“-They said we can come tomorrow and everything will be solved. Do you feel relieved?” Adam said to Alex over the phone. he was in Ari's apartment.
“Not really, I just want this behind me. I want the answer.” Alex sighed. “Anyway, when are you planning to come? You know it's your apartment.”

“I don't know, I'll spend the night here.” Adam said.
 Alex chuckled. “Are you afraid of the answer? After all, you took the taste too. Are you scared it will end things between you and your little bear?”

“I don't know what you're talking about!” Adam replied quickly, his voice high and defensive. He han no idea how Alex know the nickname he give Ari.

Alex laughs and Adam blushed, “I'm hanging up, see you tomorrow.”

He walked from Ari's bedroom to the kitchen, where Ari was making grilled toast.
“That small good,” Adam said, comeing up behind Ari and hugs him.
“Wanna taste?". Ari offered him a plate with a few of his attempts. When Adam hesitated, Ari sdded, "You should appreciate thit, I don’t cook for anyone.”
Adam picked one up and took a bites.  The bread was a little overcooked, and the cheese inside wasn't fully melted. He nodded without saying anything.
"Is it that bad?” Ari asked, taking the toast bake from Adam's hand. Disappointment felled his face when he tested it himself.
“Hey, don't worry little bear,” Adam said and pulled Ari into a hug. “It's always like that at the beginning. You'll get better with time. In the meantime, I'll make you all the grilled toast as you want.”
He started to cover Ari with kisses, Ari pulled away from the huge. “I can't rely on you forever. We don't know what they'll say to you tomorrow.”  His eyes filled with tears.
  "It kills me to admit it, but you really got under my skin.” Ari's voice broke,
” I don't know what I do if you're matched with someone else.” Adam wiped Ari's tears.
Ari looked into Adam's a eyes and saw the same vulnerability he felt inside himself. 

“It doesn't matter to me what the results of the taste says. It doesn't mean we can't be together,” Adam said.
Ari shook his head, “Don't say that. I could never stand in the way of someone being with their soulmate. You have to promise me you won't reject your mate.” 

Adam swallowed. He didn't really want to promise that, but when Ari looked at him with those big teary eyes, he gave in completely.
“I promise. But I have one condition,” He kissed Ari softly on the lips. Ari closed his eyes and leaned into him, he could really get addicted to hhis.

“What's your condition?” He asked after the kiss.
“I want us to have a month, I know the results are coming tomorrow, , but I can't cut this off so suddenly. I need time, we deserve time.” Ari wrapped his arms around Adam, burying his face in his chest. Adam hugged him back. in one of his famous bear hugs. The kind that earned him ,from Ari, the nickname big bear.
One night, while they were laughing, the nickname came up, if Adam was the big bear,  Ari had to be the little bear. Ari told Adam he could use the nickname, but only when they were alone.
  

“What are we going to do about this?” Ari asked, pointing at the plate.
“I can make you a new one," Adam offered. "or I can make you something else. Are you in the mood for something else?” he added, his voice turnin a little seductive.

“You know I don't like to have sex when I'm upset." Ari said. "I feel like peanut butter and jelly, it's my comfort food.” Adam leaned in and sniffed Ari's neck. “go sit on the sofa, I bring it to you and then we'll cuddle.”

The rest of the night, they watched TV wrapped in each other's arms.

Ari opened his eyes and realized they had fallen asleep. Adam was still beneath him, sleeping peacefully. Ari took the opportunity to memorize his face. he gently touched Adam's cheek and brushed his thumb over Adam's lips. The body under him vibrated as Adam tried to hold his laugh.
Ari pinch his cheek. “Something funny?” Ari asked.
Adam sat up and pulled Ari on his lap, “It is morning already?” Adam aked, a little disappointed.
He didn't want to think about his test results, so he told to himself to focus on Alex's results.
He was a little too excited to never see Kelly again, she always gave him a bad feeling. He had told Alex that  early on, but as Alex and Kelly's relationship deepered, Adam couldn't say anything without risking their relationship.
As if on cue, Alex calls. “Morning. I thought I'd come pick you up.” Alex said in a tired voice.
“I would like that. Can you be here in an hour?” Adam asks.
Ari gets up and heads to the bathroom, and Adam watches him, already missing the warmth of his presence. “Sure. And don't worry, I will make sure to drop you off at your little bear's home.” Alex teased Adam before hunging up.
Adam covered his red face with his hands. “Everything ok?” Ari asked when he saw him. Adam slid his hands down and groaned. Ari come over and give him a kiss on the forehead, “you can go freshen up, I will make us breakfast.” Adam chuckled, “ what are you making? Peanut butter and jelly? or cereal?” Ari ruffles his hair.
“you are a funny man… and here I was planning to surprise you.” Adam got up and went to the bathroom. When he returned, he found Ari had chose cereal for breakfast- but the real surprise was waiting beside it: a lunchbox with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, slices apple, and abottel of water.

He was bragging about the lunchbox, which only made Akex laugh harder.
“I love you two together.” Alex said. He genuinely meant that. He could not remember any of Adam's past relationships lasting this long, and in non of them he never sees Adam's eyes light up they did every time Ari's name was mentioned.
Last night, Alex had barely been able to sleep. He had prayed that everything would turn out to the best for both  answer.He let Adam talk until they arrived at one of the private rooms. where they now waited for their  Suddenly, the weight of the moment hit them. Sitting there, knowing that in a couple of minutes someone walk in with the result - it was overwhelming.
Their hearts were pounding so hard it was all they could hear. Alex's hands were sweating, and he wiped them nervously on his pants. Adam was gripping the lunch box tightly. Then he suddenly remembered his lucky charms. he wished he had it with him, but he had left it at Ari's place. 
The door finally opened, and a woman in a suit walked in, holding a tablet and wearing a wide smile.

“Hello, Mr.Anderson. Mr.smit. I'm Sunny, and I have your results” she sat down and looked at them, the smile never leaving her face, which only made Adam more nervous.

“So, who should we begin with?” She asked.
Alex was quicker to respond and immediately volunteered Adam.
Sunny turned her attention to him with the same unnerving smile. She tapped on her tablet as she spoke.
“so Mr.Smit… let us see… are you ok comfortable discussing this with Mr.Andreson in the room?” She paused and looked up at him.
 “Yes, you can continue.” Adam replied. She nodded and looked back at the screen. Adam held his breath. No matter what the results said, he and Ari still had one more month.
Suddenly, Sunny claped her hands. “congratulations!” Adam's heart sank.
“Would you like us to connect your mate and arrange a meeting?.” She asked sweetly.
Alex glanced at Adam and immediately saw how devastatedhe looked. Adam cleaned his throat, “No. Not now” He looked at Alex, “we promise to give ourselves another month” he explains softly.
Alex placed a reassuring hand on Adam's shoulder.

Alex turned to Sunny.
“I don't mind talking about it with him in the room.” Sunny nodded and begin tapping on her tablet again.
“I see you come here for a double check... I have to tell you, the results are the same as the first one.” she said. Alex sighs. “I don't even know what the right results are in the first place. That is why I come here, to check.”

She tapped again, “According to our record. we connected you about your match a couple of years ago, and you declined ”she looked at Alex with a hint of disappointment.

“That's not true," Alex said defensively . "I got the call about the match and met Kelly. I remember that clearly. I never decline any call.” Alex said desperately . He comes here to get a clear answer, but he was afraid he would leave with more questions.

“You know we recorded all our calls, I can play it for you.” Sunny said. she noticed that something was off and she felt the need to resolve it. After all, the program is meant to help people, and if anyone takeing advantage of it,  it was her responsibiliy to correct it.

She played the recording, and to their surprise, the voice didn't belong to Alex. Even though it was whispering, it was unmistakably, Kelly. She spoke low and quicky, saying ‘Not interested’ and hung up.

“When exactly was the recording happen?” Alex asked, his voice barely a whisper from the shock.
Sunny told him the exact date of the call ,and he covered his face with his palms. The call he received about Kelly vome up a week later, which means Kelly had answered his phone, heard what they said, declined the match ,and came up with the lie.
But it seems she had not done it alone, because when he received the call about his match with Kelly, she was right there with him.

“I just need to know one more thing,” Alex quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, his face unreadable. 
"Does that mean... Gabriel Green was my real mate all along?" The words left his mouth slowly, as if saying them  made the truth heavier. it felt like his brean was still trying to catch up with what his heart already know.

“I'm not really allowed to give that informatinon directly.” She said. But when she saw Alex begin to termble and struggle to breathe, she leaned in and whispers, “All can I say is... your mate is male Omega” Then she straigtened up “if you would like, we can connect him for you.”

Alex tried to speak, but no sound come out. his throat was tight with emotion. Adam steeped in gently, his voice calm but frim “That will not be necessary,” he said. Then, seeing the question froming on Sunny's face, he added, “we already know who he his."

Sunny closes the tablet and stood up. Before she reached the door, she turned back to them, “You can stay here as long as you need." she said gently.

"I can't believe it.” Alex said, shaking his head slowly. “I just...can't believe it.”. Adam placed a comforting hand on
Alex's back, gently rubbing in slow circles, trying to ground him.

All the possibilities of how the meeting might end, that was not what Adam expected.
He had alrady guessed  why Kelly would go so far as to fake the result. There was only one reason Alex flown across time zoons. His family name.
Adam was sure Alex would catch up eventually. He know that once Alex realized the truth, all the doubts and leftover emotions would fade.
Alex's phone started to vibrate. He pulled it out of his pocket, and both of them saw the caller ID :Kelly.
Adam glanced at him and saw every emotion written on his face. It was clear- Alex's heart was not in the right place.
"What are you planning to do?" Adam asked gently.
Alex let the call go to voicemail, "I don’t know." he said. "Honestly... I was planning to meet with her today, regardless what the results would be."
Adam raised an eyebrow.
Alex bit his lower lip. "For a while now I have felt that she is not the one for me. I just... had a hard time to accepting it."
He let out a dry chuckle. "You must be thrilled" he added quietly.
"I sould have listened to you from the beginning".
"It is not your fault," Adam said, trying to comfort him. "it seems like she had a this plan set up, whether you listened to me or not."
"Clearly." Alex muttered.
He looked at Adam, "I think it is time for us to go." he said, getting up. "I will drop you off at Ari's." 
"You don’t want my to come with you?" Adam asked, concerned.
"I think you are the last face she would want to see after I break up with her" Alex said as they walked out.   
"So i guess you will not be passing along my deepest regrets" Adam muttered, his voice full of sarcasm.