Dom heard a motor start up. For a moment, as the sound stayed the same, he held out hope Keeland might come back in. When it slowly faded away, he knew he was fooling himself. He sat back in his chair and just stared up at the ceiling, afraid to move, to speak, to even breathe.
He had been astounded and then excited when he discovered he could shift. It had explained so many things about his life and why he was the way he was. The world that had opened up to him had been awe-inspiring. The sights and sounds, the smells…he had gloried in it all.
And now he wondered if it was all worth it.
For a moment, he cursed this thing inside of him that made him different. He didn’t want to be different. Or at least, he didn’t want to be so different that Keeland wanted nothing to do with him. And it was clear Keeland wanted nothing to do with him. The man had lit out of there as if his pants were on fire.
“Was that your Keeland I saw leaving?”
Startled, Dom glanced toward the doorway. He hadn’t heard Chay come in. Hell, he hadn’t even heard the man drive up to the house. “Yeah, that was Keeland.”
Chay lifted an eyebrow. “He seemed to be in quite the hurry.”
“I told him about being a shifter.”
“And he left?”
Dom snorted. “He ran.”
“Oh.” Chay walked farther into the house, letting the door close behind him. “I’m sorry, Dom.”
Dom nodded absently. “I knew there was a possibility he’d run once he found out. I just didn’t…” Dom drew in a hard breath when his chest tightened. “I didn’t expect it to hurt so much.”
“Do you think there’s a chance he might listen after he’s had a little time to wrap his mind around this?”
“I don’t know.” And he was afraid to hope.
“Why don’t you give it a few days, then go try and talk to him again,” Chay suggested. “It can’t be easy hearing this kind of news.”
“He thinks I’m insane.”
“Wouldn’t you?” Chay asked. “You were a little easier to convince when Gabe told you that you were a shifter because you knew about me. Keeland is coming into this blind.”
That hope he’d been too afraid to feel grabbed hold of Dom like a vice grip. “You think he’d be willing to talk to me in a few days?”
Chay shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt to try.”
Dom stood, feeling just a little better. Maybe Chay was right. Maybe Keeland just needed a few days to digest everything he had learned.
“Thanks, man.” He clapped Chay on the back. “I guess I needed to hear it from someone else.”
Chay grinned as he patted Dom’s shoulder. “What are friends for if not to get you out of your head?”
Dom chuckled, knowing Chay was right. “Hey, Gabe is checking on a business card a couple of yahoos left with Keeland. Do you think you can give me a ride home? Keeland drove me here and my truck is still at the shop.”
“Sure,” Chay replied. “Let me go let Gabe know what we’re doing, and then we can head out.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?”
“No, not this time. I think I need a little time to myself.” He had a few open, bleeding wounds on his heart that needed to heal, and he was pretty sure they could only do so if he was on his own. “Maybe next time.”
He enjoyed spending time with Chay and Gabe, but sometimes it was a little hard to be around the two lovebirds, especially when he was by himself. He often felt like a third wheel. It was also hard to watch the obvious love between them when he wanted it so much for himself.
Dom chuckled lightly to himself as he grabbed Henrietta and the picnic basket, then headed out the front door. If some of his friends could see him now, they’d laugh themselves silly. He was not known for his warm and cuddly personality.
In most circles, he was actually considered somewhat of a badass. He was never unsure. Confidence and bravado were second nature to him. This uncertain, lovelorn person wasn’t someone he recognized, and he didn’t know what to think of that.
Dom placed the picnic basket behind his seat, then climbed in and shut the door. He settled Henrietta against his chest and absently petted her as he watched out the window for Chay to come out of the house.
His skin itched as if it were too tight for his body. If he didn’t know better, he’d think he had a sunburn. Maybe he needed to go for a run. Stretching his paws would make him feel better, and he knew for a fact his panther would like it.
And if he happened to run by Keeland’s house, so much the better.
