Chapter 6
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“Are you sure we can’t change your mind about leaving?” Lewis asked. Beau was right there beside him, leaning into his friend and co-partner for the bakery.
“I agree. You should stay. I understand why it is that you are considering leaving, but seriously, please reconsider. If you do leave, Dante can’t ever come around and claim you.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “He’s made it clear over and over that he doesn’t want me.
I sent him a letter, and Augustus said he gave it to him and then disappeared.
That was weeks ago. I think it’s safe to say that if he truly did want me, he would have at least come and stared at me or something.
” I’d heard from not only these two but Dr. Braun as well that I shouldn’t move.
Dr. Braun saw how determined I was though, and he had started working with me to relocate.
I had nowhere in mind, and I wasn’t leaving within the next week or two, but it was definitely happening.
Alpha War had been more than willing to welcome me into his den down in Honey Creek, and I’d been giving that some serious consideration.
It wasn’t far and wouldn’t be a permanent thing.
But as Dr. Braun had pointed out, it might be better if I moved away in stages.
“I’m still deciding,” I told the pair. It was difficult enough dealing with Lewis, but when Beau was here, it always added a different level of…
longing. He had a gorgeous mate and a beautiful baby boy.
I had a mate who didn’t want me, so I wouldn’t ever be able to have a baby.
Eventually, I might be able to adopt a child, but I wasn’t in a position to do that just yet.
I sighed. I really wasn’t in a position to be giving birth to one either.
Although, if that were the case, in reality I would have the support of a mate.
“You’ve gone somewhere else.”
I blinked and looked at Lewis.
“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking.” I took several deep breaths and was considering telling them that I was most likely only going down off the mountain for a bit before actually moving far away, but the bell chiming over the door indicated we had new customers.
I couldn’t stop the smile from my face when I saw Felix.
He was so damn sweet, and it was frustrating.
Why couldn’t he be who I’d been paired with?
“Hey, Felix,” I said. I glanced at the other fae with him. “Lukan. How are you doing?” I asked, but I was looking at Felix. Lukan was nice enough, but it was Felix whom I’d spent time with and had gotten to know.
“I’m good,” Felix said.
“Yeah, me too,” Lukan said. “Over here,” he added when I didn’t look his way. At that, I turned my focus toward Lukan.
“I said hi,” I told him as I gave him a look.
Lukan sighed. “Yeah, but while looking at Felix.”
I rolled my eyes. Felix did his best to hide a smile, and then I looked directly at Lukan. “What can I get for you, Lukan? Did you want a donut? Pie? Cake? Coffee?”
Lukan nodded. “Thanks. That’s all I wanted—you to look at me when talking to me. It’s like you have a crush on Felix or something.”
I felt my cheeks turn pink. “I don’t,” I said. “We’re friends because he’s spent time getting to know me. I don’t really know you.”
Thankfully, Lewis moved in and up to the counter. “I got this,” he said. He gave my arm a gentle push, but I saw the glare he sent up to the fae alpha. “What do you want,” Lewis asked. “And stop harassing the employees in here because you’re butthurt because you can’t flirt with them.”
My eyes widened a little, and Felix bit his lower lip. “What do you want?” I asked quietly.
“Can I get a pair of lemon crumble bars and an iced coffee. Vanilla, please?”
“Sure. Anything else?”
Felix shook his head. “Did you feel up for hanging out this weekend?” Felix glanced over at Lukan.
“We have a group thing on Saturday evening, but I’m free Sunday.
” I put the lemon crumble bars in a small box with a fork for him.
I was about to suggest we head down to Timber Valley and check out a new movie when the bell over the door chimed again.
The absolute last person I expected to see walking into the bakery was Dante.
My mouth dropped open, and I stood there staring.
I felt someone come up beside me, but all I could do was stare at my mate.
I felt a poke in my side, and that was what finally got me to blink and close my mouth completely.
I looked to my right and found Beau standing there, giving me an encouraging smile.
“If you want to help Dante, I’ll finish up with Felix.”
I glanced at my friend, who looked confused. I offered Felix a smile but nodded at Beau. “Thanks,” I whispered. I would have to explain to Felix later, but right now, I was going to see if I could at least get a few words out of Dante.
“Hi, Dante,” I said. “Did you want something?”
Dante stared at me for a long moment before he nodded. He looked to his left, and when I followed, I saw he was looking at Felix and Lukan, who were both staring at him.
“Do you have any coffee cinnamon rolls?”
The small smile I had fell. “Sorry, no,” I told him. “I make them the last week of the month.”
“Oh. That’s it?”
“Yeah. It’s my week to offer the special item then, and that’s when I make them.” I was worried that because I didn’t have what I thought was one of his favorite things, he was going to leave.
“I’ll be back then to get some, then. But do you have any brownies for today?”
I smiled. “We do. Did you want them with or without nuts? With or without caramel?”
Dante smirked. “Surprise me.”
I nodded. “How many?” I asked as I grabbed a box.
“Six. And a dozen chocolate chip cookies.”
I grabbed a different box. I started putting the brownies in since they were in the case in front of me. When I finished that, I looked up at Dante, ready to try and talk to him, but I found him standing there with his arms crossed and glaring at Felix and Lukan.
“Did you want anything other than the brownies and cookies?” I asked.
“I’ll see you Sunday, Banner,” Felix said as he took a step behind Lukan as they started toward the door.
“I’ll let you know for certain,” I called out. I’d not actually said I was able to hang out. I was certainly willing, but we’d not really made plans, so I wasn’t sure what he meant.
“Got weekend plans?” Dante asked.
I looked up at him as I moved over to the other case to grab his cookies. “I do, but I’m not sure just what all. I have some packing to work on, and that might actually take up a lot of my time. I’m trying to decide how much stuff to take.”
Dante made a noise. I looked up at him after placing a few cookies in his box. He looked seriously distressed. “You’re packing? Are you going on a trip or something?”
I narrowed my eyes. “If you have to ask that, then I assume you didn’t actually bother to read my letter that Augustus gave to you for me. Just as well.” I placed the last few cookies in the box, then set it on top of the case.
“I read it,” Dante said. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
I stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriously that dense? Did he truly think that I wouldn’t actually follow through with what I said I would? “If you read the letter, then you know that yes, I’m moving. There is no reason for me to stay. I hope that one day, I’ll find something somewhere.”
Dante scowled again. “Can we talk?”
I tilted my head and held the box out. “I thought we were talking.”
Dante huffed. “Fine. Can we talk elsewhere? About…things?”
I shrugged. “What is there for us to talk about?” I wasn’t trying to intentionally be a brat, but I knew that’s exactly what I was doing.
Dante looked around and appeared uncomfortable.
I looked to my right and saw that Lewis and Beau were both staring at him with their arms crossed.
When I turned my gaze back to Dante, I raised an eyebrow at him.
If he couldn’t say these things in front of others, then I really didn’t feel the need to give in.
Dante let out another huff. “Us. I would like to talk about us.”
That surprised me, and obviously my coworkers because there was a squeak that I was certain came from Lewis and another noise that came from most likely Beau.
“Us?” I raised my eyebrows. “Is there anything to talk about though? I’m respecting your choice to not pursue anything between us. You’ve made it clear that is what you want. Not me or us.”
“Can we talk? Please?”
“Yes,” Lewis answered for me. “You can talk right now because he’s done for the day.
” Lewis pushed me toward the end of the counter, where the walk-through was.
I glared back at him over my shoulder. “You are,” he insisted.
I sighed and admitted defeat. I wasn’t going to get out of this without going to talk to Dante.
I crossed the bakery and didn’t even bother waiting for Dante before I walked out the door. I knew that Dante would follow if he truly wanted to talk to me. I didn’t expect Felix and Lukan to be just outside the bakery though.
“Hey,” Felix said. “We didn’t get to finalize our plans.
” He looked behind me, but I didn’t have a chance to turn before I felt Dante’s hand on my back.
I would never admit it, but the need to be near him was too much, and I oh so slightly leaned into his touch.
I was certain he wouldn’t be able to pick up on it until he slid his hand around my back and to my side, where he let it rest.
I looked up at Dante, shocked that he was being so forward. “Are you ready?”
“Oh,” Felix said. It took a moment before I could look away from Dante. I met Felix’s shocked expression, and Lukan looked indifferent. “Are you two a thing?” he asked. “I didn’t mean to overstep, Dante. Banner and I are just friends.”
I sighed. “It’s complicated,” I said.
“How?” Felix asked.