Chapter Eight

I had been concerned about how we might run together as a bear and a hedgehog, but despite the fact that he was smaller, he was in great shape, and I only slowed my steps a bit so he could keep up. But it was even better when I was able to give him a ride home. My bear loved it. He showed off, running through the forest with all the grace a big bear could possibly summon.

I drove us home, coming down from all the excitement of the day and ready to unwind. "Are you hungry at all? Want to stop for a bite?"

"Is anything open this late?"

"If not, we can scrounge something from my shop, but I have been hearing there's a food truck at the rest stop out here along the highway, and it might be tacos."

His tummy's rumble answered the question for him.

The rest stop was another couple of miles out of town, so I hoped our trip would not be wasted. But I couldn't see any time spent with Cicek in that way. "What did you think of the area? Great for shifting, right?"

"Tourists don't go there?"

"I suppose they might, but it's pretty well off the beaten track, and it's not mentioned in any of the brochures or websites they are likely to find. So far, I've never run into anyone but a shifter."

He sighed. "I didn't realize how badly my hedgehog needed out. We appreciate your kindness, as always."

Is that what he thought it was? He might not want more from me, but at the very least, I hoped he would see me as a friend. "It was our pleasure. I've been so busy, it's been too long for my bear as well." The lights of the truck stop came into view, and I crossed my fingers that the vendor would be there. Not that I'd mind having to go to the shop to eat, but it was fun being out here together under the moonlight.

Don't make more of it than it is, Zion. This is not a date.

But whatever it was, sitting at the concrete picnic table surrounded by a surprising number of other diners made for a nice end to the evening.

"How long has this truck been out here?" Cicek bit into his fifth one, his eyes half closed in an expression that made my mind go in an entirely different direction. "And why haven't I heard of it before?"

I loved that he enjoyed my food, but I couldn't lie and say it didn't please me to hunt down more treats, and I'd gladly drag him out here any day to see the look on his face. "I don't know any of those answers, but I will try to find out."

He ate another bite of taco and sighed. "I'm going to have to stop soon or I'll explode."

"We can come back anytime you like." My bear was rumbling with pleasure. "No need to explode tonight." And why did everything sound naughty tonight?

We wandered back to the car in easy silence and returned to our shops where we parted ways and headed up to our apartments. My bear was being very pushy about wanting to accompany him to his door and preferably inside, but until and unless this omega shared the slightest interest in taking this beyond friendship, we would not be making a move. He'd been through some stuff, although he hadn't told me all the details, but it was clear he planned on staying single for the foreseeable future.

Mate.

Not unless he wants to be.

None of this stopped me from lying in bed and reliving the whole experience, dreaming of running with him again or taking him for a meal somewhere. Although, I didn't think I'd be able to top the taco experience in sheer enjoyment. In my dreams, we spent more time together, our conversation going on and on through the hours of rest. When I woke, I was startled to be alone. But the omega was just next door, and it violated no friendship rules to continue on as we were. Maybe in time, things would change, but I was in this for the long haul, and it would be whatever Cicek wanted it to be.

With that in mind, I climbed out of bed and showered, planning what I might prepare for my neighbor to eat. Or maybe the thing to do today was just to say hi, visit, be casual. I rehearsed casual while shampooing my hair and brushing my teeth. Over coffee and toast, I revised my casual and thought maybe I would pick up some rolls from PBJ. They wouldn't be my new shape yet, but I could try out some sandwich ideas and see what my neighbor thought of them.

But when I arrived at his shop, the door was locked and the closed sign was still in the window.

What was going on?