"Once. Ben brought me up here after a bad day in high school. Said it helped him get perspective." She smiles at the memory. "I can see why you like it."
"It's where I come when I need to think." Or when I'm overwhelmed. Or when I've spent all day thinking about a certain omega and need to clear my head. "Reminds me why I love this town."
We sit in silence. The heater hums. Her breathing is soft, steady. I can smell her so clearly now—cinnamon and apples and warm omega, wrapping around me until I'm drowning in it.
My patrol car is never going to smell the same again.
"Seth?" Her voice is quiet. "Can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"You said you don't date much." She's picking at that thread on her coat again. "But like... have you dated at all? I don't mean to pry, I just—you said women don't notice you, which is crazy, but..."
"Not really, no." My neck heats. "I went to prom. That was awkward. And there was one girl in college who asked me out, but I panicked and said I had to study, which was a terrible excuse because it was a Saturday night."
She makes a small sound that might be a laugh. "What about since then? You've been a deputy for what, five years?"
"Six." I flex my hands on the wheel. "And no. I've been focused on work. Building my career. I figured dating could wait until I had things more figured out."
"Seth, you're twenty-seven. Most people don't have things figured out at twenty-seven."
"Yeah, well." I don't know how to explain it—the way I've always felt a step behind everyone else socially. How dating seemed like this complicated thing I'd get to eventually. "I guess I just... kept waiting for the right time. And then it never came."
She's quiet for a long moment. Then, so softly I almost don't hear it, "At the festival. When I kissed you."
She pauses, and I can smell the shift in her scent—anxiety spiking sharp and sudden. "That wasn't—" Her voice wavers. "Seth, please tell me that wasn't your first kiss."
The way she says it—like she's dreading the answer—makes my chest tight.
I could lie. Should lie. Say something smooth about kissing plenty of people, that it was no big deal.
But that's not who I am.
"Yeah." The word comes out rough. "That was my first kiss. First real one, anyway."
She goes completely still beside me. "No."
"It's okay?—"
"No, Seth, please tell me that wasn't—" Her voice cracks. "Please tell me I didn't just... god, I took that from you. Without even asking. Without even knowing." Her scent spikes with distress—sharp and acidic. "Your first kiss was with some panicked omega using you as a shield in front of half the town and?—"
"Bea—"
"I'm so sorry." She sounds genuinely upset now. "That should have been special. With someone you chose. Someone you—not like that. Not the way I did it."
"Stop." The word comes out firmer than I intend. "Bea, stop. You didn't take anything from me."
"But—"
"That kiss—" I have to force the words out. "That was the best thing that's happened to me in years. Maybe ever."
She makes a small sound of protest, but I keep going.
"Yeah, I was terrified. Had no idea what I was doing. But you didn't use me, okay? When you grabbed me, when you kissed me—" My voice drops. "For the first time in my life, someone looked at me and thought 'him.' You chose me. Even if it was just for a moment. That's not nothing."
"Seth..."
"So don't apologize. Please." I chance a glance at her. "That kiss meant something to me. It was special. Because it was you."
