I clear my throat, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. My mind’s scrambling, trying to come up with something that doesn’t sound like a confession. How the hell do I explain away the fact that I was about to kiss the guy Lakelyn has feelings for? The guy Ishouldn’twant, but can’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Uh, just grabbing some coffee,” I say, my voice too casual, too forced. I can’t even look at her. “Ran into Chad.”
Lakelyn doesn’t move. Her eyes sweep over Chad, then back to me, lingering like she’s trying to piece together what she just walked in on. Her frown deepens, and her arms tighten across her chest, skepticism clear on her face. “Just grabbing coffee?” Her voice is soft but pointed, like she’s trying to coax out the truth. “With Chad?”
I see Chad flinch, his hand tightening around his Peanut Butter Chia. It’s subtle, but the way his shoulders tense up—like he’s bracing himself for the worst—sends a pang through my chest. He doesn’t say anything, though, and that silence is louder than anything he could have said.
“I mean,” I start again, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to shake the awkwardness, “just happened to run into him here. It’s not a big deal.”
Not a big deal? I watch Chad’s knuckles go white as he grips his cup tighter. Yeah, I definitely made it worse. He flinches again, and I can’t look at him, not when I know my half-assed explanation hurt him.
Lakelyn frowns, skepticism deepening. “Right. So you’re just… coincidentally hanging out with Chad?”
I shake my head, trying to regain control of the situation. “It’s not like that. I wasn’t warning him off, if that’s what you think.”
Her eyes widen. “Wait,wereyou planning to?”
Chad’s gaze snaps up at that, his lips parting like he wants to say something, but nothing comes out. Whatever he was about to say dies on his tongue, and he just clenches his jaw, eyes darting between the two of us. His shoulders tense even more, like he’s convinced himself that’s exactly why I’m here. That I was about to tell him to stay away from Lakelyn… instead of nearly kissing him. He’s shutting down, and I hate that I’m the reason.
“Chad—” I start, but he cuts me off, voice tight.
“It’s fine,” he mutters, staring into his drink. “You don’t have to explain yourself. I get it.”
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. My instinct is to fix it, but Lakelyn’s standing there, waiting for an explanation, and I’m fumbling in my own head, because the truth is—I want them both. Chad, with his raw, unpredictable energy. Lakelyn, withher steady warmth. The realization hits me like a freight train, and I feel it settle in my chest.
I glance at Lakelyn, who’s watching me with narrowed eyes, still suspicious. She doesn’t say anything, but the look on her face tells me she’s not done questioning me. Maybe she sees something in the way I’m acting, or maybe she’s just piecing things together in her own way. Either way, she’s not buying my story. It makes me feel like a teen caught doing something I’m not supposed to.
“I wasn’t here to warn him off,” I say again, my voice rougher than I mean for it to be. “But I should probably head back to the shop. Got a lot to do before we can open.”
Lakelyn blinks, her expression softening slightly, like she’s surprised by the sudden change of topic. “Oh… right. Yeah, of course. I’ll come over in a little bit.”
I nod, standing up, my movements stiff and awkward. I can feel Chad’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare meet them. If I do, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave without saying something I can’t take back.
“See you soon,” I mumble, more to Lakelyn than to Chad. I know she’s still suspicious, still questioning, but I can’t deal with that right now. Not when I’ve got my own mess of feelings to sort through.
Without another word, I walk toward the door, my heart pounding harder than it should. And as I step outside, the cool air hits me, but it doesn’t do much to clear the heavy fog in my head. Because all I can think about is the way Chad flinched—like I’d hit him without meaning to—and the fact that I’ve got no clue what to do about any of this.
CHAPTER 17
Chad
Lakelyn slidesinto the booth beside me, her cheeks flushed and her blue eyes sparkling with something I can’t quite place. Joy? Guilt? Maybe both. She smells fresh, like spring air, but I’m sure traces of Dean’s scent still cling to her. The thought churns uneasily in my stomach, and I find myself dragging the tip of my finger along the rim of my drink, trying to ground myself.
“Was he bothering you?” she asks, her voice laced with concern.
“Your protector?” I force out a laugh, bitter and hollow. God, I almost kissed him. How messed up am I? A little kindness and I lose all sense. “I can handle alphas like him.”
Her brow furrows, her expression somewhere between doubt and hesitation. She’s not sure if she should push me on it. “He really isn’t that bad. Dean and him are two of my brother’s closest friends.”
That clicks things into place. So, that’s why Dean’s been keeping her at arm’s length. He wouldn’t want to step on her brother’s toes. I nod like I understand, even though I’m tryingnot to think too hard about it. “Have they both always wanted you?”
Her eyes go wide, and she practically sputters. “What?”
I turn to her, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. It’s a casual touch, but it feels heavier than it should. “You didn’t know?”
She shakes her head, leaning back against the booth, her expression shifting to something softer, more introspective. “They don’t matter,” she says quietly.
“It didn’t seem like Dean doesn’t matter,” I say, voice sharper than I mean it to be. Rip the bandaid off. Always rip it off.
