As we left the café, I heard an elderly omega talking with his alpha about young love and the newly mated. I loved hearing the warmth in his voice and hoped that one day, Jamie and I would still be gathered at the café having breakfast and adoring the sight of a new generation finding their happily ever after.
The walk to Once Upon A Page was short but fun, filled with Jamie telling me about the time his mother brought him there and said he could only get one. Later, when she saw a stack of books, she reminded him that she’d said only one. Jamie argued it was only one. Since she hadn’t specified onebook, one series still fit the rule. He got to keep all the books that day, but his mother learned to be more specific in her wording from that day on.
“Here we are,” Jamie said as we came to a stop in front of the door. Jamie pulled me closer and placed a tender kiss on my lips. “I’ll call you when I get a chance. Feel free to message me whenever. I’m gonna miss you. Maybe I can call in sick.”
“Nope,” Isaac said from behind us. “You promised me time with my bestie. I blocked this time out on my schedule and moved clients around so I could be here. There are snacks, pillow nests, and reality television jotted down in my planner now. Can’t have you changing those plans, even if you are his alpha.”
Shaking his head and chuckling, Jamie turned around and greeted my friend. “Fine. You two can have your bestie binge night. I’ll go do my job and daydream about being home.”
“Hey, someone needs to go put out fires.” Isaac winked. “Don’t worry, I’m sure this guy will text you a few times. If he’s anything like my brother-in-law, he will be texting you a lot even though he is supposed to be spending time with me.”
“You will understand someday.” I patted him on the shoulder. “When you meet your mate, you will know.”
“Maybe.” A shadow quickly danced across Isaac’s face, but it was gone so fast, I convinced myself I imagined it. “Anyway, let’s go ahead inside and let Jamie head off to work. I have several titles on my list and am ready to grab them all.”
Jamie glanced at his watch and nodded. “Yeah, I’d better head over there. Call me if you need me.”
With another quick peck, my mate was gone, and my bestie was pulling me into the bookstore.
“Are you looking for anything in particular today?” A petite blonde omega greeted us as we entered. “I can offer a few suggestions from our newest arrivals.”
“I have a list.” Isaac held up his phone, his notes app already opened. “And this one over here just likes to browse the shelves and pick up what calls to his current mood. But we will let you know if we need assistance.”
With a wink to the employee, Isaac led me away into the back of the store, where the romance section was located.
“I almost forgot that you were raised down here. Meeting you in the city and seeing how well you fit in up there, I forget you weren’t a native city-dweller.” I scanned the shelves as I spoke, trying to remember the title of my favorite author’s latest release. “Of course you would know where all the genres are located already.”
“Of course I do.” Isaac had two books already in his hand and was clicking them off on his cell. “When I wanted to get away from my twin, I would come here. Not that he doesn’t like books, but he would rather go to the café and write a few of his own, while I wanted to come here and get lost in a random fantasy or apocalyptic thriller.”
“That does sound like you.” Kneeling on the floor, I glanced at the bottom shelf. I found the book I was looking for and stood. “What is it with you and the zombie obsession anyway?”
“I don’t really know.” Isaac shrugged. “I just know that about four times a year, I feel a strong need to binge one or two series about them overtaking the world and the survivors who remain. Maybe I am preparing.”
“Ha. Like that is gonna really happen.”
“I don’t know. Lately, I wouldn’t put anything into the too-strange-to-happen category.” Isaac raised a brow. “You know what I mean?”
“That’s true.” Sometimes it seemed to be a nightmare in world news lately. Like we were all trapped in some sort of novel and not reality. “But let’s forget all about that and get lost in books. Sound good?”
“Sounds amazing.” Isaac grabbed another book off the shelf and turned to me. “I got everything on my list. Let’s move on to the binging part of our day.”
Chapter Eight
Jamie
“Welcome back, man.” Thomas slapped me on the back and handed me a cup of coffee. “How’s mated life?”
“Amazing, actually.” I took a sip of the brew, the scent of cinnamon reminding me of home. “Honestly, I would rather be with him right now than here. No offense.”
“None taken.” Thomas held up his hand. “I would be worried if you said the opposite. I don’t have a mate, though. Maybe some do feel like that.”
“No, you’re right. If you would rather be at work than with your mate, then there are some deep inner reflections needed.” I grabbed a donut off the kitchen countertop. “Who brought these today?”
“I did.” Erik walked over to us from the bunk room. “I figured we all could use a treat today. Besides, I needed sugar desperately.”
“When don’t you need sugar?” I poked the fruit bat shifter. “I don’t think there’ll be a day when you pass up a sweet snack.”
“Got me there.” Erik shrugged. “What can I say, my brain runs on it.”
