Chapter 2

Tessa

Ash shiftsin his seat next to me, and I swallow. I'm hyper-aware of every move that he makes. It's been like that as long as I've known him. There's something about the quiet man that has me tingling all over.

When I had first moved to Aspen Ridge, and Elle had told me that shifters were real and that most of the people in town were some kind of shifter, I had high hopes that Ash and I would be fated mates, but he never made a move on me. I've been waiting, thinking that maybe it would just take time, but nothing.

Deep down, I know that time wasn't part of it. I mean, Elle was in this town for like a second when Niko found her and told her they were meant to be. I'm glad that she's found her forever love. I just wish that I had too.

Finding out that shifters, the thing that Elle and I wrote fiction books about, were real was shocking. I mean, both of us grew up loving to read romance books, with shifter romance books being our favorite. That's why we started writing our own stories. It's kind of wild just how much we got right in our books.

"Have you booked your hotel yet?" Elle asks me, and I blink, forcing myself to pay attention to the conversation.

"Yeah, last month. I think I'm all set," I tell her.

I'm going to a book signing next week. It will be my first one without Elle, and I'm kind of bummed about that, but with her morning sickness, she's not feeling well enough to travel.

"How long will you be gone?" Alec asks, and I see Ash shift in his chair again.

He's frowning, and I wonder why.

"Where are you going?" Ash asks.

"To a book signing in Colorado. I'll just be gone for two days."

"At least the weather will be better," Cameron jokes, and I smile.

"Well, it will probably still be snowing, but yeah, definitely not as cold," I agree with a smile.

"I wish that I was going with you," Elle sighs, and I nod.

"Me too. I'll be sure to tell all of our readers that you said hi," I promise her.

"Just not Randy," she adds, and I shudder.

"Yeah, I'll be trying to avoid him if he's there," I agree.

"Who the hell is Randy?" Ash asks, and I jump in my seat at the anger in his voice.

"He's a fan. He's been coming to all of our signings for the last few years and then he just hangs around our table," Elle says.

"I don't think he even reads our books," I grumble.

"No, I meant he's a fan of us, not our books," Elle says, trying to joke.

The truth is that Randy has given both of us a weird vibe from the beginning, but he's never tried anything. He just makes us a little uneasy.

"Maybe you shouldn't go," Niko says, frowning at me and then Elle.

"Or not by yourself," Alec adds.

"Ash, why don't you go with Tessa?" Gunner asks, and I'm kind of surprised.

Gunner rarely talks, so hearing him speak always kind of throws me. He's staring at Ash, and they seem to be having some kind of silent conversation. Ash scowls at him and Gunner raises his eyebrow back at him.

I want to speak up and decline his offer. It would be nice to have someone to go with me, but the truth is that I don't want it to be Ash. It hurts to be around him, especially when I know I'll never be with him.

"That's okay. I'll be fine," I interject.

"Are you sure?" Elle asks. "Some of our fans can be a bit… intense."

"Ash will go with you," Niko says, and I can tell by the tone of his voice that it's an order.

I peek a look at Ash, and he's scowling down at his empty plate. He definitely doesn't look thrilled to be going with me.

Yeah, this trip should be fun…