Page 10

Bryn

Without a cell phone, I had to resort to messaging Tiffany on social media. The first ten minutes were a full-on interrogation followed by a hundred are-you-sure-you’re-okay’s. She tried to come over, but I put her off. I wanted to wallow alone. There was no use bringing anyone else down with me. I doubted that she would stay away all day, but I had at least an hour to myself.

Closing my outdated laptop, I set it aside. Grabbing the remote, I was just about to turn on the TV when there was a knock on the door. Frowning, I stood and strolled towards the sound. It was too soon to be Tiff, but I wasn’t expecting anyone else.

Cracking the door, I peered out at the man. One look at him and I knew he was a friend of Bear’s. There was something in his appearance, in his tall, well-muscled frame that was reminiscent of the other’s I’d met in the coffee shop. It had me rethinking Bear’s shifter claim.

“Hi.”

He thrust a hand towards me.

“I’m Jake. I’m a friend of Bear’s, but I promise I come in peace.”

He gave me a charming smile, revealing a dimple in his left cheek.

Opening the door wider, I hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “Bryn.”

He held up a coffee cup and a bag of what I could only assume was food.

“Bear dropped this off for you. He said you hadn’t eaten.”

My gaze passed between the man and the breakfast he held. When I didn’t make a move for it, he adjusted his approach.

“Listen, I know you’ve been through a lot in a short amount of time. You’re probably overwhelmed and confused. It’s a lot to take in, but just know, as his mate, he’ll never walk away from you. He can’t.”

He set the food and drink on the ground at my feet.

“I’ll be out here if you need anything.”

He headed for the stairs. Pausing, he glanced back at me.

“And, for the record, this is pure hell for him. He loves you, Bryn.”

My heart picked up its pace. Before hope could swell, anger bubbled seemingly from nowhere in side me.

“He hardly knows me.”

I smashed my lips together.

He considered me, giving a light nod of his head in understanding.

“He knows you better than you think, and certainly better than you know him.”

He lightly shrugged.

“One of the advantages to being the shifter in the relationship.”

Hearing the words aloud caught me by surprise.

“You- I mean…”

I nipped my bottom lip.

His smile was easy, forgiving.

“About twenty-five percent of Black Fall is shifter. We don’t exactly advertise.”

He settled on the top step and whipped out his phone, effectively dismissing me.

Guilt slid through me. Had I been too hard on Bear? Had I over reacted? Had I let my mind skew reality, convince me to shut him out in a bid for self-preservation?

Bending, I picked up the food and drink.

“Tell Bear thank you for the breakfast.”

I closed the door behind me, not waiting for his response.

Sauntering into my small, outdated kitchen, I set the bag and cup down on the counter. Removing the lid off of the coffee, I was prepared to add cream and sugar, but stopped short at the milky appearance of the brew. Taking a sip, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was exactly the way I liked it. Replacing the lid, I opened the bag. My breath hitched at the sight of my favorite breakfast sandwich from Jane’s Diner, a few miles up the road. They served Mugs coffee and we served Jane’s pastries; unfortunately, we served sandwiches from another vendor that I wasn’t very fond of.

He’d known. Somehow he knew.

“He knows you better than you think, and certainly better than you know him.”

Jake’s words replayed in my mind, proving that he was right in more than one way. Somehow, he’d known that I needed him last night. He-

Jake was right in all aspects. I was overwhelmed and confused. I wasn’t thinking straight. If I tried, I could weave the pieces together and it would all make sense, yet it wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change the fact that he wasn’t physically attracted to me. He was looking after my physical well-being, but not the way I desired for him to.

And that had every ounce of hurt I’d suppressed earlier rising again, snaking through my chest and settling into a sharp ache.

Everything blurred before me. I grabbed the edge of the counter and pinched the lip between my fingers and thumb. I really hated this.

Ugh! Squishing my eyelids together, I sucked in a deep breath. I was not going to cry again. Blinking several times, I waited for the tears to clear. I pushed all thoughts of Bear and Jake out of my mind.

Snatching the items off the counter, I settled in the living room, plopping down on the sofa, and turning on the TV. I needed an escape, a distraction. Leisurely, I ate the bacon, egg, melted swiss and caramelized onion sandwich, and drank my large coffee. I made it through two crime drama re-runs before Tiff showed up.

“What’s with the hunk of muscle? New guard dog?”

She closed the door behind her.

“He’s a friend of Bear’s.”

Learning that Jake was still there was the catalyst that had me re-examining everything Bear had said earlier again.

Most guys with a hero complex would be the ones waiting outside, at the ready for something to happen. While I hadn’t seen anyone shift, for some reason, I believed them now. Hearing it from Bear, I was skeptical, but, hearing it from Jake, too, had shaken most of the doubt away. It was the missing piece of the puzzle I’d been searching for for years. The resemblance between Bear and his friends, the ones I knew anyways, had to be the shifter piece.

Dear God, it was all making sense. The honey, the growl, the need to protect me. Despite the dots connecting, there was one glaring black spot: motive.

Bear wasn’t protecting me because he was madly in love with me, no matter what Jake had insinuated. You couldn’t love someone at the exclusion of their figure. No. I was convinced that I was merely an obligation thrust upon him by Mother Nature, someone he couldn’t ignore but someone he didn’t want to be with.

Jake said Bear couldn’t walk away, but he could have gotten into my panties over the years if he’d wanted to. He’d never pursued more than a cup of coffee with honey five days a week with me. Actions would always speak louder than words, and his had spoken for him for five years now.

I’d made the right decision in walking away. I deserved more. I may never get it, but I am more than a heavy bag of responsibilities.

She studied me for a solid minute.

“You’re not okay.”

It was a declaration.

“I should have known.”

She scooted closer to me and took my hand in hers.

“Talk to me, B.”

“I-”

Crap! What on Earth was wrong with me?

Tears stung my eyes as emotions, scary feelings too intense for a mere stranger, welled in my chest, making it harder to breathe. I gasped for air, fighting the onslaught.

“Aw, babe.”

Tiff threw her arms around me.

“I already planned on taking a few teeth from the creep last night, but who else’s ass do I need to kick? Bear’s? The hunk of muscle? Stuart’s? All of the above? Cause you know I will. I may be scrappy but I’ve got a few good punches in me. Give me the reason and a chance and I could do some damage.”

I chuckled, even as the tears rolled down my cheeks, escaping my hold. My gaze fell to my bruised forearm. It was ugly, sore, and slightly more puffy than my right arm. Glimpsing up at my friend, I smirked.

“Some people would pay money to watch you make a fool of yourself.”

“Even better. They can fund that cruise we’ve been talking about taking for three years now.”

She squeezed me.

“Thanks.”

I sniffed, pulling out of her grip. I wiped the remnant of my tears away.

“You know I’ve always got your back. I’d have way more than that if you let me.”

She winked.

“Come to daddy.”

She playfully lunged at me.

“Stop.”

I shoved at her chest, laughing.

“Now that’s a smile.”

She beamed, proud to have cracked me.

Oh God. Realization dawned on me.

“What time is it?”

She glanced at the men’s watch further dwarfing her slender wrist. “1:15pm.”

“Crap!”

I leapt off the couch and bolted for my bedroom. Throwing open my closet doors, I shoved my other clothes aside to reach my work clothes. I yanked my black skinny jeans and a long-sleeved black top – I wasn’t looking to field questions about the mark all day – off their hangers. Spinning, I found Tiff lounging on my bed. I didn’t stop, jerking off my tank and tossing it aside.

“I was hoping Bear had called in for you.”

She pouted.

I froze, mid tug of my leggings. Dread weighted like a heavy anchor in my gut.

“You didn’t.”

I cringed, meeting her gaze, quietly pleading with her.

“Please tell me you didn’t, Tiff.”

“Hell yeah I did.”

She sat up on the bed, crossing her legs.

“I can’t wait until you tell that prick to shove his Styrofoam cups where the sun don’t shine.”

Jerking my leggings the rest of the way off, I put on my uniform.

“I can’t wait to quit either, but I need to find something else first.”

I shimmied my jeans into place, going back to my closet for my black flats.

“Truthfully, I actually like the job and the customers. It’s the pay and the cranky boss that I don’t like.”

“I couldn’t do it. I would have poured a fucking barrel’s worth of hot coffee on the douche by now, especially after called you a retard in front of everyone.”

Hopping off the bed, she followed me into the bathroom, giving me very little breathing room.

“To be fair, he didn’t call me a retard; he only asked if I was one.”

I clipped back a small portion of my hair, taking a moment to straighten my earrings and glasses. I didn’t have time to do my make-up, so this would have to be put together enough.

She shook her head dismissively.

“Same difference, babe. He implied that you were one in front of an audience. It’s fucking harassment on some corporate level, I’m sure. We should sue him for all he’s got.”

She was working herself up, bouncing on her feet.

Rolling my eyes, I let out a humorless snicker.

“That’s not how it works. There are a ton of assholes in the world, I just happen to work for a big one.”

Giving myself one last rapid check in the mirror, I ambled back out to the living room in search of my purse. I quickly spotted it hanging on a dining room chair. Throwing it on my left forearm, I cried out, my heart taking off as I let the tote drop to the floor in a thud.

A fist pounded on the front door, starling me again. “Bryn!”

Jake’s voice boomed beyond the barrier towards us.

“Shit. You okay, B?”

Tiff picked up the bag, her brows furrowed with concern as she assessed me.

My gaze bounced between her and the door. Blowing out a small breath, my heart continued to beat faster than normal.

“I’m okay. Just habit; that’s all.”

My hands trembled, my nerves a mess for no reason.

Another bang sounded on the door, vibrating the wood. “Bryn.”

Shaking out my hand, as if I could flick the pain away, I refocused on the door. Opening it, I came face to face with a hyper alert shifter. There was no denying it this time: his eyes had glowing honey striations.

His hands gripped the door frame, his knuckles white from the strain, as he hovered over me, thoroughly scrutinizing me.

“What happened?”

he demanded. There was a rumbly tone to his voice, almost like he was about to snarl.

Instead of slowing, my heartbeat quickened. I was looking at a person, a creature, that didn’t exist to most of the world. It was a humbling notion, one that turned me into the creepy kid dressed in black that stares but never speaks. I couldn’t help it, though. All clarity fell away as I studied his eyes, mesmerized, thoroughly entranced. It looked like he had crackles, flickers of lightning flashing in his irises.

Suddenly, Tiffany was pushing her way between me and the door. The moment he was in her sights, the proof was gone, tucked away; literally in the blink of his eyes, no luminance remained.

She nudged my side.

“You need to get going, B. I’ll lock up for ya’.”

She handed me my purse.

Jake continued to gape at me. Determination was vivid in his expression.

“I’m following you.”

He lost some of his intensity as he backed up and gestured for me to lead the way.

“You mess with my friend, muscle, and I’ll turn you into scraps.”

Tiff cut her eyes at him, puffing her chest like a dragon, readying to hurl flames.

Amusement lit his depths, but not in the way his animal did.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He smirked.

“I’ve got my eye on you.”

She moved two fingers in front of her eyes. The action was a period, an extension of her statement.

He barely contained his chuckle, his grin full of mischief.

“And I’ve got my eyes on her.”

He was mocking her.

Tiff scowled, cutting her eyes at him, but didn’t keep going.

“Message me later, babe.”

She gave my rear asset a quick squeeze, her gape never deviating from Jake.

Knowing the minutes were ticking by, I ignored her inappropriate power play and leapt into action. I brushed past them, practically skipping down the stairs, casting a rushed, “I will,”

back at her.

I didn’t have to look behind me to know Jake was following. I didn’t know what Bear expected to happen, but a body guard was a waste on me. Last night was the last time I would ever step foot in a bar, no matter how much pleading Tiff did in the future, and, aside from a moody boss who sometimes had fits that rivaled any spoiled toddler, nothing happened at work.

Wrenching my car door open, I slid behind the wheel, tossing my medium-sized, knock-off tote on the passenger seat. My anxiety doubled when I turned on my older model car and saw the time. Oh God. Reversing out of the parking spot, I sped off towards quaint, downtown Black Fall, praying to all that was holy that I made it in time.

Maneuvering through the small mountain town, I paid no mind to who was behind me on the trip or who was watching when I kissed my steering wheel upon parking at exactly 1:57pm, three minutes before my shift started.