Finn didn’t think he was very sorry about it, but he wouldn’t push. Not tonight.
He checked his phone again and saw that it was actually time to leave, so he grabbed his jacket and clapped Silas on the shoulder. “Be safe tonight. Call if you need me.”
Silas smiled. “You have fun. I mean it. Be you, Finn. Don’t hide yourself away. And hey, it’s just a first date. If it doesn’t work out, you can let him go and try again with someone else. But if it does, then you’ll look back and feel silly for ever doubting it. Either way, you’ll never know if you don’t try.”
Finn nodded, and ducked out the door.
He didn’t want to try with someone else, though. He wanted to try with Jaime. Because it wasn’t just that he was beautiful, or funny, or kind that had Finn all twisted up inside. Something about him seemed so familiar. He couldn’t put his finger on it exactly, only that the sight of him and sound of his voice made Finn’s wolf stir and prowl; made the tug around his heart more insistent.
Especially right now, on his way to meet Jaime for the first time—his wolf was practically shouting at him to hurry up.
Go to him. Go.
Find him.
Go, now!
Finn subdued those restless instincts as best he could; he didn’t want to come off as overbearing and freak Jaime out. He wanted to give this the best shot that he could.
Because the trouble was, the inner voice that woke up when he thought of Jaime, and howled with the need to find himright now,told him that it wouldn’t be that easy to let go.
He may not be able to let go at all.
Silver Rapids was busierthan usual tonight.
Andi’s restaurant was only a short walk from his house, less if he shifted and ran, but he didn’t want to carry his clothes in his mouth and get them all drooly, and he wanted to have his truck nearby in case Jaime wanted to go somewhere after dinner.
He passed groups of intermingled shifters and other paranormals walking toward the town center where a handful of bars held live music nights and various clientele-themed specials. If Finn didn’t know any better, he might assume theBlue Moon’sVamp Night was a cheeky way to rope in people who really liked overpriced bloody marys and not, well, blood.
Just thirty minutes north of Monroe, Silver Rapids was nestled into the base of the same mountain range, but it was less touristy mountain chic and more grit. The residents mostly kept to themselves, and only ventured out to the larger town when absolutely necessary.
Given that most were magical beings, or some other kind of paranormal creature, they weren’t keen on the usual tourist-oriented stores and attractions, but there were a few local shops, including a bookstore that Finn loved to wander through on occasion.
He pulled into a parking spot a little ways off from the restaurant entrance and cut the engine, still fifteen minutes early. Jaime hadn’t texted that he was on his way from Monroeyet, but Finn knew he was doing something for work first and probably hadn’t had time.
Besides, he wouldn’t want him texting and driving on these roads anyway.
Finn shot Jaime a quick message to let him know he had arrived and would grab them a table. Hands shaking, he pocketed his phone and scrubbed at his face.
Holy shit, this is really happening.
Jaime would be here soon, and they would be face-to-face and Finn would scent him and then he wouldknow, and oh my God, what if Jaime smelled right? What if he smelled likemate?
All of a sudden, Finn couldn’t handle the thought of being confronted with his mate, who had no idea what he was or that people like him even existed. His knee-jerk reaction was to turn tail and run. As much as he wanted to know Jaime, as much as his wolf prowled and howled for Finn to find him, the thought of letting him in, letting him see everything, was terrifying.
Wolf shifters weren’t something he could casually explain. Most people wouldn’t believe him at all, as paranormals had done a good job of hiding the truth of their existence even in the age of modern technology. He couldn’t very well expect Jaime to just accept information that would alter his worldview so significantly.
But if he never confided in him…
Finn couldn’t be only half of himself. He’d spent his entire childhood living like that for his mother, hiding the true nature of his wolf from her as best he could, and he wouldn’t do that again.
Besides, there was something about Jaime that made Finn want to be whole for him—with him. Something that made him long to be seen by him, entirely. And that was a dangerous thing to want, because he couldn’t bear the weight of seeing Jaime’s disgust or disappointment. Somehow, he’d survived seeing it inhis mother’s eyes all those years—he wouldn’t survive seeing it in Jaime’s.
But the thought that Jaime wouldn’t be his, that he would smell like every other good-looking man Finn had encountered in a bar hit him, crushing and unbearable, and his inner wolf snarled and recoiled from it.
So, Finn slowed his breathing and grounded himself. Whatever the answer, he wasn’t going to find it by working himself into a panic in his truck. Jaime would be here soon, and everything would be better.
Maybe. Hopefully.
