“Uh,” Stark said. He squinted at the main man, who was an average looking guy, in his opinion. “He’s not really my type. Besides, it’s weird since he’s a human. It’s like… are you an alpha? A beta? What are you?”
Chase laughed, and Stark was glad he was able to distract him. “I totally get that. Plus most of their men can’t even get pregnant. Like, what? Totally weird.”
“Yeah,” Stark agreed.
Talking was a nice distraction from the movie, but soon another silence fell and Stark was forced to pretend to pay attention to the film. He caught himself a couple of times trying to check the time on his phone, but he didn’t want to seem disinterested or rude.
You really backed yourself into a corner this time,Stark told himself.
Beside him, Chase was watching the movie intently, even laughing out loud at most of the jokes.
But then, as Stark was trying to will time to pass faster, he realized that the latest plot point of the film was making him majorly uncomfortable.
A new male character had been introduced as the father of the woman’s baby, who had been conceived as a drunken one-night-stand. The hairs prickled on the back of Stark’s neck when the man told the woman he wasn’t interested in raising the baby, and that she couldn’t even prove it was his.
His heart raced, thumping against his ribs. Was he acting like this man by avoiding Kyle?
“This guy’s such a deadbeat dad,” Chase said. He leaned back on the couch with his arms crossed. “Can you believe this? This sort of thing wouldneverfly in a shifter society. Humans are so weird.”
Stark broke out into a cold sweat. “Yeah.”
Deadbeat dad.
The words rang in his mind.
Stark was disgusted with himself.
He sat, rigid and tense as the movie continued to play out. The deadbeat dad, at no point during the film, offered to help out the baby or its mother. Instead, the main male actor, who was unrelated to the baby, took on all the parenting responsibilities that the child lacked.
The film finally ended with the new family living happily ever after, and the deadbeat dad nowhere to be seen.
Stark felt sick to his stomach. He had never been more angry with himself. This is exactly what he had been doing to poor Kyle. He clutched his fists so hard his nails almost broke the skin of his palm.
“Well, that was certainly something,” Chase said. “Sorry if it bored you or anything. I get the feeling you weren’t really into it.”
“It’s okay,” Stark said stiffly, trying not to take out his emotions on Chase.
But then Chase reached over and tried to stroke Stark’s face. Instantly Stark jerked out of his way, as if Chase’s hand would burn him. Chase stared at him, wide eyed with shock.
“Um,” he said.
“I can’t do this,” Stark said quickly. “I’m sorry. I should have said something sooner.”
Chase wore an expression shock. “I - I don’t understand,” he said, withdrawing his hand. “What are you talking about?”
“Chase, I’m so sorry. This isn’t your fault, it’s me for being a goddamn idiot,” Stark said. “But I can’t date you. I - I didn’t even want tonight to be a date at all. On the phone, I was trying to break up with you.”
“Oh,” Chase said simply. He seemed more stunned than hurt. “Um… It’s okay.”
“Huh?”
“I could tell you weren’t really that into me,” Chase said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. “It was like you always had something else on your mind. Or someone.”
Stark was ashamed that Chase had known for so long. Was he reallythateasy to see through?
“I’m sorry. You really are a nice guy and you’ll definitely find someone right for you one day,” Stark said. “I’d still be glad to be your friend, if that’s not too weird.”
Chase smiled. “Just the tiniest bit weird. But it’s okay. I know the feeling will blow over once you’re together with your real mate.”
