8. Colton
Chapter 8
Colton
The night had dragged on, every order, every table wiped down, every lingering customer feeling like an obstacle between me and what I really wanted to be doing—having coffee with Remy.
It wasn’t even officially a date. Not really. But I liked to think it was. And I hadn’t been this keyed up about something in a long time.
I wiped my hands on a towel, glancing at the clock. Ten minutes left. My reflection caught my eye in the stainless steel of the kitchen equipment.
Before I could think better of it, I ran a hand through my hair, smoothing it down, then messing it up just enough to make it look effortless.
A low whistle made me freeze.
“Who’re you fixing yourself up for?”
I turned to find Jesse leaning against the counter, arms crossed, an eyebrow arched in pure amusement.
“Go away,” I muttered, tossing the towel at him.
He dodged it with ease, grinning.
“That bad, huh? Wait—” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “It’s Remy, isn’t it?”
I groaned. “We’re just getting coffee.”
“Coffee? This late?” Jesse teased.
I hesitated, then shrugged, rubbing the back of my neck.
“I’d really like to take him on a real date. But…” I sighed. “I don’t think he’s ready. Coffee seems safe.”
Jesse watched me for a beat, and I braced myself for the inevitable teasing. But to my surprise, he just nodded.
“I think Remy’s a great guy,” he said. “I hope it works out.”
That… wasn’t what I expected. I stared at him, caught off guard.
“Thanks,” I said after a beat, my voice quieter than I intended.
Jesse smirked, clapping me on the shoulder as he walked past. “Don’t mess it up.”
As if I wasn’t already telling myself the same thing.
I studied my reflection again, rubbing a hand over my jaw before sniffing my shirt. Not bad, but not great either.
With a sigh, I pulled it off and grabbed a fresh one from my locker in the back. If I was spending the evening with Remy, I wanted to at least look and smell decent.
By the time I came back out, Remy had already started tidying up.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, but he just shot me a small smile.
“It’s no trouble. Besides, I don’t want to just stand around while you work,” Remy said.
Something about that made my chest feel a little warm. I liked the idea of him being here, of us closing up together. It was easy, comfortable in a way I wasn’t used to.
Once everything was done, we walked side by side toward the coffee shop. It was a new place, one that had been trending among the younger crowd in town.
Remy laughed when I mentioned that. “So you did your research,” he teased, his eyes bright with amusement.
“Maybe,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. “Wanted to make sure I wasn’t dragging you somewhere lame.”
“I appreciate the effort,” he said, smiling, and dang, if that didn’t make the whole thing worth it.
Inside, the coffee shop had a modern but cozy feel, all warm lights and soft music. The scent of fresh espresso and baked goods filled the air, making my stomach rumble.
After ordering our drinks, I glanced at the dessert display. “Want to split a cheesecake?”
Remy’s lips quirked. “What if I say no?”
I huffed a laugh. “Then I’ll have to eat the whole thing by myself, and I’d rather not die of sugar overload tonight.”
“Fine,” he said, amused. “But I get first bite.”
I didn’t argue. The thought of watching him take that first bite was more appealing than I cared to admit.
Once we got our order, Remy glanced at the patio. “It’s a nice night. Want to sit outside?”
“Sure,” I said, following his lead.
The air was cool but not unpleasant, and the streetlights cast a soft glow over the tables.
We settled in, sipping our drinks, the quiet hum of conversation around us creating a kind of intimacy.
Remy was a good listener. He didn’t just nod along.
He actually seemed interested when I talked about my family, about how my parents had left the restaurant to me and how, some days, I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water.
“I love it,” I admitted, swirling my coffee absently. “But it’s a lot, you know? Sometimes I envy my brother Ethan. He’s training to be a healer, and he just knows it’s what he wants to do. I’m proud of him, but… I guess I wish things had been that clear for me.”
Remy watched me, his expression softer than usual. “Sounds like you’re doing a good job, though.”
I blinked at him. “You think so?”
He nodded. “The way you handle the restaurant, your staff… it’s obvious you care. That’s gotta count for something.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Compliments usually rolled right off me, but hearing it from Remy made my chest feel a little tight.
“You sure you don’t want the last bite?” he asked, nudging the plate toward me, only a small piece of cheesecake left.
“Nah, you take it.”
He grinned. “Told you I’d get first and last bite.”
I shook my head, watching as he scooped up the last bit with his fork and popped it into his mouth.
His eyes fluttered shut for a second, and I was momentarily distracted by the way his lips wrapped around the utensil, the sound of satisfaction he made as he swallowed.
I cleared my throat, gripping my coffee cup a little tighter. “So… do I get points for picking a good place?”
Remy’s lips twitched. “Yeah, I’ll give you that.”
Warmth spread through me. I wasn’t sure what this thing between us was yet, but I wanted to find out.
* * *
After we had our coffee and cake, Remy and I walked through town. Neither of us had said anything about calling it a night, and I took that as a good sign.
The thought of parting ways already left me with a hollow sort of feeling, so I was in no rush to let this moment slip away.
The streets were quieter now, most of the shops closing for the night, their warm lights flickering off one by one.
A few people strolled past us, but it felt like we were in our own little world.
“Pecan Pines is really nice at night,” Remy said, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets.
I glanced over at him, taking in the way the streetlights played with the angles of his face. He was undeniably gorgeous.
I kept imagining what he’d taste like, but for now, the best course of action would be to keep my paws to myself.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Good company helps too.”
He let out a soft chuckle, tilting his head slightly in my direction. “Flirting with me again?”
“Maybe,” I said, grinning.
The corner of his mouth twitched, and I felt that rush of satisfaction knowing I’d made him smile.
After a while, we ended up near the town park. The trees swayed gently, casting long shadows under the lamplights.
“You can leave me here,” Remy said, just like he had the last time.
I frowned slightly, hesitating. The urge to ask him where he was staying was strong, but I didn’t want to push too hard.
He had his reasons for keeping that to himself, and I had no right to pry.
Instead, I exhaled and gave him a small smile.
“Thanks for tonight,” I said. “For the coffee date.”
I watched him carefully, waiting for him to correct me, to say it wasn’t a date. But he didn’t.
He just looked at me, something flickering in his expression—something that sent heat curling low in my stomach.
I swallowed, feeling bold. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, or maybe I just didn’t want to overthink it anymore.
Either way, I took a step closer, watching his expression carefully for any sign of hesitation.
When he didn’t pull away, I leaned in.
The moment my lips brushed his, a shiver ran through me. He was warm, solid, and for a breathless second, he didn’t move.
But then, just as I was about to pull back, I felt it—the slight tilt of his head, the way his lips softened against mine.
A slow burn spread through my chest.
I kept the kiss brief, just enough to taste him, to feel the shape of his mouth against mine before I forced myself to pull away.
Remy’s eyes fluttered open, his pupils slightly blown, his breath just a little uneven.
“Sorry,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. “I?—”
“I don’t mind,” he said quietly, cutting me off.
My heart thumped, heat curling at the base of my spine.
He didn’t mind.
I searched his face, looking for any hesitation, any sign that I’d misread things. But there was none.
Just Remy, watching me with something unreadable in his gaze, something that made my blood run hotter.
“Good,” I murmured, my voice rougher than I intended.
He let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly.
“See you tomorrow?” I asked.
Remy nodded. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
I watched him go, resisting the urge to call him back, to kiss him again. Instead, I turned and walked in the opposite direction, a grin tugging at my lips.
I was planning on heading straight home, but the thought of that huge, quiet house—filled with its little, never-ending problems—dampened my mood.
The kitchen sink had been fixed by a fellow pack mate who worked as a plumber, but I had a gut feeling something else was going to break soon.
That house had a way of demanding constant attention, and tonight, I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it. My thoughts drifted back to Remy. Specifically, where he was staying.
It wasn’t my business, and I had no right to pry, but still, my feet slowed. Before I could fully talk myself out of it, I found myself backtracking.
I figured he’d already be gone, but after a few minutes, I spotted him walking along the side of the road, his hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed.
I told myself I wasn’t stalking him—just making sure he got home safely.
Keeping my distance while keeping an eye on him wasn’t easy.
I had to stop and start, pretending to check my phone or glance at nearby storefronts whenever he slowed down.
The whole thing felt ridiculous, but my curiosity wouldn’t let me turn around. Then, we passed the Welcome to Pecan Pines town sign, and my stomach tightened.
Remy wasn’t heading toward any of the housing developments or apartments. He wasn’t even heading toward the motel by the highway.
Once, he glanced over his shoulder, and I barely had time to dart behind a tree, my heart pounding like a damn idiot caught sneaking out after curfew.
He didn’t seem to notice me, or if he did, he didn’t call me out.
I followed at a slower pace, watching as he walked with purpose, as if he’d done this trek a hundred times.
Eventually, I saw where he was heading—the entrance to the nature reserve just beyond the edge of town.
I stopped dead in my tracks, realization hitting me hard. Rex, one of our pack mates, used to be a nomad before settling in Pecan Pines.
He’d told me stories about living out of his car for years, moving from place to place, sometimes parking in national parks overnight to avoid drawing attention.
The pieces clicked into place.
Remy was living in his car.
A tightness formed in my chest, a mixture of frustration and something I couldn’t quite name. I wanted to do something, but what? Call out to him? Offer him a place to stay?
I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.
No. He was careful about what he shared. Pushing him too soon would just make him retreat further.
Still, I hated the idea of him out here alone.
After a moment, I turned on my heel and headed back toward town, my mind already spinning with ways to help—without making it seem like I was helping.
I made it home just in time, the night air still clinging to my skin as I stepped inside. The house was quiet—too quiet.
After a quick shower, I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted but too wired to sleep. My mind wouldn’t shut off, replaying the night over and over.
The warmth of Remy’s laughter. The way he listened, really listened, when I talked about my family. The feel of his lips against mine, soft and hesitant but there.
I didn’t know what possessed me to grab my phone. Maybe it was the lingering buzz of adrenaline, or maybe I just wanted an excuse to talk to him again.
Before I could second-guess myself, I typed out a message.
Colton: Got home okay?
My phone vibrated almost instantly.
Remy: Got home fine.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before I typed,
Colton: I had a good time tonight.
Remy: Me too.
That tiny, two-word response had my stomach flipping in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I hesitated, chewing my bottom lip, then pushed forward before I lost my nerve.
Colton: Let’s go out again. A real date this time. My treat.
I hit send and stared at the screen, my pulse drumming against my ribs as I waited. And waited.
The three little dots appeared. Disappeared.
Then—
Remy: Sure. Looking forward to it.
A slow grin spread across my face, my body finally relaxing into the mattress.
Yeah. Me too.