Chapter Two #3
“He’s a journalist. It makes sense.”
“I know. I’m not saying he shouldn’t, although it’s dangerous, but I’m worried that he might stumble onto something he can’t do anything about. If there really is someone targeting shifter businesses, I doubt they’re going to stop. Caleb sticking his nose into it might cause them to react.”
“Yeah, Jonathan’s worried about that too, but Caleb knows what he’s doing.
This is his job, and it’s not his first time investigating something dangerous.
I already told Jonathan that, but I think that the best thing we can do is keep an eye on Caleb and leave him be.
Someone has to find out what’s going on, and I don’t think anyone else is truly investigating. ”
“That’s because they don’t know about shifters.”
“Caleb does. Look, I promise that Jonathan and I will make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. Give him a little time, and I’m sure he’ll let you in.”
Austin hoped that West was right, but he couldn’t swear on it, which meant that he had to find a way to keep Caleb safe without Caleb allowing him close.
The best way to do that was to find out who was responsible for the arson before Caleb could get in trouble.
That would probably piss Caleb off, but it wasn’t something Austin could consider in this situation.
Austin was nothing like Sal. He didn’t hurt people—he kept them safe. That included keeping them safe from themselves and a possible arsonist running around the city.
No matter how little those people liked it.
* * * *
CALEB COULDN’T STOP thinking about Austin’s puppy eyes.
It was clear that Austin had been disappointed when Caleb said he didn’t trust him, and while Caleb shouldn’t feel guilty about that, it was hard.
It wasn’t only because of Austin’s reaction, although that had a lot to do with it.
It was also because Austin hadn’t done anything to show Caleb that he couldn’t be trusted.
No, the only reason Caleb was wary was Sal, and it didn’t feel fair to hold Austin responsible for what Jonathan’s ex had done.
Hell, it didn’t even feel fair for it to be Caleb feeling this way.
He wasn’t the one who’d been in a relationship with Sal.
If Jonathan could trust Austin, surely Caleb should be able to do the same.
Jonathan had gotten over his mistrust of dragon shifters.
He’d managed to let West in, and he was happier than he’d ever been.
Was Caleb depriving himself of that because of his stubbornness?
Could he have what West and Jonathan had with Austin?
Was that even a possibility considering the way he’d treated Austin?
He shook his head as he stared at the road ahead.
He couldn’t think that way. Whatever relationship he might have with Austin wasn’t the most important thing right now.
No, what was important was finding the person behind the arsons, and Caleb wasn’t sure he could do that on his own.
Having Austin’s help could make or break this case.
It could save countless lives. Caleb couldn’t allow fear to guide him, not in this mess.
He was going to have to reach out to Austin and apologize, wasn’t he?
He reached for his phone when he stopped at a red light and quickly dialed Jonathan’s number. He put him on speaker before driving ahead, tapping his fingertips onto the steering wheel as he waited for Jonathan to answer.
“Does this phone call have anything to do with the phone call West is currently answering from Austin?” Jonathan asked, his voice loud in the car.
Caleb winced. “I don’t know. I have no idea what Austin might want to talk to Wes about.”
“Liar. I know Austin went to the hospital to talk to Margaret. Are you still there?”
“I left a little while ago.” He’d had to stop at the grocery store because he’d used up the last roll of toilet paper this morning. If it hadn’t been for that, he’d already be home, sitting on his couch and eating takeout while watching bad reality TV.
“So both you and Austin were there.”
“He got there while I was talking to Margaret.”
“And now you’re talking to me. What happened with Austin?”
Caleb bit his lower lip. He’d been an asshole, and he knew it. “He suggested we work together since he knows I’m looking into the arsons.”
“Well, that’s not a bad idea.”
“I said no.”
“Okay. That sounds like a bad idea, and not like something you, of all people, would do. What happened?” Jonathan sucked in a breath and continued talking before Caleb could answer. “Please tell me this doesn’t have anything to do with Sal.”
“I know that you were the one who got hurt, but you didn’t see what it was like for me.
I thought I was going to lose you so many times.
I thought that Sal was going to kill you, and he almost did.
I don’t know if I’ll ever get over that.
I realize I don’t have the right to feel that way, but I can’t help it. ”
“No one said you don’t have the right to feel that way.
Sal might not have been focused on hurting you, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t.
I’m really sorry you had to go through that, Caleb, and I get why you don’t trust dragon shifters, but you have to see that West and Austin are nothing like Sal.
I wouldn’t be with West if he was, and if I remember correctly, you told me to give him a chance.
Why can’t you do the same when it comes to Austin?
At the very least, I feel you should work with him because it’s going to help you find out who the arsonist is.
” He paused. “And by the way, I’m not sure I like that you’re doing that. ”
Caleb snorted. “I know you don’t.”
“But I know you, and I know that nothing I can say will change your mind. I’d feel better if you let Austin help you.
If anything, he’ll be able to protect you if someone tries to hurt you.
And no, I’m not saying you can’t defend yourself.
If the arsonist is human, I know you’re more than capable of holding your own against them. ”
“But they might not be human.” They didn’t know the reason behind the arson.
It could be a human who knew about shifters and disliked them, but it could also be a shifter or other supernatural being with a reason they hadn’t discovered yet.
Hell, it could even be someone like Sal, who didn’t need a reason to be an asshole.
When Sal was displeased, he hurt people.
He took pleasure in it, but he also used his ruthlessness for business.
Maybe there was something special about the buildings that had burned down, or about their owners. Caleb would have to look into that.
“They might not be,” Jonathan agreed. “As much as I want you and Austin to get along for selfish reasons, I also want it for your safety. He’s a good person.
He’ll make sure nothing happens to you.” There was a pause, and Caleb could hear the smile in Jonathan’s voice when he continued.
“And who knows, you might find out that some dragon shifters are very nice, after all.”
Caleb groaned. “Please don’t.”
“Why not? Am I the only one not allowed to tease you over this?”
“I didn’t say you weren’t allowed.”
“But you’d rather I didn’t. Why?”
Because it hit too close to home. Jonathan knew Caleb better than anyone else, including their friends at the tattoo shop.
If he teased Caleb about Austin, it was because he could tell there was something there, and right now, Caleb was trying to convince himself otherwise. Could he tell Jonathan that, though?
Jonathan was the only person Caleb allowed himself to be fully vulnerable with. He knew it was a lot, especially now that Jonathan had West.
He sighed and turned his blinker on. He was almost home. “I’m afraid that if I let him too close, I’ll end up liking him too much,” he confessed.
“And the problem with that is? And please don’t say Sal.”
“Okay, I don’t actually believe Austin is anything like Sal. I realize that my fear and mistrust are irrational, and that I need to let Austin close.”
“You don’t need to do anything, but I think it would be a good idea.”
“I just don’t have a good track record when it comes to relationships, and having a relationship with Austin and fucking things up would ruin more than just our relationship.
Austin and I are intertwined in a way I’ve never been with any of my exes.
He’s your boyfriend’s best friend. What if we get together, break up, and have to continue being in each other’s lives? ”
“Don’t break up, then.”
Caleb glared out of his windshield. “It’s not always that easy.”
“But it’s also not always as difficult as you make it. You’re coming up with excuses, Caleb. You don’t want to let him close because you don’t want to be vulnerable, and that’s okay, but don’t lie to me. Even more than that, don’t lie to yourself.”
“Oh, look at that. I’m finally home. I’m going to have to hang up.”
“Sure you do,” Jonathan drawled. “Just think about what I said, all right? Even if you don’t want a relationship with Austin, working with him would be good. Besides, like you said, the two of you are in each other’s lives whether you like it or not. You might as well make the most out of that.”
He hung up without giving Caleb the time to argue.
That was good because Caleb wasn’t sure what he could’ve said.
Jonathan was right. No matter how hard Austin was trying to convince himself otherwise, the best thing he could do was reach out to Austin and agree to work with him, both because he wanted to find the arsonist and because he didn’t want to make Jonathan and West’s lives harder.
The ball was in Caleb’s court, and even though he didn’t want to play, he knew what he had to do.
He was going to have to apologize to Austin, wasn’t he?