Ehlian pushed the terminal in front of him, his voice colder this time. “I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Dael put on his holowatch and tapped it against the terminal to pay, then gave Ehlian an uncertain smile before leaving.
“Whoa,” Willian’s voice came from the back room. “You’re really shit at flirting. That’s not great for business.”
“I get that nearly every day.” Ehlian stepped into the back room and dropped into his usual chair. “It’s tiring.”
“He’s been a returning customer. He’s nice.” Willian said, then added casually a moment later, “You could give him a chance.”
“Maybe,” Ehlian tipped his head back against wall. “But not now.”
“Have the memories returned?” Willian asked cautiously.
“No. They’re completely gone.”
Ehlian’s eyes wandered to the boxes stacked across the shelf, the curly lettering ofCartivairprinted on them. Sometimes seeing the name bothered him. Sometimes it didn’t. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it today.
“They’re still the best supplier,” Willian said, but it almost sounded like an apology. “Half the planet wears their holowatch. I need the spare parts.” When Ehlian didn’t react, Willian added, “I’ve heard from a few insiders that the business is in a bit of trouble. Sandar might be mismanaging the funds—there are amounts they cannot account for, or no one knows exactly where they went.”
The image of a torn photo flashed in Ehlian’s mind, Sandar completely removed.
Not that he really cared. It wasn’t his business anymore. If it ever had been.
“I shouldn’t have brought it up,” Willian said.
Ehlian hated that his friend felt like he had to tiptoe around him, careful with every word.
Rolling his chair closer, he pressed his shoulder against his friend’s. “I’m long over him, Will. Whatever’s going on with his family or his business, it doesn’t concern me.”
“Okay,” Willian agreed softly, then stood up, stretching his limps. “Are you hungry? I’m starving. I’m going to get us something.”
“Don’t forget my cake.” Ehlian sing-songed.
Willian scoffed. “How could I?”
Once Willian left, Ehlian enjoyed the blissful rest. It was the first time all day he’d been able to sit down, one customer after another coming and going. He wasn’t truly tired. He could finally sleep through the nights, haunted by nothing more than the thought that soon he’d have to return to his own flat. Willian’s hospitality had been limitless, and he’d reassured Ehlian countless times that he could stay as long as he wanted, but Ehlian felt he had already overstayed his welcome. His friend couldn’t even bring home an omega, and Willian usually never shied away from one-night stands. So, let the alpha live a little too.
The sound of the shop’s door opening stirred his rest. He sighed.
“Just a moment,” he called out with practiced kindness. “I’m coming.”
He pulled back the thick curtain of the backroom door—and came to an abrupt halt.
His heart lurched as he tried to piece together the scattered image of the alpha standing behind the counter—an image that didn’t look quite right as the seconds ticked by.
The alpha measured him with assessing eyes, the air around him nearly still. “Do I remind you of someone?”
“No,” Ehlian gave a strained laugh, letting the heavy curtain fall behind him as he stepped up to the counter. “What can I help you with?”
The alpha placed a smaller box on the counter. “I thought I’d deliver this myself.”
Ehlian made an awkward attempt to reach for the box, but the alpha rested his arm on it, unwilling to let it go so easily. It almost felt like he was making a silent deal: something for something.
Ehlian pushed the ridiculous thought away, his gaze drifting to the curling letters peeking out from beneath the alpha’s arm:Cartivair.
Something uneasy began to spread through his chest.
In the silence Ehlian let settle between them, the alpha studied his face, inch by slow inch. It was unnerving.
