Maybe resting in my nest will give me the strength to spill my guts and explain everything to Jin. I guess there’s only one way to find out.
Chapter Nine
Jin
I stare as Leoleaves the mall. I guess I owe Tilly an apology. Her success rate really is something else.
I do my best to focus on my customers but it’s hard when my mind left along with Leo. He’s a phoenix. The wings on my back have a brand new meaning. All this time, being drawn to Leo meant something! He’s my soulmate!
Gods, I was so silly to doubt Tilly. Why would she tattoo my own wings on my back? That’s ridiculous. I feel so stupid.
I’m overwhelmed with how happy I am. Is that what Leo wants to talk to me about? Does he feel the same things I’m feeling? Has he realized we’re meant to be even before I could?
Once I’m finished with my customers, I pull out my phone, googling ‘phoenix shifter dating’, reading article after article.‘Courting’ is the word I’m looking for. Shifters like to be courted. Or at least, some of them do.
I read until I’m overwhelmed with information. That’s not enough. I need to be prepared. I need to know how to properly woo Leo now that I know he’s a shifter. I pull up Bren’s contact information, giving him a call.
“Bren? Hi, it’s me, Jin,” I say, hoping it’s okay that Leo gave me his number a few weeks ago. “Can I ask you a question about phoenix shifters?”
Bren laughs in a soft and amused way. “Of course, Jin. Let me come by the coffee stand and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
I grin so wide that my cheeks hurt. Tonight is the night and I’m not leaving anything to chance.
***
My heart is pounding against my ribs as I step up to Leo’s door, knocking softly. It only takes a moment before he’s opening the door and allowing me inside.
“Hi,” I say softly, looking over his face. My smile slips away. His skin is pale, his eyes glassy, his hair somehow looking more limp than usual, like it’s falling down along with his mood. It takes everything in me to not immediately pull him into a tight hug and ask him what’s wrong.
“Hi, Jin,” he says back, just as softly. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“You are?”
Leo hums, his eyes darting down to the garbage bag beside me. His eyes narrow. “Did you bring me trash?”
“What? No! Of course not!”
“What’s in the bag?”
I rub the back of my neck. I realize with a start, that there’s a very good chance that Bren has set me up for some sort of prank. I’ve heard the tales, but surely he’d know this is serious, right?
“I brought you my comforter and some of my dirty clothes,” I say slowly, feeling my cheeks heat. “They’re umm, they’re for your nest?”
Leo’s brown eyes are so wide. He bites his bottom lip before nodding, holding out his hand for the bag. I hand it over.
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I’m not sure when I’ll give them back.”
“I don’t mind. I promise.”
“Okay,” he says, hefting the bag up into his arms, hugging it against his chest. He makes a pained groan before looking at me again. “This means a lot to me, Jin.”
“I’m glad it could help.”
“I’m just gonna put this in my bedroom and then we can talk, okay? You can meet me at the couch.”
Instead of going into the living room, I stay in the kitchen. I make Leo a cup of tea and then grab a bowl of almonds. Bren didn’t tell me everything but he told me it would be wise to ask for the next week off, so on the way over, I made the call. Thankfully, my boss was super understanding of the whole thing.
By the time Leo comes back into the living room, I have everything on the coffee table, ready for him. He makes a soft noise at the back of his throat, sitting beside me on the couch. He takes the cup of tea, giving me a soft smile from over the rim of the mug.
