Chapter Three #3
Jonathan snorted. “West wouldn’t care. He knows he owns my heart. So? Did Liam leave?”
“Yes, he left, and yes, we’ve already talked about his next appointment, but it’s going to be a few weeks.
” Ethan wanted to torture his friends just a little.
He wasn’t going to hide the fact that he and Liam were going on a maybe-date, but it was nice to watch them squirm.
They were sticking their noses into his love life without even asking him if he was okay with it. He was owed a little revenge.
Jonathan and Dani exchanged a glance. Dani shrugged. “I don’t know anything more than you do. I was just asking him when you barged in.”
Jonathan nodded and turned to Ethan. “Okay. So? Are you going to see him before that appointment?”
Technically, Ethan and Liam hadn’t yet decided on where and when to see each other, so Ethan wasn’t fully lying when he said, “I don’t think so.”
Jonathan frowned. “What? Why?”
“Why should we? He won’t need to see me until his tattoo is healed and he can come for a second session.
I told him to come by if he thinks it might get infected or if he has any questions, but I don’t think he will.
” Which was ridiculous because Liam was clearly someone with plenty of questions about plenty of things.
He was a curious person, and it was sweet.
It was especially sweet when he’d started asking Ethan questions instantly after Ethan had told him what he was instead of grimacing, leaning away, or leaving outright.
“Oh, come on,” Jonathan said with a whine. “I know you’re interested in him. We all do.”
“I’m not. I barely know him. In fact, I can count the times I’ve talked to him on one hand.”
“Well, he’s certainly interested in you. I was convinced that he was going to ask you out today.”
Ethan hummed. As much as he wanted to torture his friends a little longer, he was also desperate to talk to them about Liam.
He wanted to be sure that he wasn’t making a mistake when it came to the man.
None of them knew him well, not even West and Austin, but they knew him better than Ethan.
They saw him every day, and they’d probably be able to tell Ethan whether or not he needed to be wary.
They’d told Ethan that Liam was fine, but that had been before Liam asked Ethan out.
Ethan needed to be sure before he agreed to go anywhere with him.
“Well, he did ask me out for coffee after I told him that I’m a chimera shifter, and I said yes, but we haven’t quite decided where and when,” he offered.
Both Dani and Jonathan stared at him. He grinned, the smile widening when Jonathan punched him in the shoulder. He didn’t do it hard, but it was hard enough for Ethan to feel his displeasure.
“That’s not funny,” he said.
“I found it a little funny.”
“Because you like torturing us. You told Liam what you are?”
Ethan turned more serious. “I did. I wanted to see what his reaction would be.”
“And his reaction was to ask you out for coffee?”
“Well, not quite. He had a lot of questions, but I didn’t answer most of them.”
“Because you were working,” Dani pointed out.
“And because I’m still not entirely sure what to make of him. He sounded genuinely interested, maybe even fascinated, but what if it’s all an act?”
“An act for what?” Jonathan asked. “Because I don’t think that man has ever hurt a fly. I don’t see why he’d start with you. No, if he invited you out for coffee, it’s because he wants to buy you coffee.”
“And find out more about me being a chimera shifter.”
“Well, yes, but can you blame him?”
“I can’t, and I don’t. I’m just so used to being careful about whom I spend my time with and what I do with them. He seemed genuinely happy about finding out what I am, though. He even said something about me having a little dragon in me.”
Dani snorted. “Oh, I’m sure you will eventually.”
Ethan glared at her. “That’s not funny.”
“It is,” Jonathan said.
“I guess I just don’t understand. Even my own mother hates what I am, so how can a stranger not?”
Dani leaned closer to squeeze Ethan’s hand.
“Your mother’s an asshole,” she declared.
“You don’t need her. You have us, and even though we’re not related to you by blood, we accept you as you are.
That means more than whatever your mother feels.
We’re your family now, not her.” She paused and exchanged a glance with Jonathan.
“And it looks like eventually, Liam will be, too. It’s a good thing, Ethan.
I’m not saying that he’s the love of your life or whatever, but you should at least give him a chance.
I have the feeling he could be very good for you. ”
Ethan suspected she was right. Only the future would tell, and that didn’t mean Ethan wasn’t terrified. He was going to have to get over it, though. He wasn’t giving up on his coffee with Liam, especially not because he was afraid.
* * * *
LIAM WAS WHISTLING as he walked into the station for his shift. There was a bounce in his step, and he hadn’t been able to stop smiling since he’d left the tattoo shop a few hours earlier. How could he when Ethan had agreed to get coffee with him?
Liam wasn’t quite sure it was a date, but he sure hoped it would be.
He’d let Ethan take the first step when it came to that, though.
He didn’t want to spook the man, especially since it was obvious he didn’t trust people easily.
Liam wanted Ethan to trust him, no matter what kind of relationship they’d have.
“You sound happy,” Lisa said when Liam walked into the locker room.
He beamed at her. “Why shouldn’t I be? Life is wonderful.”
She stared at him, clearly thinking he was being weird, but like he’d told Ethan, he didn’t care about being weird.
“I’m gonna assume you’re sober since you’re here,” Lisa said.
“Of course I’m sober. I’d never drink before starting a shift, and before you ask, no, I don’t take drugs. You know that.”
She raised her hands. “I do. You’re a pretty happy person overall, but you’re being extra happy today, and it’s a little weird.”
Liam shrugged. “So? I don’t mind being weird.”
He was thankful when Lisa left the locker room shortly after that, but of course, she didn’t go far.
When Liam made his way to the kitchen, she and the rest of the team were waiting for him.
They all turned to him almost as one, which made him want to squirm or shift and fly away.
The second option would be faster. It would also shock the human team members who were currently staring at him, so unfortunately, it was out of the question.
“Leave him alone,” Taylor said. “He’s allowed to be happy.”
“There’s happy, and then there’s that,” Lisa said as she gestured toward Liam. “I’m telling you, he’s been replaced by an alien.”
Liam chuckled. “I most definitely have not.”
“That’s exactly what an alien would say,” Lisa muttered.
“Maybe so, but I swear to you that I’m not an alien. I’m very much human.” Kind of. That wasn’t completely true since he could turn into a rather large dragon, but Lisa didn’t know that. She wasn’t going to find out through Liam, either.
“Everyone, as interesting as Liam’s life is, we all have things to do,” Taylor declared. “Get to work.”
Liam was going to need a cup of coffee before he did, so he moved toward the coffee pot as people started drifting out of the kitchen. He poured himself a cup, then turned around to lean against the counter, only to yelp and almost drop it when he saw Austin and West standing there, watching him.
“Warn a guy, would you,” he said as he put his cup down on the counter. He hadn’t spilled anything, but it had been a close thing.
“You had an appointment with Ethan today,” Austin said, sounding almost accusing.