He threw his arm over her shoulders. "I knew you were perfect for me. Come on, let's go eat. Then we can shop. I saw you eyeing some of the vendors."
"What can I say? I like to support local businesses," she replied.
They made it to Bears and Brews, a mid-level steakhouse owned by a family of Grizzly shifters. Not that the humans in Thorne Bay knew the family was shifters, they just knew they had great food.
"Fuck, it smells good in here," Yaeger said as they entered.
"Yeah it does."
"Two?" the hostess asked.
"Yes," he said, and they were shown to a table and given menus.
"So, Yaeger, I know your mama still lives in Louisiana, but where's your father?" Frankie asked once they were seated.
"Pop died in a car accident when I was three."
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. It was a long time ago and I don't remember him. Not really. Mama kept his pictures out and told me stories about him, so I'd know him though."
"And she never moved on?"
"Not for lack of trying on the part of another Pride member, Eli. He asked her out all the time, but she always told him I was all the man she needed. I wonder if that changed after I left."
She reached across the table and gripped his hand. "You can't keep beating yourself up over it."
"That's easier said than done, darlin'. I took a life. He was someone's son. He had hopes and dreams and I took those from him."
"You were a child. You made a mistake. You have to let it go, Yaeger."
"I was eighteen. I wasn't a child anymore. I let my anger control me and it got Toby killed. So I made a promise to never let my anger control me again," he said.
"I'm not going to win this, am I?"
"No, darlin', you're not."
"Okay, I'll drop it," she replied.
"Good girl."
When he said those two words, she preened. She never would have thought two simple words could make her feel so good.
Their food arrived, and the conversation turned to lighter topics. "What are your plans for Christmas?" she asked him.
“I don’t have any,” he replied.
"Then we should plan something together. You shouldn't be alone."
"I've been alone the last twelve years, darlin'."
"That was before."
He chuckled. "All right. We'll spend it together."
"Thank you." She dug into her steak with a groan. "The food here is always so good."
"They definitely know how to make a good steak," he agreed.
