Eight
Zamir
I tugged at thecollar of my turtleneck as I leaned against the pillar, then checked my phone. Five minutes to six.
I'd been ready at five, and I'd been standing here for the last ten minutes, much to Keoni's amusement. I couldn't help it, though. I was about to go on a date with my mate. I'd never thought this would happen, but I supposed Fate thought even someone like me deserved a companion. I didn't know why, but I was grateful.
Now if only Nolan would show up.
What if he'd changed his mind? What if he'd realized I wasn't worth it? He'd been hesitant about claiming me since the start, hadn't he? What if some time apart had made him change his mind again?
I shook my head, forcing myself not to think like that, at least not until it was way past six. If Nolan didn't show by 06:15, then I could wallow.
A sleek black car rolled up as my phone buzzed to tell me it was six, and I blinked as the door opened and Nolan stepped out. The night at the bar and yesterday morning, he'd been dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt, and he'd still been handsome.
But today... today he was stunning. The black jacket molded to his form perfectly, the white shirt with the top two buttons undone revealing the edges of a tattoo I hadn't realized he had. His black pants clung to his legs, and I wanted him to turn around so I could get a peek at his ass.
Nolan smiled at me, his orange-blond hair slicked back, his cheeks clean-shaven, his piercings sparkly as ever, and... I forgot how to speak.
"Hey, Zamir. You look great," he said, and I glanced down at myself, feeling underdressed. He hadn't told me where we were going when I texted him to ask, just asked me to wear 'something comfortable.' I'd gone with one of my favorite outfits, a soft brown, latte-colored crochet turtleneck with my dark brown pants that showed off my various... assets.
"Um," I mumbled, struggling to find the words as he gazed at me with impossibly soft green eyes.
He held his hand out, his palm open and inviting, then nodded toward the car. "Shall we?"
I nodded, still without words, and sucked in a breath when his warm hand wrapped around mine. His skin was soft but firm, his hand bigger than mine, and I tightened my grip on it, earning a smile from him.
Like a gentleman, he opened my door for me, then closed it once I was seated and walked around the car and got in.
"I hope you weren't waiting long," he said as he started the car, and I shook my head. "Are you okay?"
Shit, I was messing this up.
I took a deep breath, and forced my mouth to work. "Yeah." Splendid. I should be giving speeches.
"Meow."
My brows furrowed as I glanced at Nolan. Did he meow?
Nolan eyed me, and he appeared just as confused.
At once, we glanced into the backseat, and a laugh slipped out of me when I spotted Dots, who was crawling out of his hiding spot under the back seat.
"Hey, Dots. What are you doing here?" I asked, no longer struggling to remember what language was.
He meowed again, then clambered over the console to settle in my lap.
"Judging from the look on your face, I'm gonna say you had no idea he was here," I said, and Nolan smiled, a wry look on his face.
"I did not, yeah. And I did a headcount too. He was curled up with Muffin, but he must've snuck out at some point."
"Aww, Dots. Did you want to go on our date with us?" To Nolan, I said, "Can we take him?"
Nolan pursed his lips, then blew out a breath. "As long as you promise to hold on to him. Tightly."
Where exactly was he taking me?
"Um, sure. I promise," I said as I nuzzled Dots's soft belly and elicited a purr from him. I'd always loved cats, and cuddling with Scrappy last night had been wonderful. Maybe it was time I got a cat of my own. Or... I could kidnap Dots. His cuteness demanded it.
