“No, he’s okay. I just didn’t expect him.” She studied me her jaw hard as if she didn’t believe me, “Seriously, it was just a shock. He hasn’t done anything to hurt me, I swear.” Not yet at least, I sighed internally.
The rest of the shift I was on edge, constantly looking toward the door hoping that he wouldn’t come back, or maybe I was hoping he did.
It was hard to concentrate but I made it through. Cali and I counted our tips after our shift and I pocketed them making a note to open a bank account this week while my parents were still here.
“Look Mama look!” Emmett ran out of his room minutes after we got home. He pulled my hand and I followed him to where my parents were.
There was a small bed that matched a bedside table in the middle of the room that smelled like fresh pain.
I looked around the small space, the stark white walls were now a dark blue.
My dad smiled at me crossing his arms, “It still needs to dry a bit. Tomorrow I’ll hang the curtains. He chose the blue, I know it’s a bit dark but,” He shrugged.
“And look!” Emmett shouted tugging on my arm bringing my attention to a box that had a picture of a constellation lamp, “Grandma said that it makes stars on the ceiling.”
“Thank you,” I whispered to them, emotions clogged my throat.
Knowing that he had a space that he loved all to himself made this move so much easier. I would get him a few books and toys this week if I made enough.
“It’s perfect,” I let Emmett lead me around the small space, and my parents left the room to give us space, “You chose this color?”
He nodded with a wide smile, “Grandpa let me look at all the paint papers, chips,” He furrowed his brows.
“Paint samples?” I suggested.
“Yes! The paint samples on little papers. I chose this one,” He looked so proud.
“It is perfect, tomorrow we can get it all set up,” I promised, “We can have a sleepover on the couch tonight while it dries. How does that sound?” I ruffled his hair.
We sat around the kitchen table that they got today promising to find me a bed and table for my room before they left. I didn’t want to think about the fact they were leaving at the end of the week but I would be forever grateful for their help. I don’t know how long this would have taken me to get all this furniture, or how I would have even gotten it home.
They asked about my day but I couldn’t bring them to tell me that I met my second-chance mate. Saying it out loud felt too real and I didn’t know how to feel about it other than slightly angry and confused.
I laid on the couch with Emmett in my arms and for the first time since we moved here I didn’t fall asleep from exhaustion. Thoughts swirled through my mind but no matter how long I lay there I couldn’t make sense of them.
“You good?” Cali asked when I must have stopped talking when we neared the diner, I nodded but I knew she wasn’t convinced. I knew she wasn’t going to let it go.
I was determined to have a calmer shift than yesterday, no matter what fate threw at me. I set about getting my section ready, the counter again, wiping it down, making coffee, and folding napkins to prepare for the lunch rush even if it was a few hours away.
I almost lost myself in the work until I felt my body tense before I even smelled his scent or saw him. I f.orced myself to not run, I wasn’t even sure if I could with my body locking up.
I didn’t notice the other patrons or servers this time but focused on him, actually letting myself look at him for the first time.
He had dark hair, black, that matched his immaculately trimmed beard. His dark features made his churning blue eyes a stark contrast.
He seemed to be someone that commanded respect, he had an authority around him that I couldn’t describe.
He walked towards me without pausing, his eyes never straying from mine until he sat across from me, his face almost level to mine.
“Coffee,” He more said than asked, I raised an eyebrow at him, “Please,” He added and I turned to grab a mug and poured him a cup from a fresh pot sliding it back to him.
“Cream or sugar?” I asked and he shook his head.
“You’re going to want something, the coffee is c.rap,” I added honestly, a shadow of a smile crossed his features but it was gone before I could really be sure.
“Some cream then,” I waited, “Please,” He added.
I nodded and grabbed him some. The normal conversation was so strange to have. The air seemed to charge between us, every part of me was drawn to him. I wondered if he felt the bond the same way or if this was a fluke.
He didn’t seem to.
“Thanks,” He took it from me, his fingers brushing mine and I pulled them back at the jolt. His eyes went to where my fingers had touched his. He must have felt it too.
I nodded thankfully another customer sat at the other end of the counter and I went to help them. The sense of awareness of him didn’t leave me no matter that I was physically further away.
I walked back to where he sat, he looked up before I even got there, seeming to sense me too.
“Can I get you anything else?” I asked, hoping my voice sounded even.
“No,” He shook his head, “No thanks,” He added and I smiled.
“Okay then,” I turned.
“Wait,” His voice seemed gravelly in a way that made my stomach dip.
I turned back to him slowly. He took a breath his brows bunched and then his face went back to the cool neutrality I’m sure he wore often.
“Yes?” I asked.
“You’re my mate,” He lowered his voice, there was no question in his statement.
I nodded slowly, closing the space between us so no one would overhear, his breath seemed to catch in his throat. “You’re my second chance,” I admitted and his eyes widened slightly before realization seemed to settle in.
He nodded once.
“I don’t know how to feel about this. I wasn’t even looking for anything, I didn’t know this was even a possibility for me,” I needed to get straight to the point, “Do you even want a mate?” I asked, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.
His face changed in a way that was imperceptible and I wondered what he was thinking.
“You don’t?” He finally asked me.
I swallowed. It didn’t escape me that he didn’t answer my question.
“I’m not sure anymore. I just got out of something, I feel like I need some time to be alone..” He blinked once.
“I understand.” I studied him but his face gave nothing away, “Can I take you out on a date?” He asked.
That shocked me, I wasn’t expecting that to be the next thing out of his mouth.
“I said I needed time to be alone,” I gave him a half smile, “That’s not being alone.”
He shrugged, “You didn’t answer the question.”
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