Dante took half a step closer. “Did you have a lot of clients today?”
Ollie shrugged, breaking eye contact. “My morning was solid, and I had some walk-ins this afternoon. Tomorrow will be busy though. Can’t stay out too late.”
“Me either. Ash and I have someone to catch up with after this.”
Harper cocked his head at Dante’s words. Ash pulled him away, whispering in his ear, no doubt filling him in on the rogue demon news.
Ollie’s attention lingered on Harper and Ash, a slight frown pulling on his lips.
“Are you a fan of the arts?” Dante asked, not wanting Ollie to ask more about who he and Ash had to see. He shouldn’t have brought it up.
Ollie’s gaze snapped back to Dante. “I guess? I mean, art is cool, but I don’t know much about it. I can’t say these types of events are my usual scene.” He laughed nervously. “Not like my friend Dex. He was so excited to come tonight. This isn’t his usual scene either, but it would be if he had connections.”
“Sorry, who’s Dex?”
“Oh. Obviously, you don’t know him.” Ollie pointed across the room to a man about Ollie’s height with light-brown skin and brown hair, who was talking to a group of people Dante didn’t recognize. “That’s Dex. He’s my best friend. We met in college, though Dex went to art school, and I didn’t. Which you know already. About me, I mean. Dex does pottery and made the mugs I have at home. Not that you used a mug the other night at dinner…” Ollie fidgeted with his wine glass. “Wow, I’m really rambling. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” Dante smiled warmly. Ollie’s infectious energy gave Dante a giddy, almost lightheaded feeling.
“True. I’m not sorry exactly. Um. I think I’m nervous.” Ollie rolled his eyes like he was exasperated with himself.
Dante’s brows pinched together. “Nervous about what?”
“You.”
Dante’s heart banged against his chest.
“I mean, not you, but kind of?” Ollie hurried on. “I wanted to say—because I didn’t last time—that I don’t date. Relationships aren’t my thing, you know? And I wanted to put it out there, um…” His words trailed off as a panicked look flashed across his face.
“You were nervous to tell me you don’t date?” Dante’s heart pounded for an entirely different reason. Why would Ollie be nervous to share that? Did people judge him? Why would they do that?
Ollie directed his attention to his glass. “It’s dumb. But yeah, I was nervous to say anything. Everyone’s into relationships, and I’m not. I thought…last time, I got a vibe, and I don’t know. I was flirty, but I’m like that sometimes, and I didn’t want you to get the wrong impression.”
It wasn’t what Dante hoped to hear, but the glaring revelation was how uncomfortable Ollie seemed. His mate shouldn’t feel this way around him.
“So, friends?” Ollie concluded, flashing Dante a half-formed smile.
“Friends sounds great, Ollie.”
Ollie ran a hand through his blond curls, dimples appearing as his smile turned more natural. “Cool. Now, can we forget how awkward that was?”
Dante’s pounding heart calmed, soothed as his mate relaxed, even though something deep inside Dante scrambled, trying to catch hold of the situation.
Friends.
He’d agreed to be friends with the man he’d waited millennia to mate with.
Dante’s demon features fought to come out, but a primal reaction wasn’t helpful. Fuck his demon nature right now. Guilt strangled Dante’s heart. Had he just lied to his mate?
It wouldn’t be fair to cultivate a friendship with Ollie while hoping it would progress into something Ollie didn’t want. He couldn’t disregard Ollie like that. He had to respect his wishes.
What Dante’s mate wanted was the most important thing in the world, and it seemed he wasn’t interested in romantic love.
He’d said he didn’t date.Everyone’s into relationships, and I’m not. It’s not my thing. Maybe Ollie didn’t like the idea of anything committed at this stage in his life, and that was fine, but it didn’t sound like that. It felt deeper. Why else would he be so nervous to share? Had he been afraid Dante wouldn’t accept this about him?
Of course Dante would. His mate was perfect as he was.
But did this mean it was possible to be mates in a non-romantic way? Could the connection be platonic if that was what Ollie desired?
