“You’re saying they didn’t sleep together.”
“Right. There is no attraction between them. I don’t know what’s going on, but that much I do know.”
“So, what? Are they intentionally trying to make me leave?”
“Maybe. Pretending to be together so you’ll leave. Maybe they’re just doing their thing and don’t care if you leave or not, or maybe it’s something completely different. I wouldn’t put it past Kaiser to stir a little shit by pretending to be her boyfriend just to screw with you — especially if she asked him to. He’s not afraid of anything. But he’s a really good kid. A kind person, though a little standoffish at first. My point is, whatever’s going on, it’s not romance. They’re not sleeping together, unless they’re justsleeping — which is completely possible. But there’s no sex and no desire for there to be any sex,” Roman said.
Remi sat back and met Roman’s gaze for a few moments, scenting for a lie, looking for any indication he wasn’t sure about what he’d said. There was none. “I’ll keep that in mind, Roman. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And maybe I shouldn’t have said it, but Cristie needs you, and she can’t find her way to you if you turn tail and leave. So, just know her and Kaiser don’t want each other.”
“I scented her the morning after she’d stayed out all night with him. I could smell him, but there was no scent of sex.”
“She was in his car, sat beside him, might have slept beside him, but it’s no different than two friends sharing a bed. You scented no sex because there wasn’t any. There is no attraction of that kind there.”
Remi nodded. He knew well about close bonds with family and friends. “I’ve got some very close friends that anybody from the outside might think it was more. I understand what you’re saying.”
“Good.”
Remi got up and took the few steps over to where Roman stood. He held out his hand and Roman met him with his own.
Roman shook his hand, but didn’t release it when the handshake was over. He held on for a second while he looked Remi in the eye. “You’re fighting for your mate here. Kaiser just needs his friend. Don’t get the two confused.”
Chapter 10
Richie heard the sound of the restaurant doors opening and looked over his shoulder to see who was coming in. He grinned and shook his head. “Don’t you ever sleep?”
Remi nodded as he got closer and stepped into the kitchen. “Haven’t slept a lot lately. I’ve relaxed some, but sleep doesn’t seem to want to visit me lately.”
“What are you doing here on a Sunday?” Richie asked.
“Helping.”
“I got this. I only have to make enough food to take care of the store. Restaurant’s closed today because it’s dinner day for the family at Riley’s.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve heard all about it. The Pride doesn’t work on Sundays so we can all spend time together. Still no reason not to come help. If you’re filling up the food for the store, I’ll help.”
“Get in here, then. The usual breakfast sandwiches and burritos. Then we’ll throw together some chicken salad, tuna salad, and some cold turkey and ham and cheese and put them in the cooler over there. That’ll do us for the day.”
“I can stay here and run the store while everybody else spends the day at Riley’s,” Remi offered.
“Seriously? You’re the reason for dinner today.”
“I thought you always had Sunday Pride day.”
“We do. But attendance is requested, not required. Today, Riley asked that everyone make an attempt to be there for at least a little while.”
Remi shook his head. “Gotta love being the object of curiosity along with the reason everybody has to cancel their Sunday plans.”
Richie laughed. “It’s alright, you already met most of us anyway.”
“Not the females. The females are the ones who really run things, right?”
“Shhh! Don’t go acknowledging that shit out loud! We still believe it’s us,” Richie said, still laughing.
They spent the next hour putting together the food choices for the store, then made two trips bringing it all over to the store and getting it arranged under the heat lamps and in the refrigerated sections. They turned on the lights and got the coffee pots filled and the cash register counted out and ready. About the time they were done a pretty little girl — actually an older teenager — parked in front of the store and waved through the windows at them.
“That’s Julia,” Richie said as he went over to the front doors and unlocked them, pushing the door opened to allow Julia to enter.
