Chapter Seven
Sothea
He was gone forever. Or it felt like it.
Before video calls and the internet, how did mates ever spend time apart?
It was a business trip, and he might have others in future; in fact, it seemed likely.
So it was something I should be prepared for.
But as we texted and chatted, we got to know one another in a way that might have been harder while being together. But I missed seeing him, scenting him.
Seemed as if my dads and my brother were right.
Once a person met their mate, everything changed.
I left the shop as early as I could, went upstairs to shower and change into clean clothes.
No matter how careful I was, being in the ink business could be messy, and somehow I managed to get splashes around my apron and under my gloves. And my shoes. They were the worst.
Altan was a human, a fact I reminded myself of often, since it seemed as if he was no different than me. But he had not met my bear yet and in all our conversations, that topic had not come up. Why would it? Most humans were unlikely to wonder if I shared my life with a bear or some other animal.
That time would come. For now, I was very excited to see him in person again and thrilled that he’d agreed to get together on the very night of his return.
I drove to his apartment, looking forward to taking him to a nice restaurant for a good meal.
I’d always imagined spoiling my mate, and that dream was about to come true.
But when he came to the door, and I saw the bags under his eyes, all plans changed. My bear chuffed in concern, and I caught the omega giving me an odd look. I probably had the same expression because nobody had ever noticed his fussing inside me. Or if they had, they never commented.
But my bear and I both were not worried about their meeting at this point. “You look exhausted. I kept you up talking late every night of your trip.”
“That’s not it. That was the best part of the whole thing. It was the meetings all day that wiped me out. The only thing that kept me going was our chats. I think I told you this wasn’t supposed to be my trip and while I tried to prepare, I didn’t have some of the information I should have.”
“You’re tired.”
“I am.” He sagged, resting against the doorframe. “But I’m very glad to see you.”
“I think we should put this off until you’ve had a couple of good nights’ sleep. And I promise not to keep you talking into the wee small hours.”
“No. Please don’t cancel. I’ve been looking forward to our evening out. I just need a cup of coffee to wake me up.”
It wasn’t flattering that he needed caffeine to stay awake while with me, was what a less compassionate alpha might have said.
Heaven knew I didn’t want to leave either, but he was in no shape to be out on the town.
So an alternative was called for. “How about if I cancel the reservations, but we spend an evening in? I’ll run and get some takeout, and we can just veg on your sofa and stuff ourselves.
If that sounds like something you might like to do. ”
“You’d do that?” He yawned. “That sounds so great. You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” I took him by the shoulders and turned him around, facing the inside of the house. “You go in and have a seat, and I’ll be back in a few minutes. Anything in particular you like?”
“Anything. There’s a hamburger stand on the corner, but I am not sure they are open tonight.”
They weren’t. And I wanted something better for him, anyway.
He’d been eating a lot of junky food, and it was time he had a real meal.
With vegetables. I remembered passing a Thai place on the way.
A quick text confirmed he liked the cuisine, so I pulled up in front and went in and bought way too much food.
Altan confirmed the fact when I carried in the four bags. “What did you do?” He hadn’t answered the door for a full minute, which, combined with his hair standing on end, made me think he’d maybe taken a catnap while I was gone.
Good.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I bought most of the menu. Roast chicken, soup, noodle dishes, veggies…and I expect you to eat most of it.”
“I am starving. Come to the table and lay it all out before I bite your arm or something.”
I followed him in to the table, noticing a cat lying under it. “This must be Bunny Foo-Foo, who I have heard so much about.” Crouching, I held out my hand. “Come and meet me, kitty.”
Not a big cat person, preferring dogs, I felt vindicated in my prejudice when the fluff ball stalked away, tail in the air. However, I was also determined to make her love me. “I bet she was glad to be home.”
He snorted. “She’s not speaking to me either. But she’ll come around. Let’s eat!”
We laid out all the different boxes then Altan went into the kitchen and returned with pasta bowls and silverware. Circling the table, we piled our bowls with as much as they would hold before retiring to the living room and sitting on the sofa.
“Want to watch a movie?” he asked.
“If you’d like to.”
He covered another yawn. “What shall I put on? I don’t think I’m up for any real conversation tonight.”
“Just eat, Altan, and build up your strength. I’m here in case you need anything. I’ll pour us some water, shall I?”
“Coffee, I think,” he said. “To wake me up.”
“Oh, no you don’t. You’re going to have your dinner and relax. Caffeine might affect your sleep. When we were talking all those nights, you weren’t drinking coffee, were you?”
He flushed. Adorably. “I was awfully tired, and I didn’t want to fall asleep.”
“No wonder, you’re so exhausted. I’ll get the water.”
I returned to find him nodding off. “Finish your dinner, Altan. Then you can go right to bed.”
“What about our movie? It’s relaxing.”
“All right.” I helped him select a movie and then we settled in to eat. By the time his bowl was almost empty, his eyes were closed and head back, sound asleep.
Standing, I gathered the bowls and carried them to the kitchen to load them in the dishwasher. Then I combined the remaining food into as few cartons as possible and set them in the refrigerator. He’d get a couple more meals out of those.
Returning to the living room, I wanted to carry Altan to bed, but he was sleeping so peacefully, I pulled the blanket off the back of the sofa and tucked it over him. Leaving a note, I drove away, wishing I could stay and hold him all night.