CHAPTER 7
“Come on over, come on over, baby.”
Everett
“What if he doesn't like it? What if he's gluten intolerant? Can shifters be gluten intolerant? What am I talking about? Of course, they can. Shit, should I make some gluten free options just to be safe?” I ask Riley as I start unpacking the picnic basket for perhaps the hundredth time.
“Dude, the guy was here yesterday asking if we have honey bread, and besides, he’s eaten plenty from the food counter and never once asked for a gluten free option.
” Riley assures me then gestures at the multitude of food containers on the counter.
“Going by the sheer size of him and the pretty magnificent beard he’s sporting, I would bet good money he's a bear shifter. Looks like you made… what? Four different honey related goodies? I think you’re good Ev. ”
“Three,” I murmur, correcting him as a blush creeps up my face because yes, after Henry left, Riley remembered him from the other day asking about honey bread, so I made him honey bread, mini honey-butter rolls, and honey-glazed croissants.
Maybe it’s too much. Or not enough, like Riley pointed out, my alpha is a big man, at least a foot or more taller than I am.
What if this isn’t enough food or less than he is expecting and he thinks I can’t provide the basics for him?
“Three, okay, thanks for the clarification.” He rolls his eyes and grins at me.
“Don’t forget about the fresh fruits, and different kinds of cheese.
And an entire array of cold cuts. You’re going to put the man into a food coma.
Stop worrying Ev. He’s your mate, he's going to love whatever you bring him.”
“Oh god, I’ve over done it haven’t I?” I ask, my eyes scanning the containers in front of me, trying to mentally narrow down the choices I wanted to bring.
My heart is pounding faster the closer it gets to midday.
Henry is going to be here any minute and I do not have my shit together.
I’m suddenly terrified I might fuck this up from the jump.
As soon as Henry left earlier and I watched his truck disappear around the corner, I hightailed it back to my dorm room.
Showered and changed. Jack was still asleep when I got back because it was like six AM and the only people awake at this time are being paid to do so.
Hell, I’d still be asleep if it wasn’t a work day.
Saturdays usually aren't a work day for me.
I only accepted this shift to help the owners out.
Oh maybe it was fate who made the weekend baker sick, so that I could be there to meet my mate.
I really wanted to wake Jack up to ask if my outfit looked okay and to tell him I found my mate of course, but he was still asleep even after I showered and changed my shirt five times.
It was at that point I realised I had no way to even make the fucking picnic here, short of asking one of my professors if I can use the class kitchens, which wasn’t about to happen at this time of the morning.
My only option is to stop at the store, grab all the ingredients, and pray Riley won't mind if I use the Rainy Day kitchen. Thank god he didn’t.
Looking down at my butter yellow linen shirt, denim blue cargo shorts, and matching yellow chucks, I feel the seed of doubt growing in my belly again. Maybe yellow was a bad idea. It probably clashes with my hair. It’s too much, like the food. Oh god!
“For fuck’s sake, Ev, he’s your mate.” He walks over to me and shakes me by the shoulders, physically halting my spiral. “He would eat dirt from your hands if that’s what you’d present to him.”
“I would never.” I gasp in horror
“Of course you wouldn’t becaaauusseee… he’s your mate and you are biologically or metaphysically connected to him or some shit. You care about him and he feels the same.”
“I wouldn’t offer anybody dirt to eat, mate or not. That's very unsanitary, Riley.” I reminded him, earning myself another exaggerated eye roll.
“Look at that basket, Ev.” I oblige and turn to face the large wicker basket lined with pale pink fabric covered in adorable cupcakes.
The matching blanket rolled up at the side, waiting to protect my alpha’s behind from potential grass stains.
“You’ve already thought of everything. Delicious hand made treats, fresh fruits, bottled lemonade that you just stood and juiced yourself.
None of this is for me and I can see the care and love you have put into everything.
If he doesn’t appreciate every aspect then he is a fucking idiot and I’ll be only too happy to correct his behaviour.
” He assures me with a wide grin on his face.
“I wish I could be a bee on a flower just to see his face when he realizes what’s on the menu.
” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Get it? A bee…” When I don’t react in any way, he adds, “Because he loves honey so much.”
“Okay, well it’s a good thing you aren't a bee shifter or that would be very weird.” I chuckle, feeling a lot lighter than I had a few minutes ago.
“Thank you Ry. For the pep talk and for letting me use the kitchen here, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this at my dorm. I hadn’t even thought of that when I offered to prepare the picnic,” I explained for the third time. I swear I’m not normally this neurotic.
His answering smile gives me permission to take a few deep breaths and to start repacking the basket. Setting the blanket across the top and securing it with a bow made from the same fabric.
“You can repay me by explaining this manifesting thing. Are you sure you aren’t some kind of psychic?
Have a bit of magic in your family line?
I mean, from what you have told me, Mr. Lumberjack Henry is everything you ever asked for.
Is it really just the power of manifestation?
” Riley asks, his back leaning against the metal counter as I wipe everything down.
The owners are pretty cool, but I don't want them to think Riley or I am taking advantage of their good nature.
Besides, every chef or baker worth their salt understands the importance of cleanliness.
“No magic, no long lost mage relatives. Just pure manifestation. I’m telling you Ry, when you are ready, it will work if you believe it will. Although, you do have to want the thing you are manifesting with every inch of your being, body, and soul.” He nods, taking a moment to process my words.
“I knew there would be a catch. I struggle to decide what I want to eat for lunch and nine times out of ten I regret my choice as soon as I eat it. I think I am best to leave my mate in the hands of the fates. I can not be trusted to manifest a man I’ll probably try to return a week later.
” He jokes, but it doesn’t have the same note of humor his earlier jokes did.
Reaching out, I place both hands on Riley's shoulders before tugging him in for a hug. To say thank you, and because I just feel like he needs one. Hopefully, one day he will trust me with his secrets.
Stepping back, I gesture at the apron I threw on to cover my shirt, now covered in flour and honey. “I better get this off and go wait out front for my mate.”
“Yes, preferably on the street, I can’t handle all those pheromones twice in one day.
” He laughs, tugging the apron strings and spinning around me to remove it without getting a mark on my shirt.
“There you go, all ready to get pinned down and humped by the big bad bear,” he jokes, making me almost choke on a laugh.
“A squirrel can dream.” I sigh wistfully and grab my basket, practically skipping out of the kitchen to wait at the table closest to the door. Every truck that passes adds another butterfly to the swarm inside my belly. Every nerve ending is on alert.
This is it. My mate, my alpha, is going to be here any minute.
Hopefully, as excited to see me as I am to see him.
My fingers itch to touch his skin, rake through his hair, and feel his beard tickle my cheek.
I can almost feel the ghost of his hands on my body, holding me in his arms, and his dark soulful eyes roaming over my face like I’m the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.
I feel a shiver rush down my spine remembering that look.
I know they say when you find your mate the feelings are overwhelming and all consuming.
I don't think I ever really contemplated just how intense it would actually be. Love at first sight, a choir of angels singing, fireworks exploding in the air around us. Every sickening cliché in the book didn’t even come close to the onslaught of feelings that hit me the moment Henry stepped through the cafe door.
My soul recognised his, our energy melted seamlessly with one kiss.
Erasing every other kiss I’ve had. Now my decision to save myself for my mate is well and truly validated.
I really hope the first time I feel my alpha inside me it triggers my heat.
It would be uncommon for an omega to get pregnant during their first heat but it's not unheard of. I’m nothing if not an overachiever, after all.
Closing my eyes, I sit straighter in the high backed metal chair.
Manifesting has worked for me so far. Why break the habit now?
Taking a centering breath, I picture Henry in my mind.
His tall muscular frame, full beard, and beautiful long dark hair tied up messily at the back of his head.
“My mate loves me, he cares about me and is considerate. He won’t keep me waiting long and when he sees me, he will kiss me, staking his claim on me,” I whisper the words even as I repeat them in my head on a loop.
A strange tingle starts at the back of my neck and travels down my body, settling at my core.
If I didn’t know better, I might think Riley is onto something with the whole magic thing.
This isn’t magic though, or at least not in the sense he means it.
My mate is here. I don’t even need to open my eyes to confirm it. I can feel him.
The bell above the door tinkles softly to welcome a new customer, except it’s not actually a customer. I must look kind of crazy sitting here with my eyes closed, facing the entrance with a dopey smile on my face.
“Everett, are you okay?” The deep timbre of Henry's voice sends a second shiver to the base of my spine, forcing my eyes to spring open and take him in. Brow creased in concern that should reflect years of familiarity and not mere hours.
“Everything is perfect,” I mutter more to myself than Henry but he accepts my words, regardless.
“Are you ready for our date, omega mine?” He asks, standing to his full height, the picnic basket already in hand, the other outstretched to me.
“More than ready, Alpha.” I smirk, popping up on my very tippy toes to drop a kiss on his cheek.
The rumble that leaves his chest lets me know he liked the show of affection, or maybe he just likes me being close to him like this in public.
Alphas tend to have a possessive streak a mile wide, especially when they haven’t yet marked their omega.
I fully intend to take advantage of that.