Rowan didn’t call him out on it.He decided to try another way instead.“My younger sister didn’t graduate from high school,” he said.“She got pregnant at sixteen.”
Thomas wrinkled his nose.“Let me guess.Your alpha had something to say about it?”
Rowan snorted softly.“Yeah.She didn’t want the baby, not at her age, but she didn’t have a choice.She didn’t let that stop her.Once the baby was a little older, she got her GED.I was proud of her.I still am.”
Thomas sighed.“So you know.”
“I guessed.I’m not sure why you didn’t want to tell me, but you don’t have to give me an explanation.I just want to offer my help if you need it.I helped my sister, too.I’m not saying that’s the reason she passed on the first try, but you never know.”
Thomas chuckled.“So you’re telling me that if I study with you, I’ll pass?”
“You’ll pass even if you don’t.I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to do this on your own.It’s clear you’ve been struggling, and I realize I don’t know the entire story, but you don’t have to tell me.I’ll help however I can, even if it’s just bringing you coffee.”
“I’m pretty sure that my blood is fifty percent coffee at this point.”
Rowan snorted.“Fair.The offer is there, though.Just let me know.”
Rowan didn’t want to make Thomas uncomfortable, so he didn’t linger.He waved, then stepped out the door, wanting to give Thomas space.Thomas hadn’t expected anyone to find out about this, although he probably should have since he’d been studying in the breakroom at work, but he had to be a little overwhelmed.Rowan was more than happy to let him think about his offer.Even if he refused, hopefully, it would show him that Rowan cared.
Even if Thomas didn’t need Rowan’s help with his GED, he might need it with something else, and Rowan hoped that Thomas knew he could come to him.Rowan didn’t have friends in town, and while he and Thomas were coworkers, that didn’t mean they couldn’t also be friends.
Rowan was in Mayport to stay.He wanted to build a life here.That meant making friends, and hopefully, Thomas would be the first one.
Chapter Three
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THOMAS STOOD IN THEsupply room, staring at the same bottle of vitamins he’d been holding for the past five minutes.His mind kept thinking about what had happened last week and Rowan’s offer.
Thomas had spent weeks convinced that he had to do this alone and that asking for help would be admitting that he was weak.But Rowan hadn’t looked at him like he was stupid.He’d looked at him like it wasnormal.
He put down the bottle.
He was drowning.He’d been studying for weeks now, and while some of it was starting to make sense, other parts felt impossible.Math especially.The practice tests made his brain hurt.
Thomas heard footsteps in the hallway and straightened.When Rowan appeared in the doorway, Thomas felt his resolve crystallize.It was now or never.
“Hey,” Rowan said, his expression relaxed.He’d been behaving normally, with no judging looks or pitying glances.“Shane wants us to check on the fox that came in yesterday.”
“Yeah, sure.”Thomas put the vitamin bottle back.“Actually, can I talk to you for a second first?”
Something changed in Rowan’s expression.“Of course.What’s up?”
Thomas’s mouth went dry.He’d faced down people twice his size on the street, but asking for help felt impossibly difficult.Of course, he’d had his family support on the street, so he’d known he’d be safe.
“Last week,” he started, then had to clear his throat.“When you found me in the breakroom.You offered to help me study.For the GED.”
Rowan’s expression lit up.“Yeah, absolutely.The offer still stands.”
“You really meant it?I mean, we barely know each other.Why would you want to spend your free time helping me?”
Rowan leaned against the doorframe.He took his time answering, which was something Thomas had noticed he did.Rowan didn’t just say things to fill the silence.
“Honestly?Because in a way, I’ve been where you are.I finished high school, but I’ve been the person who needed help and was too proud or too scared to ask for it.I’ve also watched people I care about struggle alone when they didn’t have to.My sister, especially.”
Thomas remembered Rowan mentioning his sister.How could he forget?
“Also,” Rowan continued, “I don’t really know anyone in Mayport yet.I work here, I go to the diner, I go home.That’s pretty much it.Having a study buddy sounds nice.It’ll give me something to do besides watch TV and wonder if I should finally learn how to cook.”
