Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Clay
Charlie had messaged me, but it was Duncan’s messages that really interested me.
I liked my brother-in-law well enough. Duncan was…
well, if things went how I hoped, he was my future.
He was going to be my forever love, and we would eventually have a family like Silver and Charlie.
I was surprised when the first message came in, though, because I didn’t have his number saved in my phone.
Unknown Number: Hey Clay. Charlie gave me your number. Sorry I sort of clammed up earlier. I guess you could say I’m a bit awkward. Umm…I’m not sure what to do or say. But I wanted to say hi and message you.
Unknown Number: Oh yeah. This is Duncan by the way. Just so you know.
I smiled at my phone. I’d figured out it was him during the first message.
I quickly added him to a new contact, and although I had hoped I would eventually get to message him through the app, I had no issues with him messaging me this way.
I needed to send Charlie not only a thank-you message but also some sort of gift. Because…yeah.
Me: Hi Duncan. It’s great to hear from you. There’s no need to feel awkward. I’m happy to spend time just messaging each other and getting to know one another. I’m open to whatever you’re up for. We’ll take all of this at your pace.
I hit Send and waited. The last thing I wanted was to scare him off.
I wanted a chance to get to know Duncan.
I’d read the match score, and after the reaction my gorilla had to the adorable man, I had no doubt that he was my mate.
If I had to convince him of the same thing, I would do whatever I could in order to do so.
I was pleasantly surprised when I didn’t have to wait but a couple of minutes for a reply from Duncan.
Duncan: I work a lot, but my next night off is Thursday. Then next Sunday.
I stared at the phone for a moment, trying to remember if I could recall the hours for the restaurant at the zoo. I didn’t think it was open that late. The zoo closed at seven, and as far as I knew, the restaurant closed at the same time. When I couldn’t remember, I decided to message Charlie.
Me: When does the restaurant at the zoo close? Duncan is talking about working nights. Is it open late?
Charlie’s response came quickly, almost as if he was sitting with his phone close by.
Charlie: Under the Sea closes with the zoo.
So seven S-TH and eight F and S. Duncan works a second job at some bar.
I think he waits tables there? I guess delivers drinks?
You need to talk to him. He lives with three other guys and two of them are asses.
The third is ok but still not great. He’s saving to get his own place, but places are super expensive. Talk to him though.
I didn’t like the sound of that. Three roommates?
I had four brothers, but we were brothers, and despite how we acted at times, we were all close.
My parents were amazing, even if Ma got a bit too eager for mates and grandkids.
I got it. I didn’t agree with it, but I did understand why.
Two of us were over forty, and none of us was even looking for a mate.
Me: Thanks Charlie. I’ll message him.
I closed the message thread with Charlie and opened the one with Duncan again.
Me: Hey again. I work some weekends, but mostly only during the week. I’m home by six most evenings, but there is the occasional late night at the office. I’m certainly flexible with working around your schedule.
I sent it and immediately started another message.
Me: Do you work a lot of late nights? I thought the restaurant at the zoo closed with the zoo?
I sent that one and reached for the water I’d grabbed after I pulled on my shorts. It didn’t take long for Duncan to respond, and I absolutely didn’t care for his reply.
Duncan: Yeah, it does. But I work at Sticky Floors Tavern in the evenings until close most nights. I’m not scheduled on Thursdays or Sundays there. Sometimes I’ll pick up Sunday, but not if I have other plans.
I carefully and purposely set my phone on the arm of the couch.
I did not need to destroy it because my gorilla didn’t like the thought of our mate delivering drinks at a dive bar that was well-known for being the center of not good things.
The police were called there almost nightly, and he was there. All the time.
I took several calming breaths, then messaged my brother when I knew I had enough control over my gorilla and I wouldn’t break my phone. It hadn’t done anything except relay the message.
Me: How do I get Duncan to quit his job at Sticky Floors without seeming like a controlling asshole? I seriously need help with this, Silver. Any advice would be so appreciated.
I sent that message off and set the phone back down before I got up and went to the other room.
A little bit of walking would do me good, and I needed to figure out how to approach things with Duncan without pushing him away.
Already, I was ready to tell him he needed to move in with me.
I had a four-bedroom house. There were three spare rooms upstairs that he could choose from.
Why were they all set up as bedrooms? Because my brothers and I were close, and it wasn’t uncommon for us to crash at each other’s places after a night out.
It took longer for Silver to respond than anyone else, and Duncan had sent me another message before my brother did.
Duncan: Umm…we could meet up on Thursday. I work until seven though. I can meet you somewhere. Just don’t pick anywhere too expensive. I don’t get paid until Friday and I had to pay my portion of rent and bills last pay.
I didn’t want to be that person. I truly didn’t.
I know I was going to mess up though, and that wasn’t what I wanted.
He was working two jobs, had three roommates, and still had little funds, it seemed.
Something wasn’t adding up. Did he have a gambling problem?
Lots of student loans? Expensive car payment? How old was he?
I opened the Mate Match app and looked at Duncan’s profile. He was twenty-five. So I assumed that meant he was either in grad school or he’d already graduated. Occupation: waiter. Shifter: yes. Presentation: omega. Species: shifter-red panda.
That caught my attention. A red panda. I already knew that because Charlie had mentioned Duncan more than once. Silver had as well. He’d been the waiter for their blind date and had said he seemed nice enough.
Duncan: I can ask for a night off or see if I can switch with someone else if Thursday or Sunday don’t work for you.
I took a deep breath. Thankfully, Silver had replied, and I picked up the phone to read my brother’s message.
Silver: You’re going to sound controlling if you start with that.
But Charlie said that what he knows of Duncan is that he’s a good guy but has had shit luck when it comes to life.
He drives a really old car, lives with crappy roommates, and is often very tired looking.
He doesn’t know why he seems so broke, other than everything is super expensive.
Silver: You could try and start by asking if he’d move in. You have lots of room, and it would give you guys a chance to really get to know one another.
Me: Man, how do you just ask your probable mate to move in before you’ve even had a date? Seriously. That’s your advice?
I rolled my eyes and went back to Duncan’s message thread.
Me: Any day that you have free works. I know me and my gorilla though and waiting until Thursday is going to be difficult. Maybe we could meet up for a quick lunch date? You have a lunch break at the restaurant, no?
I sent that message and hoped that I didn’t sound too pushy.
I wasn’t being dishonest though. My gorilla, although he wouldn’t be controlling, he was definitely going to be possessive.
Especially if I got a chance to get close enough to Duncan and confirm that he was my mate.
I smiled when another message came from Duncan.
Duncan: I understand that. I remember Charlie when he and Silver first got together. I’m free tonight, but that’s understandable if you can’t make it because it’s such short notice. My roommates are having a party, and I was going to find somewhere else to go anyway.
I was up and off the couch in about two seconds. I hurried over to the bedroom, and after pushing off my shorts, I went into the closet and grabbed a pair of clean jeans and a polo. I was dressed and ready to go in under five minutes. Maybe a bit desperate? Possibly.
Me: I’m leaving now. Just tell me where and I’ll meet you anywhere. Do you want to go out to eat? My treat. No strings. Just somewhere that we can talk and get to know one another a bit would be perfect for me.
Of course, I was going to ask any and all questions I could about his living situation because I didn’t understand the three-roommates situation.
Also, why was he looking for somewhere to go?
I guess not wanting to be around when your roommates were having a party was understandable. But how long? When was he going home?
My phone vibrating in my pocket had me pulling it out and reading the message from Duncan before I started the truck.
Duncan: I’m at Burgers N Shakes. I did have their two for $4.99 deal. But we can meet anywhere really.
I cringed a bit. I wasn’t a huge fan of Burgers N Shakes, but even I knew their burgers were slider-sized.
I was piecing things together; in part, it went with the position at Silverback Securities.
My mate didn’t have a whole lot of funds.
I’d take him to the diner for a nicer meal, but nothing too fancy at first. Something that made him feel comfortable.
Me: Do you know where the diner is over on 3rd St? We could meet there? Or I could come pick you up where you’re at.
I didn’t care which he chose, but I did want to see him. If he wanted me to pick him up, I was more than happy to do so.