Page 7
Story: Seth
Chapter Five
Seth
Surprise.The one word didn’t even come close to what he felt.Seth was shocked.Every minute since he’d left class the week before, he wondered whether the next class would be the one where Aubrey agreed to get to know him.But he knew not to push.He wanted her to know that his interest wasn’t fleeting.The last thing he wanted her to do was run away because he’d pressured her too much too soon.
So when he arrived in class, he asked her about her week before they moved on to speak about the weather, although that seemed to amuse her when he’d brought it up.He barely heard a word his professor spoke, grateful that the man put all of his lecture notes online, and planned what he would say to get her to agree this time.If she didn’t—well, he could wait.He could be patient.He’d already determined that she was worth it.
The moment class ended, his careful plan evaporated.
“Would you like to come over to my place and talk?”
His voice had disappeared and he found himself nodding in agreement.He had managed to locate his SUV by chance and followed her to the outskirts of town.When he parked and hopped out, not wanting to waste a moment with her, she directed him to a chair on the porch.He watched as she unlocked her door and stashed her keys and bag inside, before she joined him.
The moment he sat on the padded rocking chair, a fluffy ball darted out of nowhere and jumped onto his lap.Seth smiled down at the little cat and held his hand out for inspection.Instead of sniffing him, the cat butted his head against his palm and purred when Seth stroked his back.
“What’s his name?”
“Hades.”
He lifted one eyebrow before he glanced down into the hazel eyes.Yeah, he could see the mischievous glint shining from the all-black cat, and understood that Hades was a perfect name.
“He’s usually not that friendly.Cole and I are the only ones he’s ever shown affection to.And now you, apparently.”
He stiffened as he heard another man’s name, but before he could ask her who Cole was, Hades chose that moment to butt his head against the bottom of Seth’s chin, pulling his attention back to the loving creature on his lap.Hades must’ve sensed the tension and offered what comfort he could.Smart cat.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thanks.”
Her brows drew down at his quick response.
“I would like to get to know you and time doing that is precious to me,” he explained.
“I would like that.”Her shy response sent heat down his spine.
Before he could speak, they were interrupted by a car pulling into the driveway.His eyes never moved from her face.When she smiled at the new arrival, something in his chest stalled as jealousy washed over him.His gaze darted over to the car; his eyes widened as he watched a handsome blond man step out of the car and smile at Aubrey, walking toward the house with a package in his hand.Seth actually growled, low and deep in his throat, when the other man pulled her into a hug, the affection plain on the man’s face.
“Evening, sunshine.”
“Hi, Cole.”
Before he knew his intentions, Seth gently placed Hades on his newly vacated seat and stepped close to Aubrey in a possessive way that wouldn’t have been mistaken as an accident.He watched as the other man’s attention pulled away from Aubrey and landed on him.Instead of surprise, the other man smiled at Seth and caught him off guard.
“Is this him?” Cole asked.
Aubrey nodded.“Yes, this is Seth.Seth, this is my best friend, Cole.”
Now that he had gotten closer, Seth could tell the man was older than him by close to a decade.He couldn’t help wonder at their relationship, but something in his mind understood that Cole wasn’t a threat, but a friend to Aubrey.Seth visibly relaxed.
“It’s nice to meet you.”Seth’s hand shot out.
“You, too.”
The side of Cole’s mouth inched up in a smirk.Ignoring Seth’s hand, Cole reached forward and pulled him into a warm hug.He stiffened in surprise, but it reminded him of Kai’s hug the other day, warm and comforting, so he found himself relaxing.Seth returned the affectionate embrace and with one last squeeze, Cole pulled back.
Cole’s beaming smile made Aubrey laugh.“I’m glad you took my advice.”
“And you—how was your date?”
Seth
Surprise.The one word didn’t even come close to what he felt.Seth was shocked.Every minute since he’d left class the week before, he wondered whether the next class would be the one where Aubrey agreed to get to know him.But he knew not to push.He wanted her to know that his interest wasn’t fleeting.The last thing he wanted her to do was run away because he’d pressured her too much too soon.
So when he arrived in class, he asked her about her week before they moved on to speak about the weather, although that seemed to amuse her when he’d brought it up.He barely heard a word his professor spoke, grateful that the man put all of his lecture notes online, and planned what he would say to get her to agree this time.If she didn’t—well, he could wait.He could be patient.He’d already determined that she was worth it.
The moment class ended, his careful plan evaporated.
“Would you like to come over to my place and talk?”
His voice had disappeared and he found himself nodding in agreement.He had managed to locate his SUV by chance and followed her to the outskirts of town.When he parked and hopped out, not wanting to waste a moment with her, she directed him to a chair on the porch.He watched as she unlocked her door and stashed her keys and bag inside, before she joined him.
The moment he sat on the padded rocking chair, a fluffy ball darted out of nowhere and jumped onto his lap.Seth smiled down at the little cat and held his hand out for inspection.Instead of sniffing him, the cat butted his head against his palm and purred when Seth stroked his back.
“What’s his name?”
“Hades.”
He lifted one eyebrow before he glanced down into the hazel eyes.Yeah, he could see the mischievous glint shining from the all-black cat, and understood that Hades was a perfect name.
“He’s usually not that friendly.Cole and I are the only ones he’s ever shown affection to.And now you, apparently.”
He stiffened as he heard another man’s name, but before he could ask her who Cole was, Hades chose that moment to butt his head against the bottom of Seth’s chin, pulling his attention back to the loving creature on his lap.Hades must’ve sensed the tension and offered what comfort he could.Smart cat.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thanks.”
Her brows drew down at his quick response.
“I would like to get to know you and time doing that is precious to me,” he explained.
“I would like that.”Her shy response sent heat down his spine.
Before he could speak, they were interrupted by a car pulling into the driveway.His eyes never moved from her face.When she smiled at the new arrival, something in his chest stalled as jealousy washed over him.His gaze darted over to the car; his eyes widened as he watched a handsome blond man step out of the car and smile at Aubrey, walking toward the house with a package in his hand.Seth actually growled, low and deep in his throat, when the other man pulled her into a hug, the affection plain on the man’s face.
“Evening, sunshine.”
“Hi, Cole.”
Before he knew his intentions, Seth gently placed Hades on his newly vacated seat and stepped close to Aubrey in a possessive way that wouldn’t have been mistaken as an accident.He watched as the other man’s attention pulled away from Aubrey and landed on him.Instead of surprise, the other man smiled at Seth and caught him off guard.
“Is this him?” Cole asked.
Aubrey nodded.“Yes, this is Seth.Seth, this is my best friend, Cole.”
Now that he had gotten closer, Seth could tell the man was older than him by close to a decade.He couldn’t help wonder at their relationship, but something in his mind understood that Cole wasn’t a threat, but a friend to Aubrey.Seth visibly relaxed.
“It’s nice to meet you.”Seth’s hand shot out.
“You, too.”
The side of Cole’s mouth inched up in a smirk.Ignoring Seth’s hand, Cole reached forward and pulled him into a warm hug.He stiffened in surprise, but it reminded him of Kai’s hug the other day, warm and comforting, so he found himself relaxing.Seth returned the affectionate embrace and with one last squeeze, Cole pulled back.
Cole’s beaming smile made Aubrey laugh.“I’m glad you took my advice.”
“And you—how was your date?”