Assa and Wes? Of course I am.”
“I see that. I was the same at your age…certain of my future. And then Denni died.” He exhaled heavily.
Valentin bit his lip. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” Calder hummed. He reached between them to clasp his palm over Valentin’s knuckles.
Valentin’s eyes flashed. Warmth traveled up his arm.
Calder looked straight ahead. “No future is guaranteed,” he said. “Make sure your dreams are big enough.”
With that, he picked up their joined hands and kissed Valentin’s fingers.
The awareness in Valentin’s belly sparked to life. He sat in stunned silence as Calder went back into the house.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Calder
Wes came down the stairs with a wry look on his face.
“Well?” Calder asked.
“You were right. He definitely hadquestions.”
“Were you able to answer?”
Wes nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
Zinn and Lachie were at a doctor’s appointment and Ked was at rehearsal. With the house quiet, Calder had asked Wes to come over, saying vaguely that his older son might have some things on his mind that would be better discussed with another beta.
Wes had knocked on Jordie’s door under the guise of asking if he needed help with his history project, since the teen was studying the ancient alpha/omega wars which were Wes’s area of expertise.
“Is there anything you can tell me that wouldn’t break his confidence?” Calder asked.
“He said he didn’t need help with his assignment, but he had thislookon his face like he wanted to talk. So I asked if I could see his paper anyway, out of professional curiosity. Then, while I was scrolling through the document, he got all flustered and blurted out questions about what it was like to be a beta dating an alpha.”
“Good. I’m glad he felt comfortable asking.”
“It was a surprise, honestly, but a good one. Valentin said the same thing after he talked with Jordie the other night. He was flattered Jordie sought him out, although he refused to tell me what they talked about specifically. Guess I know now.”
“I’m sure both of you eased his mind. I don’t want my son to feel like he has to end up with another beta because it’s easier. If his heart takes him in a different direction, I want him to follow it.”
“He was receptive when I said being true to yourself is always the answer. I also told him that the gender differences that seem so important in the beginning of a relationship fade over time. As you grow together, you learn to fit together.”