Page 19 of Eddie

“Yeah. I’d help even if you weren’t my mate, but luckily for you, you are.”

Matthias stared at him, still unable to believe this was happening. “I am lucky.”

The waitress suddenly appeared at the end of the table, order pad in hand, and the moment fizzled out, but that was okay because Matthias needed a second to breathe. He hadn’t actually read the menu, but Eddie told him what was good, which turned out to be most of it. The conversation was easy in a way the evening hadn’t been yet, and Matthias let himself relax into it.

He and Eddie would have plenty of time to continue this conversation. Matthias’s family was two hundred miles east. His brother would survive one night in a cell. Jenna had a room and a lock on the door.

And Matthias had the rest of the evening and the mate he’d driven two hundred miles to see sitting across from him.

Chapter Four

EDDIE HAD WANTED TO spend the night with Matthias. Of course he had. Leaving Matthias after having dinner with him had been hard because Eddie didn’t want to stop talking to him. He didn’t want to stop getting to know him. They’d barely scratched the surface, and he was desperate for more. At the same time, he wasn’t sure when he’d have the opportunity to have more, and that scared him. It was one of the reasons he hadn’t wanted the evening to end.

But it had.

He stared at his bedroom ceiling, feeling the loss even though his day had started very much the same way yesterday. He’d been in bed, thinking about his mate, and he’d been fine. He was fine today, too, except that Matthias was leaving Green Hill. He didn’t know when he’d come back. With his brother in jail, it might take a while, and Eddie wasn’t sure what to make of that. He understood why Matthias needed time, and he didn’t blame him for focusing on his family, but from the little Eddie had seen, Matthias focused on his family a lot more than he focused on anything else, including himself. Eddie couldn’t help but wonder if that would include him, too.

His phone vibrated on his nightstand. He snatched it up, smiling when he saw it was his mate. He got flustered when he saw Matthias had sent him a selfie of him in bed, looking rumpled and sleepy. Eddie hadn’t realized they were at this stage of the relationship yet, but maybe he should have. They were mates, not just guys who’d met for dinner. There would never be anyone else, or at least, there shouldn’t be. Eddie couldn’t see the future, but he wanted to make this work, and he would do everything he could to make it happen. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one in this relationship. As hard as he might try, he might fail.

He really hoped he wouldn’t.

When are you leaving? he texted, feeling curious. He was surprised that Jenna hadn’t dragged Matthias out of the motel already. She was eager to go home, which was understandable. She also didn’t know that Matthias had met his mate. Matthias had told Eddie that he wanted to talk to him first before telling anyone, which made sense, but now, they had talked.

The problem was that they hadn’t talked about the future. They’d talked about themselves and Matthias’s family. Eddie still didn’t know what would happen next between them, though. One of them would obviously have to move. Would that be him?

He didn’t want to move. He had friends and his family here, and where else would he find a boss like Les? He loved his job and the people he worked with. He loved his place, which he’d found at the right price and had spent a few years renovating. Even with the gossip and the people watching him, he loved Green Hill.

But maybe the same could be said about Matthias. He loved his family, too. He wouldn’t still be dealing with them if he didn’t. Considering how many problems they seemed to have, it would make sense for Matthias to stay around. In turn, that meant it would make sense for Eddie to move instead of Matthias.

Eddie’s phone vibrated, which was a relief. He didn’t want to start obsessing over things. Yes, he and Matthias needed to talk, and eventually, one of them would have to move, but they didn’t have to decide now. They didn’t even know what was going on with Matthias’s brother.

As soon as Jenna wakes up. I’m surprised she hasn’t already, Matthias had texted back.

I bet that once she does, she’s going to be on you to leave right away.

I’m sure. There was a pause before the next text came through. I want to see you.

Eddie sighed. No matter how many doubts he had about their relationship, he felt the same. I want to see you, too.

I know you have work, but could you come to the motel to see me off?

Eddie sat up in bed. Matthias hadn’t told Jenna about him. Matthias had texted last night when he’d gotten to the motel after their dinner, and he’d told him that Jenna had already been asleep. If she was still asleep now, Matthias hadn’t had the opportunity to tell her about Eddie.

Matthias wanted Eddie there. Jenna would have questions, and Matthias would have to find a way to answer. It would make things more complicated for him, but Eddie still wanted to be there and wanted to see his mate off because he didn’t know how long Matthias would stay away. Matthias had promised to return as soon as he could, but there was no way to know how long that would be, and Eddie already missed him.

Eddie scoffed at his own feelings. Had meeting his mate made him dramatic? Maybe a little. He hadn’t fully understood what having a mate meant before. He’d been aware that strong feelings were involved, but it always sounded a little ridiculous, like people were exaggerating. He’d thought they were.

He knew that wasn’t the case now.

His entire being yearned to be with Matthias. He wasn’t even a shifter, for fuck’s sake. He shouldn’t be feeling that strongly, right? Except that he did, and he wanted to see Matthias, no matter what. If Matthias thought this was a good idea, then Eddie was on board.

When do you want me there? Eddie texted back.

As soon as possible. I’m going to wake up Jenna because I know that otherwise, she’s going to complain that we’ll be home late. It’s probably going to take her a while to feel human, which should give us a little time.

I’ll be right there. Eddie pushed away the blankets and climbed out of bed. He ran to the bathroom, needing to be out of his house within minutes. He wasn’t going to waste one second with his mate.

The problem was that he had work. That meant he needed to remember to text Les, but thankfully, he knew his boss and friend would understand. It was especially true since he and Les had talked about mates yesterday. Les knew what this was like. Hell, he’d probably encourage Eddie to take time off if Eddie told him about everything. Eddie wouldn’t because there was nothing he could do about Matthias’s situation except be there for him and listen to him talk about it, but this, he could do. He could be with his mate for half an hour while they waited for Jenna.