Chapter Ten
Ty
Our first delivery to Penn was a mug. Right after Zevo gave us the address for Penn’s library, I ordered it while standing by the bar with Freid looking over my shoulder.
“I’ll help pay,” Freid said.
“You can send the next one. A plant would be nice.”
“Deal.”
I punched in our choice. A mug with the words: Reading Is Dreaming With Open Eyes. It was by far the cutest mug out of the choices, and we both agreed it felt right.
When I placed the order, it showed us the box wrapped with shiny gold paper and topped with a tag. We filled in our names for the tag, and it was done. Since it was a Saturday night, we scheduled the gift to be delivered to his work on Monday. We assumed…hoped he would be at work that day.
Together, we scoured my phone for Tuesday’s gift.
“What if he doesn’t like plants?” Freid asked.
“What? Everyone loves plants.”
“Well, they’re pretty but I have a very brown thumb. Just saying.”
“It might be the wrong gift for you, but our dingo loves them, I think.”
“Do you think, or do you know?”
“Something is just telling me it’s a good gift,” I replied.
We discussed more gift ideas to have delivered the rest of the week but didn’t decide on anything right away.
We hung out a bit longer at the bar. I had bottled water. After my martini, I was a little tipsy and needed to wait an hour before driving home.
Freid’s presence beside me had always been welcome.
It felt easy and wonderful. But tonight, all of that had multiplied.
Now that I knew we really were mates who were meant to be, every cell in my body burned for him.
I kept leaning closer to him. At the bar, our knees and arms touched.
Every time I looked at him, it seemed like I was falling into his deep, brown-eyed gaze.
He was safe. My best friend. And now, our connection had transformed in one night into something I’d always longed for. Forever loyal and loving. My mate for life.
I wished our third felt the same. But I had to remind myself Penn didn’t have the three-year start we had. The foundation of friendship was huge. This wasn’t going to be just a hookup for a night. This was life-changing for all of us.
Which reminded me. I had a question for Freid. Maybe an awful question, but I couldn’t stop myself from blurting it.
“Have you been with anyone since we met?” We had never talked about that stuff except in the past tense. There might have been a reason. Freid had been waiting for Penn. He seemed devout enough about it that I couldn’t see him going off with anyone, even for a one-night stand.
He chuckled. “As ridiculous as you might have thought it was, I’ve been waiting for Penn.”
“I never thought it was ridiculous.”
“And you, Ty. I didn’t consciously realize until tonight that I’ve been waiting for you, too.”
“I wanted you. I wasn’t brave enough to say it. I didn’t want to interfere with your dream.”
Freid took my hand in his and closed his warm fingers around it. “You never interfered. You were, and are, my partner throughout the whole three years.” His brows narrowed. His mouth dropped open. “You’re not asking me about other partners because you…” He gulped.
I shook my head. “No. I haven’t dated since meeting you on my failed blind date that first night.
I looked forward to the weekend nights here at Animals.
With you. Nothing could keep me away. I didn’t want anything or anyone else.
You sustained me. Our friendship was worth more to me than anything else. ”
Freid reached out with his other hand and cupped my cheek. “I’ve always known how sweet you are.” His thumb caressed the top of my cheek. “But think about it. What are the odds? Two young male alphas both celibate for three years?”
We both laughed.
“But I didn’t want anything else,” I repeated. “Just this. Even if it meant only friendship forever.”
In that moment, Freid leaned forward and kissed me lightly on the lips. It was closemouthed, too short, but the best kiss I’d ever had in my life.
When he leaned back, our eyes met. The nightclub clamor went silent. Time stopped. When I caught my breath, all I could say was, “Wow.”
“Now, we wait.” Freid’s voice came out wistful.
***
My phone went off as soon as I got home. It was a text from Freid.
Freid: Just checking to make sure you got home okay.
Ty: Yep. I’m here. Already missing you way too much.
We continued to text as I got ready for bed. Once I was under the covers in the dark, my phone still flashed. It was obvious we didn’t want to part, even to sleep.
Freid: I feel like you should be next to me right now in this bed.
Ty: Mentally, I’m right there with you.
Freid: That will have to be enough for now.
Ty: We’ve waited three years. What’s another few days?
Freid: Or a week. Or month.
Ty: Don’t freak me out! A month? Do you think it might take that long for Penn to come around? And what if he never does?
Freid: Calm down, tiger. He’ll be fine. He never said no to us. He only asked for time.
Ty: It seems funny that we’re texting. In bed.
Freid: Do you want to call me?
Ty: Do you?
Freid: I confess, this seems safer. Not from you. From myself. If I hear your voice, I’ll never calm down enough to sleep. I’ll spend the night trying to figure out a way to get to your house and in your bed before dawn.
Ty: (laughing emoji) I was thinking the same thing. We have to wait for Penn. Even if we don’t want to wait. I mean, I want to wait for Penn. But I want you, too.
Freid: Never stop saying such sweet things to me, Ty. I love you.
I inhaled sharply, dropping my phone on top of the comforter. My eyes filled. I wasn’t sure why. I should have been hopping up and down, dancing, laughing. Instead, I lay like a lump. Tears made a wet path into the hair at my temples.
When I next looked at my phone, there were several texts.
Freid: Ty? Ty? Why aren’t you answering me?
Ty: I love you, too.
***
When Monday arrived, we both went to work as usual. We waited for any reply to our first gift. The mug.
Nothing.
Tuesday, the plant arrived decked out with colorful balloons.
Nothing.
Wednesday, we had decided to send him food. Lasagna from the best Italian place I knew. Everyone liked lasagna, right?
We waited, texting each other as much as our free time allowed. By noon, the food should have arrived. My phone dinged with another text. Assuming it was Freid, I opened it to a brand-new header. It was a group text. It said: Freid, Ty, and Penn.
The new message came from Penn.
Penn: Hello. It’s me, Penn. Your beautiful gifts have not gone unnoticed. I love lasagna. Thank you. I think I’m ready to meet again. Are you okay with that?
Freid and I must have been frantically texting back simultaneously. Our texts pinged in together.
Freid: Yes. We would love to meet. Do you want to go back to Animals?
Ty: We are okay with anything. What about meeting again at Animals?
Great minds thought alike. Animals was a safe, public place. But Penn’s answer was unexpected.
Penn: I’d rather meet somewhere more private if that’s okay. Maybe one of your places? If that’s not asking too much.
Freid: I’d love to show you both my place. I can make you dinner.
Penn: Ty’s never been to your house?
Ty: Nope. I’d love to see it. And help make dinner, too.
Penn: Okay, that sounds good. Friday okay? I get off at 5. Can you text me the address? And thank you both for the sweet gifts. My coworkers were very jealous.
I let out a huge sigh in the lunchroom. My colleagues all looked up. “Something awful?” one asked.
“Nope.” I grinned. “Something good.”