Not the golden boy anymore, he thought.
“You okay, man?”
“Yeah, yeah. Just admiring all the old places I used to visit.” Boone let out a low sigh and forced a smile even though he knew Patrick couldn’t see him. “Anyway, you gonna sign up for my self-defense classes when you get here? I could always use an extra hand on my side.”
“I take it that means the classes are doing well?”
“Absolutely. Just finished up the morning classes, and I’m heading to Wilma-Jean’s for a quick bite.”
“Ain’t nothing quick about going to Wilma-Jean’s.” Patrick snorted. “She’ll talk your ear off soon as she’ll fill up your plate again.”
Boone smirked. “Aww, you miss her, don’t you?”
“Hell yeah, I do.” Patrick agreed. “Real food after years of the crap I ate? You bet your happy ass I’ll be stopping by Wilma’s Port before I come to see you.”
“You know what? That’s totally understandable. I won’t stand between you and Wilma’s cooking.” Boone nodded. “When are you supposed to be coming in?”
“Not for a while. Remember, transfers and all that shit. You know how well that goes.” Patrick let out a frustrated groan before a long moment of silence passed between the friends. “Got me thinking about ol’ Wilma-Jean’s place now. I can’t wait to get there and get me some of her Dungeness crab cakes.”
“I’m sure she’ll be tickled to see you again,” Boone said.
“Oh, by the way,” Patrick’s voice perked up, “is that weird haunted house still standing, too? I swear we need to sneak in this time. It’s creepy as hell.”
“Dahlia’s place.” Boone grimaced. “It’s still there, but the owner passed away a few months ago, back in June. Cancer.”
“You knew her, didn’t you? I’m sorry, man.”
“Yeah, it’s a damn shame. Myrtlewood Bay isn't gonna be the same without her.” Boone slowed his pace. Her mark on this town was nothing short of amazing. Town gossip said she’d lived in Portland the last five years, but everyone still felt her influence in the sturdy town library she built and the local businesses she’d invested in.
“What’s gonna happen to the place? You said it was a huge part of the town when you were growing up, and sure, it looks creepy all boarded up, but it had a beauty to it. You know? It’d suck to high hell if it were left to crumble.” Patrick’s voice trailed off.
Boone let out a long sigh. “I don’t know. No one goes out there anymore since she moved. I suppose it’ll either go on auction or pass down to her nephew, Milo.”
“Milo? Wasn’t he a friend of that omega you talked about all the damn time?” Patrick hummed under his breath. “They sounded like an interesting lot, but their names are slipping my mind now. I can’t seem to recall them. What were they again?”
Oh boy, here it comes. Boone sighed. “Milo, Puck, Felix, and—”
“Demarien,” Patrick sing-songed through the phone, forcing a kissy noise through the speaker. “Demarien Watts.”
Boone felt his neck heat up. “Shut up, man,” he grumbled.
Patrick laughed. “I can feel your blush through the phone, Bo. Hey, here’s an idea for you. How about you try getting back in touch with him now that you’re home again?”
Boone could practically hear Patrick grinning. He sighed. “We were never ‘in touch.’”
“Yeah, because you preferred watching from a distance instead of taking that first step and asking him out. I swear, you and your pining. I should have pushed you harder to reach out to him when we first met.”
“You had other things on your mind. Like keeping us alive.” Boone made a face. “Besides, he was two years younger than me, and I was in the military. The timing wasn’t right.”
Boone slowed his pace as dull pain shot through his leg. All it took was a moment of bad luck, one moment of bad positioning, and he was on his way back home on a medical discharge.
Could’ve been worse, he thought,but also could’ve been a hell of a lot better.
“I know.” Patrick huffed. “But you’re back now. Maybe you can look him up or something?”
“Sure, but hear me out here –” Boone limped to a nearby bench and took a seat, giving his leg a quick rest. “What if I ring up his place and his alpha picks up?”
“So what? What’s wrong with being friends?” Patrick asked.
