She misses my stupid wave as she shoots off, running faster than when I chased her in the hospital. I don’t know if I can catch up to either of my mates when I’m stuck acting like this.
I should have stopped her, made her listen, explained my side more, so I didn’t watch her go with this heavy dread that I’ll never see her again.
Watching her sprint down the tunnel, another sudden panic hits me, one that she must have felt all along. What if it reallydoesn’t work out? What if Timber rejects her? What if I’ve pushed them too hard, too soon, and we can’t fix it?
My family always said that a scent match is the secret ingredient to staying together forever, but what if, in the end, that isn’t enough for Timber to forgive her?
Timber
Imade Luke sit down and watch me, mainly because nerves jump around my body like firecrackers. It’s easier to have my back to him when I chop vegetables as he sits at the bar table across from the stove. It’s the exact chair that I came on when I tasted his slick for the first time. Is it weird that it fills me with a sense of pride that my omega chose that seat?
I have the cookbook open, and all I need to do is prepare the vegetables, fry them, make the sauce, and bake them, but my hands are shaking too hard. I can barely peel a fucking carrot.
When was the last time I actually confessed to someone? Or cooked a meal?
Even with my ex-wife, it just sort of happened. There was no buildup to it because I was so sure about my feelings at the time. But Luke stays silent, and the air is thick around us.
I want to lift the mood, but whenever I glance at him, he looks distant. I haven’t seen him smile once since I came back from the game and asked him where he was.
I focus on slicing the carrot diagonally and refuse to think about how he came running out of his room red-faced, dragging down the bottom of his shirt, and throwing a scarf around his neck. I’m pretty sure I saw a navel piercing from the bottom of the stairs, which is also hounding me.
I want to ask him so badly what he was doing alone in his room—his nest—that made him look like that.
Luke sighs, and I jump, the carrot slipping out of my hand and thumping to the floor.
Standing there, holding my knife, I stare at the green chopping board like I’ve made a huge mistake. It’s my chance to ask him to stay with me, and I’m already failing.
I don’t realize he’s next to me until there’s a smooth chuckle from my left.
“Do you want me to help?” he asks as he places the carrot back on the chopping board, his shoulder brushing my upper arm.
I wish I could scent him, because he’s drawing in a slow breath as his gaze fixes on my hands. I don’t miss the way he softens, and he leans into me.
His fingers sweep over mine as he eases the knife from my grip, offering me a potato to peel before taking over carrot duties.
I thought the silence would be even worse together like this, but his smile is gentle as we stay glued together and prepare the food.
My heart beats grow louder the longer I peel potatoes, and watch with wide eyes as Luke chops a carrot up so quickly that I can barely follow the knife.
“It takes practice, dear Timber,” Luke hums as he catches me staring, tapping the tip of the knife against his lip piercing. “Like all good things, you just have to keep at it until it feels natural, hm?” He tilts his head as he lowers the knife, and I want his smile to mean more than it should.
The unpeeled potatoes are in a bowl right in front of Luke, and I decide to give it a go. It’s one very last test, just to make sure. If he doesn’t react, I’ll give up my idea of telling him how I feel.
I lean forward, my chest pushing against his arm as I bend over him. He squeaks, and I flinch, because I never thought I’d hear Luke make a noise like that.
As I pluck a potato from the bowl, his face presses into my chest, and the smallest muffled moan echoes from him.
And there it is. The thing I’ve been waiting for. What I’ve been chasing after since I first smelled it.
The scent of Luke’s slick rises up from him, and I shudder as I pull away.
He gasps as I free him from my chest, and he’s blushing hard as he dips his head and furiously cuts another carrot at lightning speed.
Even if he hides his feelings, he can’t hide his slick. It gives me the boost of confidence I need.
I place my peeler on the board, taking a slow breath. You’d think I’d be over things like this at my age.
“Luke,” I say, and he stiffens. I wait for him to turn to me. Even though his face is blank, I won’t let him pretend he isn’t feeling it, too.
