“I’ll be here.”
His mate just stared at him. Bright blue eyes full of hope that Colton kept his word. “Okay,” his finally said. “I believe you. But just so you know, if I have to eat it alone, I’ll be forced to flirt with my ice cream.”
There wasn’t a chance in hell he would ghost Zack. Fate gave preternatural only one mate, and Colton didn’t plan on disappointing his.
“Sounds…terrible.”
“You understand my burden.” Zack straightened. “See you at three, Colton.”
Say my name a hundred more times.
After paying, Colton headed out. Warm afternoon air hit him the second he stepped outside. Traffic moved at a lazy pace down Main, and the sidewalk had that baked-stone smell the town got on bright days. Plenty of time between now and three. Not much chance of him doing anything useful with it.
He spent the next hour and a half trying and failing to act like a man who had not just found his mate in a diner while the mate in question had nearly delivered fictional breakfast to a random customer. Life had a smug sense of humor.
At ten till three Colton was back, anxious to see Zack again.
Hash It Out’s front windows caught the light, turning the glass pale gold. Inside, the diner looked calmer than it had earlier. A few booths held late lunch stragglers. Axel stood near the register going over something with Jace, broad shoulders filling half the space around the wolf shifter. From where Colton waited just outside, he could hear the muted clatter of dishes and catch the smell of grilling meat and onions every time the door opened.
Zack came into view carrying a bus tub against one slim hip. Colton tracked his every move. His mate disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared two minutes later without the tub, then checked another table, smoothed a hand over the front of his shirt, and glanced toward the door.
His entire face brightened when he spotted Colton through the window.
That did strange things to a man’s insides.
A second later Zack pushed through the door into the warmth outside, apron untied and wadded in one hand. “You came back.”
Colton looked down at him. “You sound surprised.”
“I’m a waiter.” Zack stuffed the apron into a tote bag slung over one shoulder. “Half my life is people promising they’ll be right back and then vanishing forever.”
“Harsh.” And a little too precise. Had someone important abandon his mate or simply failed to keep their word?
“Accurate.” A pause. “Also, hi.”
“Hi.” Colton grinned.
Close up, Zack looked a little tired around the eyes, but happy enough to make up for it. His dark hair was mussed from the shift, blue eyes clear, mouth made for sin. Compact enough that Colton had the overwhelming urge to pick him up into his arms. Not a thought he needed at three in the afternoon on a public sidewalk.
Axel cracked the door open behind them. “You clocked out?”
Zack twisted around. “Yes, Dad.”
Axel snorted. “You wish I was your dad.”
“You wish you had a son as fabulous as me,” Zack playfully shot back.
His boss’s gaze slid to Colton, taking his measure in one glance. Muscled, tall, and not especially subtle about either. “You the ice cream guy?”
His mate must’ve been talking about him. That made Colton want to preen. “Yeah.”
“You fellas have fun.” Axel glanced between them, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Not too much fun.” He ducked back inside the diner.
Zack stared at the closed door. “I’m twenty-six.”
“He contains jokes,” Colton said.
“He contains opinions. Endless, protein-powered opinions.” Zack adjusted the strap of his bag and started down the sidewalk. “Come on, before I decide I’m too sweaty for public consumption.”
