Page 32

Clark

“ G ood morning, Tenzin.” I waved as the car we were sharing to the airport pulled up. It wasn’t even light yet, but we had an early flight to get to the photo shoot for the Bare Armor calendar.

Tenzin gave me a nod. He might not be a morning person.

We put our bags in the trunk and got in.

“This should be fun,” I told him, excitement bubbling inside me. “I haven’t been to too many places.” We were going to an island off the southern coast.

Tenzin nodded, taking a sip of whatever was in his tumbler. Tea most likely. “It should be nice.”

We checked in with the Bare Armor PR person. It looked like we were all on the same flight and sleepy patrons waiting for their flights were checking us all out. We were a good-looking group, all of us wearing suits.

I went to ask Tenzin if he wanted to go to the coffee stand, but he was sitting already, reading a book on national parks.

As I walked to the cart, I texted Gwen.

Me

What kind of tea does Tenzin like?

Gwen

Jasmine

I got myself a coffee and a croissant, then got Tenzin a jasmine tea and a tiny blueberry muffin. He liked muffins, right? After all, that was his and Gwen’s thing, trying muffins at different places across the city. She’d post pictures of them.

Tenzin was still reading when I returned. He looked up when I stood in front of him.

“Here.” I offered it to him, belly churning. Was this even a good idea? Yes, it was, since I was being kind.

“Thank you.” His eyes brightened a little.

“Um, I wasn’t sure if you like muffins, well, I mean, you do, right?” Why was this so awkward?

“I do.” He took a sip of his tea and his eyebrows rose as if to ask how I knew what to get.

“I asked Gwen.” I ducked my head.

Tenzin gave me a nod of thanks and picked up his book.

The flight attendant called for first class and we boarded. I found myself next to Tenzin. The seats weren’t as comfy and spacious as the Knights’ private plane, but were still big enough for most alphas. Tenzin looked uncomfortable, but then he was a big boy.

He had his book out. “Thank you again. The muffin was the perfect size. You got the blueberry with the little sugars on it. It’s my favorite. But don’t feel you have to do things like that for me.”

The praise made a very different type of warmth flow through me. “You do such a good job of taking care of Gwen. Who takes care of you?”

His head cocked. “I’m an alpha. I take care of people.”

“Same. Hey, do you like the beach? I hope we get to spend some time there.” I’d only been a couple of times.

Maybe I’d take my family on a vacation next off-season. The problem was that hockey off-season was high-season for my parents.

“I enjoy going to places I’ve never been,” he told me, as people continued to board. “I’d like to get some good photos.”

“That sounds nice. I’d like to see the stars there. It’s fun looking for the same constellations in different places. I’ve never been good at photographing them, though,” I replied.

Tenzin nodded. “Photographing the sky is an art.”

I got out my Game Buddy. “Do you play video games?”

He shook his head. “Not really. Your tie is crooked.”

Tenzin straightened my tie, making me once again very aware of him. Of his touch. The muscles in his face. His citrus scent that wasn’t quite lemon or lime.

“There. That’s a very interesting tie pattern.” He brushed my suit with his hands.

“Oh, Gwen got it for me. It's like the wallpaper in the waiting room of the Defender League headquarters in the movies. The tie tack is their symbol. I have a matching pocket square, but I’m not really a pocket square guy. I used it to make wallpaper on my bookshelf for my Defender League figures,” I told him. “Do you like those movies?”

My dad taught me to read using the comics, and I still found them and graphic novels easier than books.

The flight attendant brought us drinks. Tenzin blinked a little, like he had no idea what I was saying.

“I love Professor Weird,” he finally told me. “That latest movie with the multiverse was a mind-fuck.”

“I know, right? The multiverse is trippy.” Of course, his favorite Defender League character was Professor Weird, who was one of the more obscure characters. Gwen loved Aquatica, who was an underwater badass. I liked Captain Everything, given he was cheerful and always did what he thought was right.

He eyed the tie. “Gwen got it for you?”

“She got my name in the team holiday gift exchange last year.” My cheeks burned. “Since we wear suits, she thought I’d like it.” I loved it.

“You looked good out there, dancing with her,” he added, gazing at me.

“It was fun. Don’t feel you need to include me in all the special things you and Gwen do together. It’s okay for us to do different things with her,” I told him. “Like outdoor yoga–or that show you watch. You can keep those. Though I will totally join you at the zoo for Marty visits.”

His head cocked. “Is it the show itself or the subtitles?”

My breath caught in my chest. “The subtitles. How… how did you know?”

“Cooter is dyslexic. He prefers dubbing to subtitles. I’m unsure if there’s a dubbed version of this one. When we start a new show, I can look for a dubbed version?” he offered.

“That would be nice, but again, you and Gwen should have your things. I don’t want to encroach.” I was amazed that he guessed, since it wasn’t something I told people. It was why I preferred comics to books.

“We have lots of things. I don’t mind sharing. Do you like art?” he asked.

“I like art museums in the sense that they tend to have interesting architecture,” I replied. They could keep art museums, too.

“Yes. You’re an engineer. She told me all about the cow-house you designed. I can’t believe you got her a cat.” He shook his head.

“I figured that if I got a cat, it would give her a task to do while house-sitting and make her feel better about not paying rent.”

He nodded. “Ah, yes, I see. That is a sound plan.”

“Also, Snowball is so cute,” I gushed. “Here’s a picture of her sleeping on Gwen.” I showed him the photo I’d taken through her open door the other day.

One thing Gwen had gotten on her trip to Home Things was a net canopy with fairy lights. Most everything was in different shades of purple. She looked like a sleeping princess.

“You’re a good friend to her. I hope you know that,” he told me.

There was something in the way he looked at me that made me all gooey inside.

“I just treat people the way I like to be treated.” I gazed at him right back, hoping he knew that he was included in that sentiment. Something about him awakened instincts in me I’d never felt.

It went beyond crushing on him. It was a sense of rightness. Of belonging.

“Good.”

The air whooshed out of my lungs as he said that.

“I didn’t mean to keep walking in on you. Last time we did the shoot. It was an accident, not some weird flex or power play.” His voice was quiet.

“It’s fine.” My heart fluttered a little, since I hadn’t expected him to bring that up.

I knew it was an accident. They had us changing in these little pop-up tents and it was hard to know if they were occupied.

“Did you like what you saw?” It came out in a bare whisper and I didn’t look at him.

“Yes.”

He liked what he saw? Mmmm. I couldn’t wait to tell Gwen.