“Hope you’re happy, Lyall,” Wulfric says, voice heavy with disapproval. He might as well have stabbed me.
“Wulfric, enough. Let’s go to bed.” Kieran gives me a searching look, like he knows more than I’m letting on. He knows I’ve been visiting the present long before we met Arlo. I just shake my head.
“Don’t,”I plead through our bond.“This is my burden to bear.”
Kieran sighs.“Be careful. Please.”
My brother and Kieran leave me alone to stare into the fire, hating everything I’ve just done.
Mayhap Loki has taken possession of my fate.
What other god would be so cruel as to give me everything I’ve ever wanted at such a terrible cost?
Chapter 14
Soren
“What’s got you smiling?”Tom gives me a teasing smile as I slide his and Franklin’s drinks across the bar.
Shit. Was I doing it again? I rub my mouth, trying to physically scrub away the evidence. “I was not.”
Franklin elbows Tom’s side. “You either got that promotion to manager or you got laid.”
“Warmer.”
Franklin whistles while Tom laughs. “Wait, wait, I got it. You’re doing your manager.”
“Tom!” Franklin smacks his shoulder.
I snort. “Stone cold. No, I’ve been seeing this guy.” I flush when they both cheer. “He’s super sweet, sexy as hell, and I really like him. Great kisser too.”
“That’s so great! When do we meet him?”
I hesitate, my cheer fading. A customer orders a drink, so I focus on preparing it. I don’t usually tell Franklin and Tom about the guys I’m seeing. I’ve been burned enough times that I’ve decided to wait about a month into the relationship before even mentioning them.
I can’t explain it, but after last night I have a good feeling about Lyall. The kiss we shared was so sweet, and it gave me a thrill I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m talking butterflies in my stomach all day and a goofy grin I haven’t been able to shake. Kissing him felt so right, like I’d found something I hadn’t even known was missing for so long.
But talking to Tom and Franklin makes me feel like I’m jinxing something, and an old familiar fear gnaws at the edges of my happiness. I know how quickly things can change. As right as things feel now, what if it doesn’t last?
Scowling, I give the drink I’m making a good, aggressive shake and imagine I’m shaking all the negative crap out of my head. I want to hold on to this giddy infatuation for as long as I can.
Lyall seems to think my past relationships didn’t work because they weren’t him. He makes it sound like some unconscious part of me has been waiting for him, like he’s waited for me. Like destiny or something. I’m too cynical to believe in that sort of thing, so I don’t know what to feel.
I want to trust him, even if I can’t trust myself.
Once I’m done with the drink, I hand it off to the customer, then stop by Franklin’s and Tom’s seats. “His name’s Lyall. Things are still really new and we’re taking it slow, but I’ve got a good feeling about him.”
“That’s great, Ren.” Franklin smiles brightly. “I hope we get to meet him.”
So do I…
After work, I head over to the Hudson River to meet with Lyall. I try to squash as many of the butterflies in my stomach as I can.Just be cool. Be calm.Will he want to kiss me again? Fuck, I hope so. Will things be awkward? What do I say? What do I do?
My phone chimes. Lyall sent me a text. Well, a picture.
It’s of a seagull perched proudly on a railing, the setting sun casting an orange glow over his feathers.
I stop in my tracks, smiling like an idiot at my screen. Why’s this guy so wholesome and cute?
