Simon
I sighed as I hurriedly ate cereal despite it being 3:20 pm on a Wednesday. I cursed as milk dribbled out of my mouth and I left the bowl in the sink, grabbing tissue to wipe my chin. I took the car keys and headed for the car.
Duncan, my youngest ran behind me to catch up. I buckled him in and got in the car.
"Tell me again, why I'm doing this?" I asked him feeling tired.
"Because, you are my dad, you must be involved in my life." The ten year old said firmly with a nod and I chuckled as I drove down the street, heading for his school.
"So, tell me about your new best friend." I caught his excited grin as I said best friend.
"Oh, she's pretty, you'll like her. Very friendly and she's new to school."
"Oh? How new?"
"She got here just last week! From Russia! Isn't that cool!" Duncan wiggled excitedly. "She's really funny because she always looks so serious," he snickered. "Even if you tell a really funny joke."
"She sounds nice," I rolled my eyes at how absolutely in love he sounded. We pulled up to the school and Duncan had already got himself free. I sighed and got out, "hey! Wait for me!" I whined and he stopped, jumping around and whining as well.
"Do you have to be so slow!?" I rolled my eyes.
"You're very mean to me today." He grabbed my hand then and pulled me along. It wasn't that we were late to the parent teacher conference. He just really wanted to see his best friend.
I laughed as he pulled me along, internally, I was whining at my pup's enthusiasm for someone other than me. We rounded a corner and I felt myself stumble. I froze as the scent caught my attention. My smile dropped suddenly and Duncan let go of me.
I blinked, my breathing picked up, unsure if I was dreaming, but it was unmistakable. My subconscious pawed at my mind.
Mate. It said simply and I sniffed, feeling a sense of urgency in my mind and I blinked, shaking my head
Impossible. I thought and a whimpered left me. I can't.. It's... Not possible.
Mate. My feet began to move towards the classroom my son had entered. As though in a trance, my breath caught at the sight of him.
The man was tall, tan and very handsome. He had a blank stare fixed on the teacher, his blue eyes unblinking and his thick black hair combed perfectly. His suit made me bite my lip and I felt my legs begin to shake. Mate.
I blinked and tried to move my gaze from him, but it felt impossible. He blinked and turned his head, meeting my gaze. I felt my conscious whine and roll onto his back in submission. This was so surreal. I had forgotten how powerful a mating pull could be. How it rendered you a complete stuttering and frozen mess. I felt my cheeks colour and the man looked away from me to the teacher who spoke to him.
"Dad!" I blinked rapidly at the sound of my son, my instincts to protect and nurture kicking in. I looked down at my son who held the hand of a beautiful girl. She had blue eyes and blonde hair, she was adorable as she stood beside Duncan. "This is Katya! My best friend." I bent down and smiled at the girl who held her hand out.
"Nice to meet you," she told me making me smile widely, she seemed like a nice girl. I took her small and soft hand and shook.
"A pleasure, I've heard a lot about you, Katya." I told her and she glanced at Duncan who grinned. "I'm Duncan's dad, you can call me Mr. Wess." She nodded firmly, she hadn't smiled once, her expression had been stoic the entire time and I wondered why.
"Mr. Wess, I will be having a party this weekend. May Duncan join?" She asked me and I felt my heart pull. It sounded so formal, stiff and I wondered who her parents were.
"Of cource, is it your birthday?"
"Yes, I will be 10," she said and Duncan laughed.
"Hello," I looked up to see the man who had had my attention first. I blinked and stood shakily. "I hear you are Duncan's father? I'm Emmett Ross, Katya's dad." He held out his hand for me and I took it, swallowing deeply so as not to moan suddenly.
"A pleasure to meet you," I whispered. "I'm Simon Wess." I blushed and he nodded.
"I do hope you dont mind. My daughter wanted a party this year and I couldn't deny her." I smiled down at the girl who was then pulled away by Duncan.
"Of course, they seem to get along, what time should I bring him?"
"Around 12:00," he said watching them go off to their other friends. "I guess now that our children are best friends, we shall be seeing a lot of one another." He kept my gaze which made me feel flustered, I dropped my gaze out of habit and gave a nod.
I had the overwhelming urge to fix my hair up and tidy my shirt even though non had been in disorder.
"Seems we will," I smiled feeling slightly coy.
"Parents, if you would join me please?" The teacher called and parents began to take seats. I aimed to sit beside Emmett when a single mom I know slid into the seat beside him with a seductive smile. I glared at her but she ignored me. The woman really worked my nerve for the rest of the meeting.
I felt mildly threatened at her advances throughout the meeting while our children's teacher spoke to us about what to expect this year and how we could contact him and all that. I couldn't focus the entire time, my gaze constantly flickering to Mrs. Knidge who would laugh and touch Emmett's arm by accident, so she claimed. It took everything not to growl and prove to be a problem.
Finally we were finished and most of the parents who were friends gathered around the snack table to talk and gossip.
I kept my eye on Emmett, politely turning down conversation with every curious parent who craved his attention.
Looking down at Duncan who smiled brightly at me and pulling on my hand I tilted my head and frowned at his suspicious smile.
"What did you do?"
"Can I go over to Katya for dinner?"
"But you made Logan wake up early so he could make your favourite."
"I can have that when I get back, can I? Please!? Please?! Please!" He bounced around pulling on my arm then.
"If you don't mind? You are welcome to join us too."
I looked away from my son who beamed towards Emmett who had Katya in his arms, he raised a brow and I felt myself flush.
"Is there a problem?"
My mouth was dry as I watched his tongue flicker out to lick his lips, I felt personally attacked and shook my head furiously.
"No, no problem. We can join. We'd love to actually." I raised a hand weakly in a gesture that it wasn't a problem, my voice was a soft whisper and I cleared my throat before Igave a nervous shy laugh looking away from the man whose sole existence would definately put me on edge.
"Perfect."
I stared at his phone which he brought into my line of sight with a dial pad, I stared at it then him then back and forth before my son hissed to me.
"Dad!" It was low but I quickly took the phone, flushed and feeling warm. I quickly typed my name and handed his phone back to me.
"I'll see you two in an hour or so?"
My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I smiled nodding and avoiding his gaze.
I read his address as he began walking away, Duncan beside him and talking to Katya before he looked towards me and yelled for me to hurry up.
My son was officially the best wingman a father could have.
A/N
Written: 28 October 2018