Page 13 of Back to You (Legendary Shifters #14)

A smile slipped onto Ronan’s lips naturally.

Most of the time, he had to force himself to smile because he had nothing to be happy about, but that was changing.

Every time he thought of Vincent, he smiled.

It was a bit creepy, but Ronan didn’t care.

For years, he’d thought he’d never find happiness again.

How could he have when his mate was gone?

But Vincent was there, holding two coffees, waiting for him, and none of what had happened over the past few years mattered.

Fulton didn’t matter, either. He’d lost—both his son and his life—and Ronan and Vincent had won.

Ronan locked the car and strode toward his mate. Once he was close enough, it felt natural to lean down to kiss Vincent. Even though it had been years since they’d last done that, it had been familiar once.

Ronan stopped just in time. He hovered for a second, his lips inches away from Vincent’s. When he looked up, he saw that Vincent’s eyes were wide, and he jerked away.

Vincent cleared his throat. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too,” Ronan answered, feeling like an idiot. Why did he always stop thinking when he was anywhere near his mate? Was it something about Vincent, or was it because they were mates?

It didn’t matter. Ronan just needed to engage his brain and remember that no matter how familiar it felt to kiss Vincent, they hadn’t kissed in years. It wasn’t why they were here, either.

Ronan wished it were.

“I got you coffee,” Vincent said as he raised one of his hands. “I hope you still take it like you used to.”

“I’m fine with whatever. I’ve never been as interested in coffee as you are.”

“I just think that if you’re going to drink coffee, it should be good coffee.”

Ronan grinned. “That’s what I’m saying.”

“I am not a coffee snob. I just can’t stand it when it tastes burnt.”

Ronan didn’t really like coffee unless it was incredibly sweet and tasted of caramel or mint, but he’d always enjoyed teasing his mate over it.

That was what he did as they both walked towards the park.

It was completely empty today, which was a relief, but knowing Rosewood, it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

If they wanted a private place to talk, they’d have to find it elsewhere.

For now, though, it felt good to walk together.

Their shoulders kept bumping against each other, and Vincent hummed as he sipped on his coffee.

It was like being transported back to before all of this mess happened, and it was easy to bask in the memories.

“How’s Peter?” Ronan asked. He and Peter had been friends once, and he hoped they would be friends again. He just needed to fix things with Vincent first. If he didn’t, Peter would string him up by the balls.

“He’s struggling,” Vincent admitted. “It’s his boyfriend.”

“You sound like you don’t like him very much. “

“I probably sound like I’d hit him with my car without hesitation because I would.”

“What did he do?”

“He’s condescending and controlling. He doesn’t like that Peter and I are friends because he doesn’t want anyone to take away Peter’s attention.

He wants to be at the center of it, and he’s ready to do anything to make that happen.

You should hear the way he talks to Peter.

The other day, we went out for Friday night dinner, but we didn’t stay because I’d just learned that my father had died.

We went to Peter’s apartment, but that asshole was there, and he basically kicked me out. He even kept my food.”

Vincent sounded so outraged that in any other circumstance, Ronan would have smiled. He didn’t because he was worried about Peter. “That doesn’t sound like the kind of person Peter would be with.”

Vincent’s expression turned sad. “I think that losing you broke something in him, too. He used to look at us like an example, you know? He wanted what we had. When you vanished, he decided that mates weren’t worth it.

Hell, I’m pretty sure he decided that love wasn’t worth it.

Once, he told me that if even mates didn’t stay, what was the point? ”

“I didn’t leave willingly, though.”

“We didn’t know it at the time. I don’t know what to do to help him, but I won’t let him do this for much longer. I can’t.”

“We’ll both help him.”

Vincent turned toward Ronan. “You’re sure? Because he had many things to say about you when you disappeared, and none of them were nice.”

“He was looking out for you, and from the sound of it, he never stopped. I can’t begrudge him that.” Ronan didn’t. If anything, he was happy that Vincent hadn’t been alone. He’d been fine with being on his own because he thought his mate was dead, but Vincent had believed he’d done something wrong.

As if he could ever do anything that would push Ronan to abandon him.

* * * *

IT WAS EASY TO TALK about Peter. It was certainly easier than talking about all the things Vincent and Ronan were supposed to talk about.

Vincent didn’t want to think about the pain he’d felt for so long. He didn’t want to think about betrayal, about feeling like he wasn’t good enough and the nights wondering where things had gone wrong and how he could be better.

What use would it be to obsess over that, anyway?

None of it had been his fault, and it definitely hadn’t been Ronan’s fault.

The bitterness and anger were better left in the past, right along with Fulton.

If Vincent wanted to be happy with Ronan again, he’d need to look to the future, and the future was walking next to him right now.

He loved that Ronan seemed genuinely worried about Peter. They’d been friends before, and Vincent hoped they could be friends again. He needed the most important people in his life to get along.

He hadn’t told his mother about Ronan yet, but he would.

He just didn’t want her to rush home since she was having fun.

She would. She’d want to be with him so she could support him, and she’d be so damn happy to see Ronan.

It would add a layer of emotion to the situation that Vincent wasn’t ready to deal with, though, so it would have to wait.

Even though she would kill Vincent once she found out about all of it.

Ronan let Vincent rant about Lou for a while longer as they sipped on their coffees and walked.

It felt good not to have expectations and not to worry about what he was saying, so Vincent took advantage of it.

Usually, when he had a problem, he talked to Peter, but he couldn’t this time around.

Peter wouldn’t listen to reason when it came to Lou, which didn’t make sense.

“Maybe he actually likes the guy,” Ronan suggested.

Vincent snorted. “Please. He looks like he’s going to the dentist every time he has a date with Lou. He doesn’t like the guy, which is why I don’t understand why he’s with him. If he doesn’t believe in love anymore, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to be alone?”

“I just think that this isn’t your relationship. I understand wanting to help Peter, but maybe you don’t need to understand why Peter is with Lou. Isn’t it enough for you to see how bad this relationship is for him?”

Vincent hummed as he thought. Maybe Ronan was right. Vincent had been trying to make sense of it, but how could he when there wasn’t any sense to it? He didn’t need to know what was going through Peter’s mind to get Peter out of there. He just needed Peter to say yes.

Which was a problem because no matter how many times he tried to convince Peter to dump Lou, Peter always pushed back. He wasn’t listening to Vincent.

Maybe he’d listen to Ronan.

Vincent stopped walking and turned toward his mate. “You could talk to him.”

Ronan blinked. “He’s never listened to me.”

“No, but he’s always respected your opinion.”

“He respects yours more.”

“Not when it comes to his boyfriend. Nothing I’ve said has helped. Maybe it’s time you try.”

“As long as you’re sure it’s a good idea.”

“I am. You’re in my life to stay, aren’t you? I’m not going to lose you again?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Ronan promised.

He reached for Vincent but stopped before touching him. It made Vincent want to scream, just like he’d been tempted to do after the almost kiss. There was nothing he wanted more than to feel Ronan’s lips on his.

Maybe it was time to take a chance. Vincent stepped forward, moving so close that Ronan had no choice but to put a hand on his hip. Vincent pressed even closer, but before their lips could meet, Ronan shook his head and stepped away.

Vincent’s heart broke. He wanted to ask why Ronan didn’t want to kiss him, but he was afraid of the answer.

Ronan had just said he wasn’t going anywhere, but that didn’t mean he wanted a relationship.

The fact that they were mates didn’t mean they had to be together, and maybe things had changed too much between them for them to be.

“I’m sorry,” Vincent said as he tried to move away.

“Wait. I want to kiss you,” Ronan said.

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because there’s something I need to tell you before I do. You should know everything that’s going on because it wouldn’t feel right otherwise.”

Vincent hadn’t needed any more complications, dammit. Couldn’t things go smoothly and easily in his life once? “What is it?” he asked, expecting the worst.

“I told Cam about you and the conversation we had the other day. I also told him we’ve been communicating regularly and that I believe you had nothing to do with what your father did.

Unfortunately, that’s not enough. Cam is going to ask someone to dig into your life and ensure that you really weren’t working with Fulton.

I didn’t try to stop him. It’s not my place, and he doesn’t have the same faith in you as I do. ”

Vincent frowned. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Can you tell me what else is stopping you from kissing me?” Vincent wanted the conversation to be over so they could get on with the program.

Ronan cocked his head. “That was what was stopping me.”

“What?”

“I couldn’t kiss you without telling you all of that. It’s not that Cam doesn’t trust you. He just has to think about his people first.”

“Of course he does. Did you think I would react badly to it?”

Ronan hesitated. “He’s going to have someone dig into your life.”

“I don’t have any problems with that. I’m not hiding anything, Ronan.

If your alpha finds something, it’ll be something I’m not aware of.

” He hesitated. “You knew my father. You know the kind of man he was, so honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he found a way to fuck up my life from the grave.

Will your alpha listen to me if I try to explain myself? ”

“You think Braden will find something?”

“I want to say no because there’s nothing to find, but Fulton has ruined my life too many times already.” No matter how many times Vincent told himself that he wouldn’t allow Fulton to do so again, he might not have a choice.

“Cam knows your father. Not as well as you do, but I’m sure he’ll be willing to talk to you if Braden was to find anything.”

Vincent nodded. “Good. Can we kiss now?”

“You’re really okay with this?”

“He’s looking out for his people. Considering what my father did to them, I’d have been surprised if Cam didn’t look into me.

I’m not too worried, not about that anyway.

I am worried about the fact that you seem to be making excuses not to kiss me.

I realize it’s been a while for me, but I don’t think I’m that rusty. ”

The smile that bloomed on Ronan’s lips was worth the awkward joke.

He pressed closer again, and since Vincent wanted to make sure he wouldn’t change his mind a second time, he wrapped his arms around Ronan’s neck.

He grinned, and Ronan’s answering smile was fond and happy.

It brought Vincent back to other times, but he pushed the memories away.

It was time to make new ones.

Ronan didn’t move away this time. He hooked his arms around Vincent’s waist, and when their lips met, he kissed Vincent back.

It was a strange kiss. It felt familiar, but at the same time, it was also new.

Vincent recognized the shape of Ronan’s mouth, but Ronan smelled different now.

He also felt different. His shoulders were broader, his body harder.

Vincent couldn’t help but wonder how many scars he had under his clothes.

He forgot about all of that and stopped thinking when Ronan’s tongue met his. He groaned and pressed closer, but there was nowhere for him to go. He was already in Ronan’s arms, a place he never should have left.

Someone giggled, startling Vincent. He blinked to see two teenage girls walking past them. He felt his cheeks flush, and Ronan didn’t help when he kissed the corner of Vincent’s lips again.

“I forgot we were in public for a moment,” Vincent confessed.

“I’m glad we are. This isn’t exactly taking things slowly.”

Vincent wrinkled his nose. “Do we really have to?”

“No, but I don’t want to regret rushing into this. You’re my second chance at forever, Vincent. I don’t want to do anything that could ruin it.”

“I don’t think anything you could do would do that.” But Vincent was willing to wait. He’d already waited years, thinking he’d lost Ronan. What would another few days or even weeks change?