12. Anders
Chapter 12
Anders
I miss you .
Brett was in Rockhill on a five-day course. I told him to check out Daxon's coffee shop there, though someone said he might have sold it.
But Brett and I kept playing telephone tennis or message tennis. I'd be on a job if he was on a break, but when I finally got done, he'd have muted his phone or been in bed.
This reminded me of when I was single. I was lonely and couldn't concentrate on anything in my spare time, wondering if Brett was free to chat.
But as I was drinking my morning coffee in the back garden, I told myself I was effing silly. Missing my mate was to be expected, but my life didn't end because he wasn't at my side. Brett didn't need or want a lap dog that existed solely to be with him. He needed a mate who had a full life, a circle of friends, hobbies, and a community.
Wanna hunt? It was late afternoon, and barring any plumbing emergencies, I was done for the day.
My beast agreed, he was tired of my moping. Allowing him to run and eat might allow me to get out of my head and enjoy the outdoors.
And not be looking at your phone every five minutes , he suggested.
True . Though it was more like every minute.
I drove a ways out of town, farther than where we usually shifted and gave my snow leopard his fur. While the terrain around Oakheart wasn't similar to a wild snow leopard habitat, there were plenty of deer and small mammals for my beast to feast on.
While my beast ate his kill, I tried to enjoy the last rays of the sun on our head, the birds flying home to nest in the canopy over our head, and the chirping of the insects.
When my beast had his fill and before I took my skin, he asked, How far is Rockhill from here?
What? We were just outside Oakheart, and Rockhill was a good three-hour drive.
Isn't that why you chose this location to shift?
No . I took my skin and got dressed before getting into the car and slamming the door. I was annoyed that he'd suggested I had an ulterior motive when I drove here.
But instead of putting my foot on the accelerator and tearing off down the narrow dirt road, I thought about what my beast had said. Why did I come here when our usual hunting ground was much closer?
Maybe in the back of my mind I did want to drive to Rockhill and surprise Brett? Was that ridiculous?
Perhaps. It was a good idea. I was only a little over two hours away. But if I did go, I'd have to leave at 5 a.m. tomorrow.
Do it .
So much for being my own man and living my life while my one and only was gone for a few days.
Okay .
I started the car, and Brett messaged saying he was headed back to the guest house. I fibbed, telling him I was on a job and we'd speak later. Hoping he wasn't planning a night out with his classmates, I turned right onto the highway rather than left. But he texted again saying he was going to nap and we'd chat when I was free.
As I hadn't planned on driving to Rockhill I pulled into a gas station halfway to my destination. Just as I had finished filling the car and was about to pay, a car drove in and parked on the other side of the gas pumps.
I didn't look up but noted the car was the same color as Brett's.
"Hello, stranger. Fancy meeting you here."
I swung around at hearing my mate's voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I was planning on surprising you."
"Call me surprised." He fell into my arms, but the forecourt of a gas station wasn't the place to greet your mate and maybe squeeze his beautiful butt.
While I paid for my gas, Brett filled his car, and I parked at the gas station café.
"This is a reminder that surprise visits might end in disaster." He rested his head on my chest while I leaned on my car. "Do we drive to Oakheart or back to Rockhill?"
While spending the night with my mate was what I'd planned—what we'd planned—he would return to Oakheart in two days. That option would leave neither of us with a long drive early in the morning.
"How about we eat here, and I go home and you return to your guest house. We can celebrate on the weekend when you've finished your course."
Brett agreed while saying he'd hoped to sleep in my arms tonight.
" Sleeping wasn't on my mind." I grinned, and he returned my smile.
We sat in a booth at the back of the café and ordered burgers and fries. Brett told me about his course, and I related how I'd been up to my knees in water after a pipe broke in a client's basement.
"These are really good burgers. We should come here some time." I dipped a fry in ketchup and popped it between my lips.
Brett tapped the corner of his mouth. "You have a little something something."
"Here?" I pointed to the end of my nose. He giggled and shook his head. "Here?" I tapped my brow, and he rolled his eyes. "What about here?" I pointed under the table to my crotch.
"Stop it." Using a paper napkin from a pile on the table, he dabbed at the corner of my mouth.
"Oh, there!" I winked, and taking hold of his hand, I kissed the palm.
"That's ticklish." He squirmed and tugged his hand, but I held it tight.
Running my finger over the lines on his palm, I said, "You have a long lifeline and so do I." I showed him my hand. "We're destined to spend many happy years together."
"Good. I look forward to every minute of every day of every year."
It was getting late, and we both had over an hour to drive, so after paying the bill, we stood by our cars that were parked side by side. Neither of us wanted to be the first to leave.
"You go and I'll wave you off," Brett suggested.
"That sounds like I'm a racecar driver."
"Hmmm. You do drive a little fast."
He had a point, and now that I had a mate, I needed to think of someone other than myself.
You've always had me . My leopard never let me get away with anything.
"No, you go first." I hated goodbyes and wanted to say farewell to him, in case I burst into tears. It was silly because we'd see one another in two, maybe three days.
"No, you," he insisted.
"Let's do it at the same time." We kissed and hugged, promising to message when we reached our respective destinations.
One final wave and I turned left, checking the rearview mirror as Brett went in the opposite direction. Though we didn't get to sleep in the same bed and wake up beside one another, being with my mate had tamped down the desire to be with him every minute. Just as I had fueled the car, us having dinner had filled my contentment, and I was ready to sleep and face a new day tomorrow.
I got home before Brett reached his guest house, as I'd had a head start because of where I'd shifted, and I'd showered and was in bed when he arrived. We chatted until I told him to sleep, as he had an early class in the morning.
But I missed him being beside me, so I hugged a pillow all night, wishing it was my mate.
The phone dinged and woke me. I fumbled for it, but it was under the covers and I tossed off the bedding while crawling over the mattress.
Are you alone? he texted.
What sort of question is that? Did he think I'd snuck another omega into my bed?
I wanted to make sure you weren't out having coffee or had been called to an emergency job .
My heart sped up as I came up with all the reasons why he needed me to be alone.
Yes, I'm still in bed .
Me too, though I'm about to get up and shower. But I wanted to show you something.
Whatever it was, I was ready. Go on.
Morning wood .
Oh gods, he sent me a dick pic.
I dreamed we had sex last night, and I was so hard when I woke up . It hurt .
Maybe I should drive to Rockhill this evening and help you out .
Being in love and finding my mate had made me giddy. But what was a three-hour drive tonight if I got to be with the omega I adored?
I like the way you think. See you in twelve hours .