“Hello, Soren,” I say, but before I can say anything more, the glass slips from his hand.
Soren jumps as if he’s been bitten in the ass by a goat, babbles something about making Jamie another drink, and races through a door.
Anders smirks. “That went well.”
Jamie smacks his shoulder. “Hey. Don’t be bitchy.”
With a groan, I drop into the empty seat beside them. “He hates me.”
“He does not! He’s scared, remember? He likes you, Lyall, so you’re already halfway there. Just convince him to give you another chance.”
“How?”
“Tell him what he needs to hear!”
The door behind the bar opens and Soren reappears, cradling a bottle under his arm. I try to make eye contact, but he’s got his head down.
Jamie clears his throat. “So. Lyall told us you two had a great day.” He elbows my ribs, making me grimace.
Soren laughs, but it’s forced and insincere as he pours various liquids into a metal cup. “That’s great. Always glad to help newcomers to the city.”
“It was an evening like no other,” I say to his back.
Soren makes a pleased sound through his teeth as he shakes the drink up and down.
“I’d love to do it again.”
“Here you go,” Soren says, setting the glass down in front of Jamie a little too hard, liquid sloshing onto the counter. “Sorry!” He dabs the counter around Jamie’s glass with a rag. “I’m off to take my dinner break but if you need anything, talk to my barback.” Soren practically runs from the bar and out the door.
“Wow. He’s really skittish. You’ve got your work cut out for you,” Jamie says.
“Thanks,” I grumble as I leave my seat.
Outside, Soren sits on a bench, shoulders up to his ears. Everything he confided to me when I was a wolf echoes in my mind. Mayhap what he needs isn’t a lover, not yet at least, but a friend. We were always friends first.
“I’m sorry if I pushed you too hard. It wasn’t my intention to cause you any distress.”
Soren sighs, his shoulders drooping with the motion. “You were fine. I’m the one who should apologize for ditching you after how much fun we had. That was really shitty of me.”
“Apology accepted. May I sit?”
When Soren nods, I fill the empty space on the bench beside him, mindful enough to keep some space between our bodies. Soren opens his bag and pulls out two wrapped items, each roughly the same size.
“Are you hungry? I made sandwiches. You can have one if you want. It’s peanut butter and jelly.” His face flushes. “Kiddie food, I know, but it’s always been a comfort food of mine.”
“Aye, I’m famished.”
He laughs for some reason. “You and your words…”
The metal-stuff crinkles as I take the sandwich. Hmm. Do I just take a bite? Maybe this metal-stuff is for flavor? I open my mouth and—
“Uh, Lyall?” Soren gives me a strange look. “Aren’t you going to unwrap it first?”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “O-oh! Right. Of course.” I carefully remove the wrapper, glancing at Soren to watch what he does so I don’t make any mistakes. How interesting. It’s two pieces of bread with something brown and red slathered between the slices. Humans are so creative.
I inhale long and deep, mouth watering as the sweet and salty aroma of the sandwich fills my nose. Beside me,Soren’s watching me like I’ve grown two heads. I must look strange. I take a small bite and—
“By the gods!”
