When he’d moved, he’d been worried that he wouldn’t be able to make friends or find a partner.The friends he’d had when he’d lived with the pack had been his childhood friends.He’d never had to worry about whether or not they would be in his life.He’d never had to actively work to make friends because they’d known each other since birth.
Rowan had been a bit lonely when he’d first moved, and some days, he still was.He realized that he truly only had Thomas in his life, and that probably wasn’t healthy considering the way the relationship was going.He wanted more people.
He just wasn’t sure how to make friends.
He was friendly with a lot of people.It seemed like they liked him, or at least, they always had a smile for him and remembered him, but he wasn’t sure how to take that to the next step or even if he should.He was sure that most of these people already had close friends and didn’t need him in their lives, but he wanted to try.He wanted to settle down in Mayport because he was pretty sure that this place was going to be his home for the rest of his life, or at least, until Thomas left, and that wasn’t something Thomas was considering.His family was here, so why should he?
No.They would stay in Mayport and build a life here.Eventually, Rowan would meet Thomas’s family, and hopefully, he could become friendly with them, too.He wasn’t sure how he’d make friends, but he’d learn.
This was why he’d left his pack, after all.He’d wanted a fuller life, and to learn how to live it.
He was.
* * * *
“IHAVE GOOD NEWS,”Rowan declared as he walked into the break room.
Thomas had both his hands wrapped around his cup of coffee.He wasn’t cold, but it felt reassuring and comforting.The mug was warm, and the coffee was warming him up from the inside out.“What news?”he asked because he needed some good news.
Well, the fact that the deer had survived was good news, even though it would be a while before they could release it, if they ever could.It was doing okay considering how extensive its wounds had been, and something might still happen, but Thomas was hopeful.The deer would make it, but there was no way to know what that would look like from the other side.Only time would tell.
“I just crossed paths with Doctor Reeves.She said the rabbit is ready to be released.”
Thomas knew what rabbit Rowan was talking about.It was the one that had arrived during Rowan’s first day, when Thomas had been so wary of him.He still remembered the way he’d behaved, and he wondered if he should apologize.He didn’t think Rowan would want him to.All of that was behind them now, and they were friends.
It was good.Thomas wanted friends.He wanted to be friends with Rowan.
He also wanted to kiss him.
That was a little problematic.Thomas wasn’t sure how to go about it.He should probably ask one of his siblings, but he already knew how they’d react, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with it.They were going to coo over the fact that at nineteen, he finally had his first crush, and the thought made him want to cringe.At the same time, he wanted a chance with Rowan, and he was pretty sure that on his own, he wouldn’t get anything.
“So, I’m not entirely sure how this works,” Rowan said.“I’ve never released an animal before.”
Thomas put down his cup of coffee on the counter.“Well, it’s a good thing that you work with an expert.”
Rowan laughed.“I do, don’t I?”
“I’m an expert in a lot of things.”
Rowan’s voice was softer when he answered this time.“I’m sure you are.”
Thomas told himself not to be flustered.This was a perfectly normal conversation between friends.They were bantering, and it was nice.
He cleared his throat.“Only because I’ve done this several times before.We’re going to take the rabbit to a safe area where we know there aren’t any predators.That way, we’re giving it a fighting chance.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“You were part of the rescue.It’s only fair that you’re part of the release, too.”
Rowan’s smile illuminated the room.There was no other way to describe it.Seeing him like this made Thomas want to lean over and kiss him, so instead of doing something stupid, he picked up his coffee again.“But first, I need to finish this.”
Rowan laughed again.“You do that.I’ll go get everything ready.”
“You don’t even know what you have to get ready,” Thomas pointed out.“We can do it together.”
That was what they did.Thomas drank his coffee as quickly as possible without burning his mouth, and by the time he was done and they left the break room, Rowan was bouncing on his toes.He was excited, and Thomas understood why.After what had happened with the deer and the fact that it would take a while for it to get better, they needed something good.Releasing the rabbit would beverygood.It was always a relief when they were able to do something like that, and Thomas was glad he could give it to Rowan.Rowan was good at his job, but this kind of work could take its toll on people.Thomas would know.He’d been at it a while.
When they reached the back room where the rabbit was being kept, Thomas saw that it was ready for transport in one of the cardboard boxes they used for that.They had to sign a few papers, but it didn’t take long, and soon, they were in the parking lot.Rowan followed Thomas without hesitation, as if he trusted him.It gave Thomas a thrill to realize that was the case.Between the two of them, he was the one with the most experience when it came to this.He was the one who knew what he was doing.After spending the evenings with Rowan to study, it made Thomas feel good to be able to show that he wasn’t an idiot like the way he felt during their study sessions.
