Page 21 of Trees Take the Long View

Halfway through dessert, I got a text from Dean, asking where I was, and whether I wanted to eat out tonight. I wiped my mouth quickly, held up a finger to silence Freddie, and tapped back quickly that I was currently at a diner and could he meet us here. It could be useful for his work.

He agreed, in a puzzled sort of way.

After giving him directions, I noticed Freddie watching me with a skeptical expression. "You're inviting him here? I have to meet the saintly paragon?"

"Hey, it's his job. I never said he was saintly."

He rolled his eyes. "You didn't have to, did you?"

"So you won't talk with him? Only me? Why, though? You clearly have no problem working around a bunch of assholes all day. Dean should be a lot easier to talk to."

"Hold your fire, I never said I wouldn't talk to him. Honestly. Just...humans suck sometimes, you know?"

"Humans? You're human."

"Oh, you know what I mean—a non-shifter. Don't be so exact, geez."

I leaned forward. "So do you spend most of your time outside of work as a fox? Do you live on the golf course?"

"They'd shoot my furry ass if I did. Don't be so nosy. Haven't you ever heard the saying 'curiosity pinched the wolf?'" He demonstrated, by reaching over and pinching me.

"Ow. Calm your tail, I just wondered. I like some non-traditional living myself. It was simple curiosity."

We were talking living arrangements and good places to go near here for that special wilderness feeling (he knew some places even better than the official parks), when Dean arrived. He stood just inside the diner's door, before a waitress spotted him, and before he'd spotted me. He looked so incredibly weary. I rose to wave him over with an animated grin. It was good to see him, even when he was looking down.

He didn't see me right away, so I started toward him. When his eyes lighted on me, he smiled—tired but real. "Alec. You're looking cheerful."

"I'm glad you made it." I couldn't resist, and gave him a quick hug when he was within hugging distance. He laughed a little, and hugged me back. I didn't want to let go, but I made myself.

I held a hand lightly on his arm and introduced him to Freddie, who was watching us with a slightly sour, skeptical look. He probably didn't think we were going to be mates. Well, what did he know about it? He didn't have a mate of his own, so how could he possibly be an expert?

"This is Freddie. He works at the judge's golf course. He was telling me all this shit about the judge. You can probably confirm some of it, and it might help."

I was talking too fast, but it was hard to calm down. He was here, he was here! I really needed to act my age about this. But he was my mate (I hope, I hope!), and I hadn't seen him or smelled his dear scent in person since this morning. Even though I was wearing his clothes, it wasn't the same at all.

He regarded me with amusement and a hint of reservation. "So that's what you were up to today. And I thought you were going for another long walk."

I fake-punched him on the arm. "Nah, c'mon, I wanted to help. Listen to what Freddie can tell you."

We all sat down again, and I tried to get them talking with the ease of before, but Freddie wasn't going to volunteer anything. He mostly seemed amused by watching us, slightly smug, even, and although Dean was interested, he was also a little skeptical that this was the way to go. Besides that, he was hungry and a bit fried from his long day. My great plan seemed to be unraveling.

But as he sat for a while, and had something to eat (we ordered lots more, because Freddie and I were still hungry), he began to get into it.

Dean swallowed, and pointed a French fry at Freddie. "Mm. If he really has taken bribes, that would be a really good thing to uncover. Not just for the legal team, but for the whole county."

Freddie snatched the fry. "I'm telling you, the man will leave his job when he goes out feet first. Even then he'll probably haunt the place. But sure, go ahead and try to prove it, and get your owl his help or whatever." He crunched the fry decisively.

After that we talked a little while longer, and had more desserts, and I leaned up against Dean as close as I could without climbing onto his lap. I felt very content and cozy there, warm inside, well-fed, at peace. It would be nice when things turned official for us—when, not if, because I could no longer believe this happy ending would just go away. It was too real, he was too perfect...

We only finally got up and went to pay when the staff started sending us worried looks, like we meant to stay till closing.

Dean said he'd pay, and I let myself be persuaded, possibly because I hadn't thought this through very well and the bill was over fifty bucks by the time we were done. That was all I had on me in cash, although there was more at the hotel, in my luggage. I left the tip, though.

"I'll drive Freddie home and meet you back at the hotel," I told Dean. I stared at him, wanting to kiss him on the mouth, even though it was just a short goodbye. Well, to be fair I would have wanted to kiss him no matter what. But still.

"Oh," said Dean with distaste. "I thought you came separately."

"Nope, at exactly the same time," said Freddie, and gave him a naughty "what are you going to do about it" grin.