There were years of practice in those movements, the easy familiarity of people who knew each other’s rhythms.
After dropping them off, Liam had thought about the way Hayden’s fist had connected with that drunk’s jaw when he’d touched Teagan.
A fact that still astonished Liam.
And a huge factor in why he’d stayed hard.
But the protective fury in Hayden’s eyes had been unmistakable.
What exactly were they to each other? Actual roommates? Best friends? Something more?
Was he reading too much into it? The universe had a twisted sense of humor, but would fate really give him two mates who only wanted each other? Or worse, neither wanted anyone?
Surely fate wouldn’t be that goddamn cruel. He was almost positive the two were lovers, but with Liam’s luck, when it came to men, he would end up with two straight guys, feeling the pull but fighting against it.
His wolf snarled at the thought.
Same, buddy. Same.
The sizzle of bacon pulled him from his thoughts, maple-scented steam rising from the pan like a sweet fog.
“How long have you two known each other?” Aiden asked, snagging bacon from the plate before Hayden smacked his hand away.
“Since we were kids.” Hayden flipped pancakes with practiced ease. “We grew up on the same street, just a few houses apart from each other.”
Liam envied their bond. They’d had a lifetime together while he was showing up late to the party. He wanted to get to know both of them, to be as close to his mates as they were to each other.
His wolf snarled to kick Aiden out and claim what was his. To show Hayden and Teagan what being with a wolf shifter truly meant.
Down, boy. We’re not going to scare our mates.
“And you’re just roommates?” Aiden’s tone stayed casual, but Liam heard the probe underneath.
Liam was five seconds away from smacking Aiden on the back of his head. The two were hiding their relationship, even if Aiden hadn’t caught on.
Teagan’s hand stilled on the orange juice pitcher. Just for a second, but Liam caught it.
“Cheaper that way.” Hayden didn’t miss a beat, but something in his voice had gone flat.
They were lying. Liam knew it, his wolf knew it, hell, Aiden had to know by Hayden’s reaction just now. But neither mate seemed ready to trust them with whatever truth they were protecting. Fair enough. Trust would take time to build, especially when you’d been burned before.
Liam knew that feeling all too well. He’d just gotten out of a relationship with Jackson a few months back. It had been an epic breakup, with plenty of toxicity and a public display that would’ve made anyone blush.
Looking back, he couldn’t fathom what had drawn him to Jackson in the first place. The guy had checked none of his usual boxes—too loud, too needy, too convinced of his own importance. Worst of all had been Jackson’s insistence that they were mates, a claim that had rung hollow from the start.
Last night, when Hayden and Teagan had climbed into his truck, the immediate rush of connection had made Jackson’s lie even more obvious. This—this double pull in his chest—was what finding your mate actually felt like.
It was as if heat was spreading beneath his ribs like honey through warm bread, and without thinking, Liam’s hand pressed against the spot where contentment had taken root.
“So this barbeque…” Hayden changed the subject smoothly. “What’s the deal? We supposed to bring something?”
“Just yourselves.” Liam accepted the plate Teagan handed him, their fingers brushing. That small contact sent heat racing up his arm. Teagan jerked back. He’d felt it too, color rising in his cheeks. But he’d acted as though Liam had burned his hand instead of a simple touching of fingers.
“Sounds very casual.” Teagan’s tone suggested he found that suspicious.
Liam had his work cut out for him. Convincing the smaller of the two that he didn’t have to keep his walls up was going to be a challenge.
A challenge Liam gladly accepted.
