Chapter Four
Chris was finally out of his bedroom. He still felt the need to run back and hide, but the house was fairly empty since it was the middle of the morning, and it helped. What also helped was knowing that later today, he would see Drake. He didn’t know what they would do together, but they’d taken a massive step forward in their relationship the other day, and it felt like doing so had helped get Chris over whatever his problem had been.
It had been a lot to take in, and he’d broken down a little. Now that he’d taken time to wrap his mind around everything, his brain was finally making sense of it, and he wasn’t frightened anymore.
Well, not much, anyway.
Being a pride member was still intimidating. Chris didn’t know what he would do if he crossed paths with any of the pride members today. They knew who he was, and they’d welcomed his family into the pride, but he was a bit of a mystery to them, just like the pride was a mystery to him. He kind of wished he could fast forward and get to the point where he was comfortable, but that would take work, and he was the only one who could do that work.
He peeked into the kitchen, relieved to see it was empty. He scurried to the fridge, feeling like he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing even though he’d been told that everyone was welcome to eat whatever food they found in the communal areas of the house as long as they wrote it down on the grocery list. He could take whatever he wanted, so after checking what was inside, he grabbed some fruit.
He closed the fridge and turned, wondering if he should go back to his room or eat outside since, even though it was cold, it was a nice day. He froze at the sight of someone standing there, watching him.
“You scared me,” he said.
The man looked unapologetic. “I feel you deserve it.”
“Why?”
“Because of what you’ve been doing to my friend.”
Chris opened the containers of strawberries. They’d already been washed, so he popped one into his mouth as he tried to make sense of what the man was saying. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
“Why? Do you play with the heart of many guys?”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about. I’m not playing with anyone’s heart.”
“Are you sure? Because Drake’s been all over the place since he’s met you.”
Chris finally understood. This had to be one of Drake and Dennis’s friends. He knew there were four—five if he counted Dennis’s human friend Eddie—and they were close. The three who belonged to the pride wanted Drake to become a pride member, and Chris wasn’t sure if his presence with the pride helped that cause or complicated it. “I’m not playing with Drake,” he promised. They had a date later, and he was taking it seriously.
“What are you doing, then?”
Chris had no intention of spilling everything to a stranger. He didn’t even know the guy’s name, even though he had a vague idea who he was. “Trying to wrap my mind around losing my mother, my home, and finding my mate. I’m sorry if to you it looks like I’m taking too much time, but I need that time.”
The guy had the good taste of looking sorry. “Right. Dennis mentioned that you lost your mother, but I forgot.”
“Maybe you should try to remember all the information before you judge a guy you don’t know.”
“Only if you do the same with Drake.”
Chris didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
“Drake’s in love with love. He’s been trying to find someone for as long as I’ve known him. His main goal was to find his mate, of course, but he dated, and every time, it ended the same way.”
“I don’t particularly want to think about my mate dating other people. It was bad enough that I met him while he was on a date with another guy.”
The man flopped his hand. “Those guys don’t matter. Only you do, which you’d know if you’d talked to Drake.”
“I did.”
The man rolled his eyes. “Clearly, not long enough. What I was trying to say is that those guys all tried to change Drake. They kept telling him he was too much, and he made himself smaller to fit with them. Don’t do that to him. I know you’re his mate, but if you feel you can’t let him be himself, you need to let him go.”
Chris set the strawberries on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. He was feeling defensive, because even though he’d run away from Drake, it didn’t mean he was an asshole or that he had the intention of molding Drake into a man he wasn’t. “Like you said, those men don’t matter,” he pointed out. “They weren’t his mate. I am, and I want to make him happy.”
The man stared at him for a moment before grinning and sticking his hand out. “Jacob.”
“Obviously, you already know who I am.” Chris shook his hand before quickly stepping back.
“My best friend’s mate. Welcome to the pride, Chris.”
This felt like a kind of shovel talk but without any mention of the shovel. Chris had no doubt that Jacob would kick his ass if he ever dared make Drake think that he had to change. Chris kind of wanted to find all of Drake’s ex-boyfriends and kick their asses, so he got it. From what little he’d heard about them, they’d deserve it.
“I’m, uh, going to go,” he said, gesturing at the door.
He left the kitchen, ignoring the way Jacob laughed at him as he almost ran away. He wasn’t sure where he was going, but he continued rushing and turning corners until he was sure Jacob wasn’t following him to threaten him.
Dammit. He’d left the strawberries in the kitchen.
He looked around the hallway, relaxing when he recognized it. He might have spent a lot of time in his bedroom, but he was starting to recognize the various places in the house. He was by the library, and since he was here, he decided he might as well check it out. His grandfather loved the place. Maybe he was there, and he and Chris could spend time together.
Chris pushed open the door and walked in, only to freeze. He gaped in horror at the sight in front of him. “What are you doing?”
His grandfather jumped off the couch, but when the lady he’d been kissing tried to do the same, he shook his head at her and helped her to sit back down. “Christopher,” he began.
“Nope,” Chris said, shaking his head.
Chris’s grandfather glared at him. “Did you have a reason to interrupt us?”
“Of course I did. I didn’t want to watch you kissing someone.”
“I don’t see how it’s any of your business.”
“You’re my grandfather. Anything you do is my business.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Chris’s grandfather put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes at him. “Christopher,” he repeated. “I’m an adult. I don’t need your benediction or your authorization to kiss someone.”
Chris rubbed his face. “I know. That’s not what I was saying. I just didn’t expect it, all right?” Kyle had found his mate, and now their grandfather had a girlfriend. Jennifer had Annabelle, while Chris had—he had Drake.
Chris wasn’t alone. It was hard to remember sometimes, but he hoped it would get easier.
“This is Agatha,” his grandfather said. “She’s a dear friend of mine.”
Chris arched an eyebrow. “Just a friend?”
His grandfather’s smile turned soft and gooey, which made Chris look away because he didn’t want to see that .
“For now,” his grandfather confirmed.
Agatha sighed, and Chris had to resist the urge to run away screaming when he saw the mopey smile she was giving William.
“Well, I’m happy for you,” he told his grandpa.
“Are you sure? You don’t sound or look happy.”
“I was just thinking about how Kyle has his mate, and Jennifer has her friends, and I realized that I have someone, too.”
William nodded. “Your mate.”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I’m sorry I had to learn about your mate from your brother, but it’s okay. I understand that these past few weeks have been overwhelming for you, and you were trying to deal with all of it as best as you could. I was getting worried, though. I wasn’t sure you’d ever come out of your bedroom.”
“Well, here I am.” And Chris kind of wished he could go back to his bedroom. His one foray out in the pride house had led to him being given a talking-to by Jacob and walking in on his grandfather kissing his girlfriend. What was next? Kyle and Dennis having sex?
Chris shuddered in horror. He wouldn’t survive that.
* * * *
“I just talked to your mate,” Jacob announced.
Drake squinted at his phone. Having this video call with his friends on such a small screen wasn’t the best idea, but he needed their help.
He and Chris were going on a date. Chris had initiated it, and while Drake had been nervous after the way things had started between them, he hadn’t been able to say no. He hadn’t wanted to say no. He wanted to go on a date with Chris and talk to him for hours. He wanted them to look at the stars and make out at the back of a movie theater. He wanted them to be together and talk as if they were the only ones in the restaurant.
He wanted to spend time with his mate.
It looked like he was getting his wish, but he wanted to make a good impression, which was where this call came into play. “Aren’t we supposed to tell him how to dress?” Taylor asked.
“We can tell him while I also explain what happened with Chris,” Jacob answered. “And take off that shirt. Red is not your color.”
Drake looked down at himself. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“It might be your favorite, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t make you look washed out.”
Great. Now Drake wouldn’t want to wear his favorite shirt anymore. Apparently, it washed him out.
“Don’t listen to him,” Dennis said. “You look good, and if you want to wear that shirt, you should go for it.”
“Why am I in on this conversation again?” Eddie asked.
Drake didn’t know Eddie as well as Dennis did. He didn’t think Jacob and Taylor did, either. Eddie was closer to Dennis, which might be because he was human and didn’t live with the pride.
Taylor, Jacob, and Dennis had grown up together. Drake had moved to Green Hill only a few years ago, but they’d become fast friends after playing around in their shifted form for a bit. Eddie’s case was more complicated. He was close to Dennis, but Drake wasn’t sure he had anything in common with the guy. Still, he didn’t mind having him on this call.
Even though he didn’t know why he was there, either.
“We just have to find the perfect outfit,” Taylor said. “How about that blue shirt you wore this summer? You know, when you came over for the barbecue?”
“I couldn’t get the red wine out of it,” Drake said with a grimace. “I threw it away.”
“It would have made your eyes pop out,” Taylor complained.
“Well, it’s not an option, so let’s focus on the things I do have in my closet.”
Drake turned to face it. He and Chris weren’t doing anything weird for the date, which was a good thing because if they were, Drake would probably be freaking out even more. It was bad enough that he had no idea what to wear. He wanted to make a good impression, even though Chris was his mate and he was supposed to want him as he was.
“The guy’s your mate, right?” Eddie asked.
Drake squinted at his tiny face on his phone. “Yeah, he is.”
“Then does it matter what you wear? Aren’t you going to end up naked, anyway?”
Drake spluttered. “Not tonight. We just met, and we’re taking things slow.”
“But you already know you’re going to end up together.”
“It doesn’t mean we have to rush into things.” Especially since Chris was new in town. It was already hard enough for him to deal with everything.
“I get that, and I get wanting to look good for your mate, but I feel you’re worrying a bit too much. I’m pretty sure your guy would like you even if you wore a garbage bag over your head. I mean, I understand being nervous for a first date or whatever, but again, if he’s your mate, you already know you’ll end up together eventually. Maybe try to relax and think about that? You don’t have to impress him or anything. He’s already yours.”
It was true, but it didn’t help. Drake believed that Fate paired up mates because they were perfect for each other, which meant he had to be perfect for Chris, but he didn’t feel like he was. He’d never been perfect for anyone else. Everyone always had a problem with him—he talked too much, he was too clingy, he was too much in general. He’d been dumped several times because of that, and while he didn’t think Chris was going to leave him anytime soon, he wasn’t willing to risk it.
Hence the need to look good.
“He’s not wrong,” Dennis pointed out. “You don’t know each other well, but he’s yours, and you’re his. You just have to relax and be yourself.”
Drake had already decided he couldn’t be. Being himself meant sending Chris running, and that was one thing he couldn’t do. If he had to tone it down and act like a shadow of himself, he’d do it. It would probably hurt once Chris realized what was going on, but hopefully, he’d already have fallen in love with Drake by the time that happened.
“Just so you know, Chris just left the house,” Dennis announced. “Kyle says he looked nice.”
Drake glanced down at himself. He’d taken off the red shirt and had put on a green one. This meant no more changing for him, so he grabbed a sweater and pulled it on over the shirt. It was getting cold, and he didn’t want to go through this date with chattering teeth.
“You look good,” Taylor declared.
There were murmurs of assent from the others, but Drake ignored them as he tried to smooth down his hair.
“Don’t worry too much,” Dennis said in a gentle voice. “You might have had a rocky start, but you’re not the only ones. Just think about me and Kyle. If we managed to get over the mess Kyle made, you can do this.”
Drake prayed he was right. He wanted to head out after hanging up, but Chris wasn’t here yet, so instead, he started pacing. It wouldn’t take long for Chris to arrive. Nothing was very far in Green Hill.
When he heard the knock, he rushed to his front door. His foot caught on a shoe he’d abandoned by the door, and he fell forward, slamming against the wall.
“Drake? Everything okay?” Chris asked from outside.
Drake groaned and buried his face in his hands. Why was he like this? Why was he so clumsy and messed up? Couldn’t he be smooth and suave instead? That was what he needed to be to get Chris to give him a chance, dammit.
He opened the door, doing his best not to look Chris in the eyes. “I’m fine. Just let me grab my jacket, and I’ll be ready to go.”
Chris nodded slowly. He was staring at Drake as if trying to check if he’d hurt himself, so Drake gave him a wide smile and turned.
Only to stumble on the shoe again.
He swore under his breath and kicked it to the side, grabbed his jacket, wallet, and everything else, and stepped out. He closed his apartment door, wrinkling his nose at the heavy scent of garlic in the air. Someone in the building was cooking.
He’d been so nervous at the thought of going on a date with Chris that he’d barely eaten today. His stomach chose that moment to remind him of that. It growled loudly enough that Chris cocked his head, and Drake wanted the floor to swallow him.
“Sorry about that,” he said.
“Not a problem. If you’re that hungry, we should probably move faster. You’ll feel better once you eat something.”
“Oh, I don’t feel bad.”
“You don’t? Because that sounded like you’re starving.”
“I’m just a bit hungry.”
Chris didn’t look convinced, but he nodded. When a hand landed on Drake’s back, he jerked forward and immediately regretted it because it caused Chris to drop his hand. Drake wanted Chris to touch him again, but he couldn’t ask, so instead, he gave him a tight smile and made a beeline for the elevator.
So far, their first date wasn’t going great.
“What did you do today?” Chris asked.
“Not much. I went to work, cleaned the house, and got ready for our date.”
“Did you freak out like I did?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m still freaking out, actually,” Drake said before he remembered he shouldn’t be himself and blurt out everything he was feeling to Chris.
This date was going to be a disaster, wasn’t it?
* * * *
Chris could tell that Drake regretted blurting that out, but he didn’t mind. They were mates, which meant they weren’t playing games. They should be telling each other how they felt, and they shouldn’t be ashamed of it.
“You don’t have to freak out,” he gently said as they stepped into the elevator. “It’s just me.”
Drake snorted, then visibly curled in on himself as if he expected Chris to be angry at his reaction. He was all over the place, and Chris wasn’t sure what was happening, but being angry was the last thing on his mind.
“How am I not supposed to freak out? I feel that way because you’re my mate, not in spite of it.”
“Because there’s so much riding on this relationship, right?” Chris offered. “We’re supposed to love each other’s life. We don’t know that yet, though. I mean, I like you, but I can’t say it’s love yet. It will be, eventually. That’s all that matters in the end.”
Drake’s eyes were wide. He stared at Chris, and Chris wished he could read his mind, because he didn’t understand him. Drake had to be the most confusing person he’d ever met, and he loved it. He loved the feeling of being kept on his toes, yet at the same time, he knew that Drake would never do anything to hurt him intentionally. He wasn’t quite ready to hand his heart over to Drake, but he felt it would be a possibility somewhere down the road, and he was ready for it.
Well, mostly.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Drake’s attention snapped to that, and he rushed out as if he couldn’t wait to get away from Chris. His foot caught on something, and he stumbled forward.
Chris managed to grab him around the waist and hauled him back in. Drake’s body collided with his, momentarily knocking the breath out of him. His back hit the elevator wall, and for a second, both he and Drake fell silent and still.
“Sorry,” Drake muttered.
“Not a problem, but you should watch where you put your feet.”
Drake mumbled something before carefully leaving the elevator. Chris was behind him, watching him. He couldn’t make sense of this. He was sure this wasn’t the way Drake behaved when he was with his friends or with people he felt comfortable with. It might be because he didn’t know how Chris would react to his personality and wasn’t willing to risk it. Chris wanted to tell him he didn’t have to worry about that, and he could.
“You know, I really like you,” he said as he followed Drake out of the building.
Drake stumbled again, but this time, he didn’t need Chris’s help to stay on his feet. “You really do?”
“Yeah. I like that you always have something to say. I like that you’re never silent.” Because silence meant too much time to obsess over his thoughts, and that wasn’t something Chris wanted to do. He’d have to deal with all of that eventually, but not right now. Not during his first date with his mate.
“You don’t want me to stop talking so much?”
“Why would I want that? You being a chatterbox is part of your charm, and I am charmed.”
Drake’s cheeks flushed. “I’m charmed, too.”
“Then let’s go eat something and charm each other.” Chris offered Drake his hand. For a second, Drake stared at it as if it might bite him.
Chris wasn’t into biting, but he wouldn’t be against pinching if they were closer.
Drake finally took Chris’s hand, and Chris linked their fingers together. He pulled Drake toward his car.
“Dennis recommended this place,” he explained as he drove them to the restaurant. “He said it’s nice but not too nice, if you know what I mean.”
“You mean the kind of place where I’ll try hard not to laugh because everyone would stare at me if I did?”
“Yes. I don’t like that kind of place, either.”
Drake bounced a bit in his seat. “Once I went to a place like that with my parents, and there was this lady with red lipstick and black sunglasses. I mean, she had on the sunglasses inside, like an asshole. Anyway, she was kind of weird, but she wasn’t the problem. The problem was her Chihuahua.”
Chris smiled as he listened to Drake babble about the Chihuahua and how it had attacked him, which had made him turn into his aardwolf just before they were taken to their table.
“No one saw me shifting, and my father quickly bundled up my clothes and hid them under his jacket. He looked pregnant, but it was kind of a lumpy pregnant belly. Anyway, when the waitress saw him, she did a double take.”
Chris grinned. The way Drake had of telling the story was so vivid that it felt like he was there. “She didn’t realize that he hadn’t looked pregnant before?” And that he was a guy?
“I think she probably did but didn’t want to say anything about it. Besides, she got immediately distracted by me. I don’t know if you looked up what kind of shifter I am, but we don’t exactly look like dogs.”
They didn’t. In fact, aardwolves looked like tiny hyenas. “So she didn’t think you were a dog.”
“It was clear she didn’t know what to make of me, and she kept looking between me and my father as if trying to understand what to do first. Eventually, she ignored my father and told my mother that animals weren’t allowed in the restaurant.”
“What about the Chihuahua?”
“Apparently, he was a service animal, and the waitress couldn’t do anything about him, even though he was eating straight from a plate.” Drake shuddered dramatically. “I know they wash all those dishes and everything, but can you imagine eating on that plate once the Chihuahua was done with it?”
“I don’t think I would’ve eaten in that restaurant, to be honest.”
“We didn’t, either, but that’s because my mother made a scene. She pointed out the Chihuahua couldn’t be a service animal, and she wasn’t wrong, but then I started crying, and let me tell you, when I’m in that form, it’s an odd sound. The waitress freaked out and thought I was attacking her, so she ran away. My parents and I left the place without saying anything else.”
“At least you didn’t have to eat off the Chihuahua’s plate.”
Drake laughed. “I suppose that’s a relief.” His expression did something complicated, and from one second to the next, it was as if he shut down. His smile vanished, and his body tensed as he straightened his back. “Sorry about that.”
Chris frowned. “Sorry about what?”
“You probably don’t want to hear about my parents and a bad experience we had when I was a kid. We didn’t even eat there.”
Chris reached for Drake’s hand and squeezed quickly before returning his to the steering wheel. “I want to hear your childhood stories. I want to know everything about you, including the time you were a kid and shifted in the middle of a restaurant. You don’t have to hide things from me, Drake. You certainly don’t have to hide yourself.”
Drake shrugged. “I’m not.”
But Chris could see that he very much was. It was as if every time he relaxed and allowed himself to laugh and chat, he realized what he was doing and shut it down all over again. It was disconcerting, especially because Chris really liked the man he’d gotten to know during their past conversations.
They’d started calling each other every day after Drake had visited Chris. Drake had been there for him when he tried to force himself to finally leave his bedroom, and it was in part thanks to him that they were here tonight.
Drake had helped Chris in ways he probably didn’t realize, and Chris wanted to return the favor. No matter how many times he told Drake to be himself, Drake couldn’t seem to bring himself to do so, at least not permanently. He was still trying to show Chris an image he didn’t fit in, which meant there had to be something deeper behind that.
And Chris was going to find out what that something was. He doubted Drake would tell him, so it was a good thing that he knew Drake’s friends. Hell, one of them was his brother-in-law, and Kyle and Dennis would do anything they could to help Drake.
If the end of the date went the way the start of it had, Chris would try to dig deeper. In the meantime, maybe giving Drake some space to find his footing would help.
* * * *
Drake was making a mess. He’d promised himself he’d be careful during the date, but he was a disaster, and he didn’t know how to stop. Every time he tried to be serious and calm, he failed. His real self ended up leaking out, and he was too scared to look at Chris and find out what he thought of it.
He was relieved when Chris finally parked, and he almost dropped to his knees to kiss the ground once he was out of the car. Instead, he sucked in a breath, squared his shoulders, and plastered a smile on his face.
Chris walked around the car to join him and frowned. “Are you all right?”
The smile almost fell, but Drake managed to keep it up. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. You look a bit weird. If you’re not feeling well, I can take you home.”
Drake had tried to appear calm, and instead he’d ended up looking constipated. “I’m fine. We can get something to eat.”
Chris’s smile turned easy again. “Great, because I’m starving.”
He took Drake’s hand again, and Drake allowed himself to be guided inside the restaurant. He tried not to think about that time with his parents and the Chihuahua, but it was hard, even though the place was completely different. Why had he thought it was a good idea to tell Chris that story again?
He didn’t understand how Chris could appear so relaxed. It was as if nothing Drake was doing bothered him. If he’d been any of Drake’s exes, he’d never have walked into the restaurant, let alone sat down with Drake to have a meal.
“I’ll be right with you with your drinks,” the waitress said.
Chris smiled at her before turning to Drake. Drake opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, but he was interrupted.
He wished he’d had the opportunity to say that stupid thing because it would have been better than what was actually happening.
“I see you moved on fast,” Karl said as he stopped next to their table.
Drake blinked at him because what ? “Moved on? From what?”
“From me.” Karl looked from Drake to Chris. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised since you dumped me for him right in front of me.”
“I didn’t dump you. We were never together.”
“What would you call our coffee date?”
“A first date.” What the fuck was happening? What was Karl doing?
“But we had a future together. I know you felt it.” Karl leaned closer to Drake. “Is he forcing you to do this? Because if he is, I can help you. Just tell me, and I’ll whisk you out of the restaurant and away from him. I’ll keep you safe.”
Drake wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Maybe even to laugh—did Karl really think he could defend Drake from Chris? Drake would pay to see that. Hell, he might get to see it without paying, given the way Chris was glaring at Karl.
“I’m not forcing him to do anything,” Chris said with a remarkably calm voice.
Drake felt like he might snap, and he hadn’t just been accused of abusing his mate.
“That’s what you’d say, isn’t it? But after what happened at the coffee shop, I think it’s clear that you are.”
“He’s not doing anything,” Drake argued. “You’re the one making a scene.” People were starting to look their way, and Drake wanted nothing more than to run out of this place. He could never come back after the scene Karl was making.
“Shouldn’t you go back to whoever you’re here with?” Chris asked. He sounded angry now, but he was still under control.
“I’m not leaving without Drake. I won’t allow you to hurt him any longer,” Karl declared, looking around as if he expected the people in the restaurant to agree with him.
Drake got to his feet, wishing people would stop staring at him. “I’m going to go,” he said. “I’m really sorry about this, Chris.”
Chris caught Drake’s hand and pulled him back down. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“But it’s a disaster.”
“I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but even if it was, it’s not your fault. Karl is doing everything on his own.”
“Don’t ignore me,” Karl demanded.
But that was what Chris did. He looked around for the waitress, waving her down when he saw her. She looked like she’d rather be anywhere but here, but this was her job, so she came.
“I’m sorry, but this man is bothering us. Is there anything you can do about it?” he asked.
Her gaze bounced from Drake to Chris before stopping on Drake. “Is everyone all right?”
Drake wanted to die. She was seriously asking him if he was okay. Part of him thought it was sweet that she was ready to stand up for a man she didn’t know if he was being abused, but another part of him was incredibly embarrassed.
“I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “If it wasn’t for my disastrous blind date accusing my mate of hurting me.”
The waitress paled. “Oh. I’ll get the manager.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
“I’ll protect you,” Karl insisted.
Drake wanted to smack him. “Please, protect me from you .”
Karl blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You’re embarrassing me. My mate isn’t abusing me. He’s not hurting me, and he’s not forcing me to do anything. I’m here with him because I want to be and because he’s my mate.”
Had there ever been a worst first date? Drake couldn’t imagine so, and it could still get worse. Maybe he was about to suffocate with a piece of bread or something, and someone would have to perform a tracheotomy on him. At this point, he’d rather get that tracheotomy than continue talking to Karl.
Thankfully, the waitress returned with the manager. Since Karl was accusing Chris of being controlling, Drake took it upon himself to explain the situation. He told the man that he and Karl had gone on one date, and Karl hadn’t taken it well when Drake had met his mate.
“Of course. I apologize,” the manager said before turning to Karl. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave, sir.”
“I’ll sue you.” Karl didn’t seem to care much about Drake anymore. He’d finally realized that he’d gotten everyone’s attention, and not in a good way.
“Feel free to do whatever you want as long as you leave,” the manager said.
Drake stayed tense until Karl finally turned away. He wanted to cry. Would that help? Or would it make the date even worse?
“I’m really sorry about this,” the manager said as he turned toward Drake and Chris. “I’ll comp your meal.”
“Could we have it as take-out?” Chris asked. “I think my mate needs to get out of here.”
“Of course..”
Drake stared at his hands on top of the table. He was playing with his napkin, which was better than screaming.
“Hey,” Chris said. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“I’m such a disaster. I can’t believe Karl, of all people, decided to make a scene. I can never show my face here again.”
“Then we’ll get take-out. You need to relax, Drake. I don’t think anyone holds you responsible for what happened. It was clear that Karl was doing everything by himself, and people heard you saying I was your mate. I guarantee you that they have a worse opinion of Karl than of you.”
Drake wasn’t sure how that was possible, but he didn’t think telling Chris would work, so he pressed his lips together. He stayed silent until the manager returned with boxes, and once they had their food, he almost ran out of the restaurant.
The problem was that he couldn’t relax even once they’d left. Chris had seen all of this. He’d been a part of it. It would make sense for him to decide he wanted nothing to do with any of this, and Drake wouldn’t even blame him.
He turned to Chris, an apology on his lips, ready to face whatever Chris was about to throw at him. He didn’t get a word out because Chris was smiling at him in a soft way that appeared fond rather than horrified. “How about we sit on a bench and eat while looking at the stars? It’s cold, but not that cold. As long as we hurry, I think we can avoid frostbite.”
Drake tilted his head up. The stars were beautiful.
But not as beautiful as his mate.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “Let’s look at the stars together.”