Chapter Four

Jamie

The last thing I wanted to do on a day off was get coffee. Or tea. Or any hot or cold caffeinated beverage.

“What are you doing up?” I asked when my brother came shuffling in.

“It’s my day off. They switched me around, but only for this week.”

I leaned against the counter, sipping orange juice. “I was about to run some errands and have breakfast. Wanna come?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Give me a few minutes. What errands?”

“Return a package. Get the mail. Pick up some groceries. Anything you need to do?”

Seth shook his head and stretched. “Not really, but I feel like we haven’t hung out in a long time. Ten minutes.”

We argued a bit about where to grab breakfast but, after a rousing game of rock, paper, scissors, I won. I tucked our stack of mail into my bag, and we stopped to return my package. The air was crisp, and the smell of freshly made bagels made me drool.

“Have you heard from our dads?” Seth asked, cruising down the sidewalk. I pulled him aside, since he almost plowed into someone, paying attention to his phone.

“They’re on a cruise. Cell service is spotty at best.” My brother and I were close to our parents. Once we were on our own, they moved out to the country and began traveling. They’d even completed one of those long hikes through Spain a few months before.

“I guess so.”

“How was your date the other night?” he asked. We stepped into the bustling cafe that served the most delicious croissant sandwiches in the history of sandwiches. The waitress settled us at a small table in the front. The front tables were the best. We could people watch.

“Bland,” Seth muttered, tucking his phone into his back pocket.

“Bland? That’s a new one.”

I ordered a sparkling grapefruit drink, while my brother opted for the iced coffee. We placed our identical orders for food and sorted the mail. I put his in one pile and mine in another, and we started opening.

“Bill,” I said, sighing. “More bills.”

“What?” Seth laughed. “You expected a love letter?”

“Shut up. Yes. And no. But also, yes. Anything would be better than those little pieces of paper slipped into my tip jars with a phone number and some cocky pickup line.”

“You’ve always been the romantic type.”

I had—to my detriment. Romance seemed to be dead these days.

“You’re not wrong. So, tell me why the date was bland.”

Seth told me about the lack of connection with the alpha who had asked him out. He said he was charming and funny when they talked before, but on the date, he seemed cold and aloof. Almost disinterested.

“Are you going to try again? Maybe he was nervous.”

Seth scoffed. “He didn’t mind flirting with other men while we were at the club, so I’d say no. I mean, if he changed his mind and didn’t want to go out, he should’ve said so. I can’t stand a man who can’t communicate.”

We fist-bumped on that point.

“Hey, this one is for you. It was in my pile.” My brother slid over a deep-blue envelope with a fancy stamp. “Doesn’t look like the phone bill.” He laughed.

“If it is, I know why they bumped up the rates. Hey, look.” I inspected the envelope further to see the back. “It’s a wax seal.”

“Maybe someone did send you a letter after all.”

I put the letter aside when we were served our breakfast and honestly forgot about it until we were done.

“You’re killing me, Jamie. Open the damned thing.”

While Seth ordered chocolate croissants to go, I gently tugged on the wax seal. Something about it slowed me down. Some person had taken the time to melt wax and place it on this envelope and sealed it with a huge B stamp. That deserved some time on my part in opening it. I pulled out a folded, textured piece of cream-colored paper.

“Read it out loud. I wanna hear.”

Dear Jamie,

You have been invited to the Bearclaw Inn for a stay of a lifetime. This weekend. Meals and boarding will be provided as well as entertainment of all kinds. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Franklin.

Bearclaw Inn

“Have you ever heard of the Bearclaw Inn?” I read the letter again, this time to myself.

“No. Maybe we can search it.” Seth pulled out his phone, and his eyes widened.

“What?” I asked.

“Jamie…according to Reddit, this place is a bed-and-breakfast where this guy Franklin makes matches, like mate matches. They say no alpha or omega leaves these weekends unmated. Franklin lost his mate, so now he spends his time matching up others. There’s some shit about Franklin being magical or a wizard or psychic. It’s invitation only. Unless he sends you a letter, you don’t get in.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. Look.”

I scanned the notes on his phone and then handed it back to him. “What are you thinking?” I asked my brother. He was younger than I, but I often went to him for advice. He had a good head on his shoulders.

“I’m thinking you need to tell your boss you’re taking the weekend off. Romance is dead, my ass.”