Chapter 13
Riley
“Want to go get a coffee?” Reid asks.
I spin around. “Yes.” We’re in the car moments later. “Are they always like that?”
“Yep, but Evie and Zane are worse.”
Now that doesn’t surprise me. I’ve obviously been around them more and have seen it firsthand. “We are so not going to be like that,” I tell him.
He glances over at me. “Okay.”
“I’m serious. We won’t be like that.”
“Okay,” he says again.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re not arguing with me, but you’re also not agreeing with me?”
“Because I’m neither arguing nor agreeing with you.”
Reid pulls into a coffee shop I don’t recognize. “This looks cute. Is it new?”
“It just went in this summer.”
“Have you tried it yet?”
“Nope.”
I open my door. “Well, let’s check it out.
” I love checking out coffee shops, a fact Reid knows about me.
The inside is super cute with a single orange gerbera daisy in a vase on each table, and cute white wicker chairs.
There’s a few people ahead of us when we get in line, but the line moves quickly.
The girl at the counter looks up, and I watch as her eyes shift right to Reid...
and linger. I step forward. “Hi.” She doesn’t even look at me, and I try not to get annoyed.
I mean I am wearing his sweatshirt and shorts, so I don’t exactly look put together; but still.
I look up at Reid, but he’s completely oblivious.
He’s studying the menu like he’s never been to a coffee shop before, which is ridiculous because we both know he’ll end up getting a basic black cup of coffee.
“Hi,” I try again. Thankfully, the girl finally turns her attention to me.
I watch in satisfaction as her cheeks flush slightly at being caught checking out the guy who’s obviously with me.
“What can I get for you?” she asks.
“Can I get a cold brew with a splash of oat milk and a little bit of sugar free vanilla?”
“Of course.”
I turn to Reid. “A black coffee for you?”
“Yeah.”
I turn back to the girl. “What size?” she asks Reid before I can order.
“Medium.”
I pull out my wallet, but he gives the girl his card before I can. “Hey.” But she’s already tapping it to pay. She gives him the receipt a moment later. I follow him over to a table to wait for our coffees. “Okay,” I say, sliding into the seat across from him. “Let’s set some things straight.”
“Ooo, look at us, already having couple problems,” he says, leaning back in his chair and stretching out those long legs next to my chair.
“I have money.”
He doesn’t bat an eye. “Good.”
“So, you don’t need to pay for me.”
He nods. “Okay.”
“Seriously, Reid. I can pay for my own stuff like coffee or food when we go on a date.”
He leans forward, his chocolate eyes dancing. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
“No. I mean when we go on a date.”
“So, you are asking me out on a date. I thought that was my job.”
“Reid,” I start, and his grin only grows.
“Hey,” the girl from the counter shows up suddenly.
“Cold brew coffee with oat milk and sugar free vanilla and a hot black coffee.” She sets my coffee down in front of me but holds Reid’s out to him, so he has to take it.
I don’t miss the way her hand brushes against his on the handoff.
Irritation prickles through me and a need to set her straight.
My wolf rises in me suddenly, surprising me.
I manage to push her down quickly before she can gain control.
I reach over and take Reid’s free hand in mine and smile brightly at her.
“Thanks.”
The girl kind of blinks, as if in a daze, and then heads back to the counter. I turn back to Reid, whose eyes are dancing again. He glances down at our hands. “I didn’t know you were such a hand holder.” His voice is full of humor.
I take a breath and release his hand. “Yeah, well.” Not my brightest return, but I’m still trying to calm my wolf, who thought it would be a great idea to leap for the girl for touching our male.
I feel Reid squeeze my hand gently. “Hey, what’s wrong?
” I lift my eyes to his after a moment, only after I think I have my wolf under control.
“Whoa, easy.” He immediately moves his chair to the side of the table, so he’s right next to me.
He leans forward, blocking me from view.
Apparently, my wolf is not under control.
“Look at me,” he says in a low, quiet voice.
I lift my eyes to his, and he runs his thumb over my knuckles. “What’s wrong?”
“She touched you.” The words feel like they’re ripped from my chest, and I am instantly mortified. I try to pull away, but his hand on mine tightens.
“Hey,” he tries again. “Look at me, Ry.” His voice is so tender, but his words are not a suggestion. I finally lift my eyes to his. “It’s okay; it’s the bond.”
“I wanted to tear into her,” I whisper, terrified of myself and my wolf right now.
“That’s okay. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt the same thing over the years, over the simplest things. Some guy just looks at you, and my wolf wants to claw his eyes out.”
Hearing his words make me feel a little better. “Does it get easier?” I ask.
He ponders that a moment. “It doesn’t get easier, but you get better at controlling your wolf.”
I groan and drop my head into my hands. “I’m in so much trouble.” He chuckles. “It’s not funny.”
He reaches over and tugs my hands away from my face.
“Can I be honest?” I give him a wary look but nod.
He leans forward. “That was worth waiting for.” He squeezes my hand.
“You have nothing to worry about.” He ducks his head, so I can see his eyes.
“All I see is you, Riley. You’re all I’ve seen for a very long time. ”
His words chase away the remaining embarrassment, and warmth fills me and spreads through my entire body. I take a steadying breath, feeling like I am in control once again. “Thanks, Reid.”
Just when I think we’ve moved past this embarrassing moment, he grins. “But anytime you want to throwdown for me, I’m here for it.”
I groan and stand to my feet. “Let’s go.”
He laughs and stands up and pushes his chair in.
I don’t look towards the counter when we walk past; I don’t trust myself or my wolf.
Thankfully, she doesn’t call out to Reid; I think I would lose it if she did.
Only when we’re in the car do I fully relax.
Reid glances over at me as we pull out of the parking lot. “So, how’s the coffee?”
“Terrible.”
“You didn’t even try it,” he points out.
“Exactly.”
His warm chuckle warms me from the inside out. “Come on, Ry. You have to at least try it.”
I scowl at the coffee in my hand. “Do I, though?”
“Yes, because I want to know if it’s a place we should go back to.” I shoot him a glare, and he puts a hand up, laughing. “Just to pick up coffee.”
“You are never going back to that coffee shop, Reid Marshall.”
I watch a grin appear on his handsome face. “Yes, Ma’am. We will never go back. Now, can you try your coffee?”
“Fine.” I take a sip.
“How is it?”
Begrudgingly, I admit. “It’s pretty good.”
He laughs at that. As much as I don’t like the reason he’s laughing, I can totally admit that hearing Reid laugh is one of my most favorite things in the world. We’re almost back when it hits me. “Oh.”
“What?” he asks.
“We should have bought coffees for everybody else, or at least Tessa. She loves coffee.”
“Slate will get her coffee, if she wants it.”
We walk inside, and Tessa notices our coffee immediately. “You got coffee and didn’t bring back any?”
“You can have mine. I only took a sip.” I thrust my cold brew at her, and she frowns at it.
“Is it gross?”
“No.”
She eyes me. “Then why aren’t you drinking it?”
Reid chuckles, and I scowl at him. “The girl there was seconds away from throwing herself at Reid.”
“She was not.” Reid argues.
I turn on him. “Yes, she was.”
Tessa looks between the two of us. “Girl, I totally get it; and I don’t have the whole furry thing going on.”
“Furry thing?” I repeat.
“Yeah, the whole turn into a wolf thing.” She takes a sip and frowns. “Ew, no wonder you didn’t drink this. What is this?”
“It’s cold brew with a splash of oat milk and shot of sugar free vanilla?”
She looks at me with horror. “Sugar free? Who drinks coffee with sugar-free syrup? You need sugar and dairy and whipped cream in this thing. That’s disgusting.” With that, she dumps it down the sink.
I feel complete satisfaction at watching it drain. That is until I turn to see Reid and Slate staring at us. “Did you just dump the entire thing?” Reid asks.
Tessa freezes. “Oh. Did you want it?”
“It’s a little late now,” Reid says in return.
Tessa grimaces. “I am so sorry. I didn’t even think about—”
“Knock it off, Reid,” Slate says, and Reid grins. Slate shakes his head. “He’s seriously happy you just dumped it.”
“He doesn’t look happy,” Tessa says, glancing at Reid.
Slate crosses his arms over his chest. “Trust me. He is.” Reid neither confirms nor denies.
“Moving on,” Tessa says. “What do we want to eat today?”
I look at her blankly. “Eat?”
“For the holiday. Labor Day.”
“Oh. Uh, usually the pack has a cookout for Labor Day. Do you want to go there?”
I watch as Tessa’s face falls the slightest bit, and I instantly feel bad. Slate wraps an arm around her. “What’s your plan?” Slate asks Tessa.
I jump on board. “Yeah, Tessa. What do you usually do for Labor Day?”
Her face brightens. “Every year, my mom and I order food and watch movies all day.”
All three of us stare at her. “What movies?” Slate asks.
“Oh man. All the classics. While You Were Sleeping, Two Weeks Notice, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, The Proposal—”
“Okay, I’m going with Tessa on her plans for the day. That sounds amazing,” I tell her.
“Right?” She says, eyes bright. “And we get snacks.”
“I love snacks,” I add.
“And we order pizza.”
“I love pizza!” I contribute.
“And I eat a whole bag of red and yellow licorice.”
“Uh, I have no idea what those are, but yes!” I say with a grin.
Tessa puts her hand on my arm. “We should invite Evie.”
“Yes! But not my brother.”
She pauses. “No Zane? Like no guys at all?”
Reid and Slate both let us know how they feel about that, and I level a look at both of them. “Only if you can stay quiet and not make fun of the movies we watch.”
“We won’t,” Reid’s quick to say.
“We should be allowed to at least add one movie,” Slate says.
“Like what?” Tessa asks.
He shrugs. “The Patriot, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan.”
“Ughhhh, why does every guy always want to watch those awful movies?” Tessa complains.
Slate wraps her in a hug. “Hey, if you make us watch a bunch of romcoms, we get to watch at least one action movie.”
I arch a brow. “Look at you, Slate, knowing they’re called romcoms.”
Slate tugs Tessa closer. “My girl’s taught me many things this past year.” He pulls her close for a kiss, and Reid and I both take that as our cue to leave.
“We’ll take care of the snacks,” I call out as I walk towards the door. Neither of them answer.