Caleb nodded.It looked like he was going to have to talk to Austin, which wasn’t what he’d been planning.He didn’t have anything against Austin.In fact, he’d be happy to talk to him and spend more time with him.Considering what had happened the last time they were in a room together, though, he wasn’t feeling great about it.
He’d been wrong.He’d allowed what he thought of dragon shifters in general and of Sal to taint what he thought about Austin.It wasn’t fair because he didn’t know Austin, and Austin deserved a chance.Caleb had told himself he’d give him one the next time they met, but he hadn’t expected that next time to be so soon.
He hoped Austin would accept his apology.It wasn’t only because of the fires, either.Sure, Caleb needed information, but he also wanted him and Austin to be okay.He wanted them to be able to get along for West and Jonathan’s sake.
And maybe, he wanted to see how good a fit the two of them were.He found Austin attractive, and he was grateful for the help Austin had given him when he’d been panicking at the bookstore fire.He couldn’t deny that Austin was saying and doing all the right things.On paper, he seemed like the perfect guy, and Caleb yearned for that.
Well, he didn’t yearn for perfection, but he did want someone in his life.He wanted intimacy and happiness.He wanted to be able tonothide who and what he was.Austin felt like the perfect person to have that with.He already knew about Caleb.In a way, he’d already been vetted since he was West’s best friend.Caleb just needed to reach out.
It looked like he wouldn’t have a choice.
* * * *
“HEY, AUSTIN,” LISAcalled out.
Austin was cleaning the station’s kitchen, and the sooner he was done with that, the better, so he didn’t look up.He did answer, though.“What’s up?”
“There’s a visitor for you.”
Austin put down the rag he’d been using to scrub the counter and frowned.“A visitor?”
He couldn’t see Lisa, but he could almost hear her roll her eyes when she answered.“Why don’t you come out here instead of yelling through the station?I have stuff to do.”
So did Austin, but he was curious.He quickly washed his hands, then made his way to the entrance of the station.He had no idea who he’d find there, so he had no expectations, which was good because nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Caleb standing by Lisa, looking like he wanted to run.
Instead of doing that, Caleb squared his shoulders and faced Austin head-on as if he expected Austin to kick him out.Austin wasn’t about to do that.For one, he was curious about why Caleb was here, but that wasn’t all of it.He didn’t want to have a bad relationship with the man, even if they could never get over whatever hangup Caleb had about him.
Lisa looked from Austin to Caleb with a grin that told Austin she’d demand answers later.It was a problem for the future-Austin, though, and he shooed her away, watching her go before he turned back to Austin.
“Hey,” he said with a smile he hoped would soften Caleb.
Caleb frowned as if he hadn’t expected Austin to be nice to him.Austin was a nice person, dammit.
“Hi.Am I bothering you?”Caleb asked.
“Nope.”
“Are you sure?Because it sounded like you were busy.”
“I was scrubbing the kitchen counters.I promise you that it can wait.”
Austin still looked like he was going to change his mind and run away.He glanced around the station, possibly for an emergency exit.“I was hoping we could talk,” he eventually said.
“Why don’t we step outside for a moment?”Maybe Caleb would be more comfortable outside the station.
“As long as it’s not a bother.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it if it was.I promise we’re fine, Caleb.You don’t have to worry about me or my job.If the bell rings, I’ll go, but otherwise, we have time.”
Caleb nodded and followed Austin outside.Austin could have chosen somewhere else, but he didn’t want anyone to hear whatever Caleb was here to tell him.It probably had to do with the fires.He’d made how he felt about Austin clear, so Austin doubted he was here about anything else.
Once he was sure no one would hear them, he turned toward Caleb and waited.Caleb sucked in a breath and grimaced.“I wanted to apologize,” he said.
“Why?”
“For what I said at the hospital.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
