6. Skylar #2
“She is being very smug. Kindly smug, which is worse because then I can’t even be mad without looking ungrateful.
” Emrys takes a careful sip of his drink, winces when the heat touches his lip, and sets the mug down with a small breath through his nose.
“I’m sore. My head feels weird if I move too fast, and I keep thinking I’m fine until something normal makes me feel insane.
The front door stuck when I got home, and I stood there like an idiot because my keys caught in my pocket. ”
“You’re not an idiot for reacting to the same setup after someone attacked you there.”
“I know that when someone else says it.” He looks toward the window, the rain reflected in his eyes. “It’s harder when it’s my own brain being dramatic in public.”
I let that sit instead of rushing to soften it.
He doesn’t need me to turn everything into comfort before it has a chance to be true.
The bakery moves around us, cups sliding across the counter, a low laugh near the case, someone’s voice from the kitchen giving someone instructions with the calm authority of a woman no one should test.
Emrys wraps both hands around his mug again.
“I keep wanting to ask about Kade, and I know there are rules now. He told me about the protective order when I called him, and I know I shouldn’t have called, but nobody would tell me anything straight.
His door was dark, and I panicked. He answered, which he probably shouldn’t have done either, so if there’s a lecture, I think we both deserve part of it. ”
There’s the official answer, and there’s the human one.
I have to give him both because pretending one cancels the other would be cruel.
“The order is active, and you shouldn’t contact him again while it is.
That’s the clean answer, and I need you to hear it because I don’t want anything making this harder for either of you.
The rest of the answer is that he’s out, he’s cooperating through his lawyer, and he isn’t sitting in a cell.
I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you I’m looking at the timing, the footage, and the call that came in before the scene made sense. ”
Emrys’ shoulders loosen at the part about Kade being out, but his mouth tightens around the rest. “He said he wanted to stand outside my door and couldn’t.
I hated that he sounded like he was trying to make himself obey something that made no sense, and I hated that I understood why he had to.
” His gaze returns to mine, steadier than I expect. “He didn’t hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that like it’s easy.”
“It isn’t easy. It’s just true.”
For a moment, neither of us talks. Emrys looks down, and I can see him working through something, deciding whether to say it or tuck it back behind the careful little defenses holding him together.
“Thank you,” he pushes out. “For taking it seriously. I know that sounds like the lowest possible bar, but I kept trying to tell people, and it was like my words were going somewhere else before they reached anyone. I keep thinking about what would’ve happened if you hadn’t walked in,” he says.
“I know.” I keep my voice quiet. “Try not to live there too long if you can help it. I’m not saying don’t think about it. I know that’s useless. Just don’t let that be the only version you replay.”
He nods slowly. “Priya said something like that, except with more threats and a soup plan.”
I lean back a little, taking the first sip of my coffee.
It’s way better than anything at the station, though if I come here again, it won’t be for the caffeine.
It’s been a long damn time since I’ve had an easy conversation with someone who didn’t expect anything of me.
That and Emrys’ scent is really starting to fuck with my rationality.
If I were following protocol, I would keep my distance from both Emrys and Kade but that thought ticks me off so I bury it.
“Em? Em! Oh, there you are. Hey, oh—when you’re back from your break, can you help me with the dough? It’s not cooperating.”
Emrys lets out a small giggle before catching himself. “Oh, that’s Priya.” His gaze darts over to her and then back to me. “I should go before she decides I’ve been emotionally overextended near a window.”
He pushes to his feet, the full range of his scent filling my lungs. I swallow the noise threatening to get out, heat spreading through me so fast my head spins. If I had any reservations that this adorably traumatized Omega was mine, I don’t now.
Still, I refuse to act on it. I just keep telling myself it’s unprofessional.
Emrys stands there a beat longer, tears welling up in his eyes.
The urge to pull him into my chest comes out of nowhere, so I grab my mug and chug half of it, immediately regretting the burn running down my throat.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I say before he can say anything and before I think better of it, I add: “I promise I’ll clear Kade’s name, okay?
He’ll be back at his apartment before you know it. ”
That puts another smile on Emrys face, the Omega softly patting my arm before disappearing behind the counter. It takes all of my self-control not to bury my nose in the vanilla now wafting off my fabric.